UK girl's name
Anja
A feminine given name of German origin meaning "grace".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anja is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anja popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 34 births.
This profile covers 503 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 18% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 527 living people in the UK are called Anja. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anja ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 34 girls were registered as Anja.
- • Anja ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #680 in 2018.
- • About 527 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anja as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3695
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2011
34 births
Estimated living
527
2026
Meaning
What does Anja mean?
The name Anja has its origins in the Sanskrit language and is derived from the word "anaya," meaning "grace" or "favor." It is a feminine name that has been used across various cultures and regions, particularly in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anja can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, where it was used to refer to goddesses and divine feminine entities associated with beauty, grace, and prosperity. It is believed that the name gained popularity in parts of Eastern Europe and Russia due to the influence of Sanskrit-derived languages and cultural exchange along trade routes.
In the medieval period, the name Anja was commonly used in parts of modern-day Germany, Poland, and the Baltic regions. It was particularly popular among the nobility and aristocracy, with several noblewomen bearing the name. One notable figure was Anja von Wettin (1292-1363), a German princess and member of the House of Wettin, a prominent royal dynasty.
During the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, the name Anja continued to be used across various parts of Europe. One notable figure was Anja Elisabet Varnhagen (1677-1736), a Swedish writer and poet who gained recognition for her literary works and contributions to the cultural landscape of her time.
In more recent history, the name Anja has been associated with several notable individuals across various fields. Anja Niedringhaus (1965-2014) was a renowned German photojournalist who worked for the Associated Press and was tragically killed while covering the war in Afghanistan. Anja Rubik (born 1983) is a Polish model and philanthropist who has graced the covers of numerous fashion magazines and has been involved in various charitable initiatives.
Anja Silja (born 1940) is a German operatic soprano who has performed on major opera stages around the world and is renowned for her interpretations of Wagner's works. Anja Fichtel (born 1966) is a German cyclist who has won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals in track cycling events.
Anja Pärson (born 1981) is a Swedish former alpine ski racer who achieved immense success on the international circuit, winning numerous World Cup titles and Olympic gold medals in her career. These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Anja throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anja over time
The chart below shows babies named Anja registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anja, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 34 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anja by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anja was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2892 | 42 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1916 | 175 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1121 | 226 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1269 | 60 | 4 |
Geography
Where Anja is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Anja. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Anja ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #680 in 2018.
Across the UK
Anja in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#680 in 2018
8 years of NRS records, 27 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Anja
-
Anja Coleby
actor; journalist; television producer; model
Australian actress
1971-
-
Anja Percival
visual artist
1971-
-
Anja Rott
researcher
researcher
-
Anja Schaefer
politician
candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election
Related
Names similar to Anja
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Anja: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anja in the UK right now?
In 2024, Anja was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Anja most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 34 babies registered as Anja in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anja?
A feminine given name of German origin meaning "grace".
How many people are called Anja in the UK?
A total of 503 babies have been registered as Anja across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 27 more in Scotland.
Where is Anja most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Anja ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #680 in 2018. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.