UK girl's name
Annaya
An Arabic feminine name denoting paradise or heavenly garden.
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.
Annaya is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Annaya 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 2015, with 12 births.
This profile covers 124 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 123 living people in the UK are called Annaya. 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
- • Annaya ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 12 girls were registered as Annaya.
- • About 123 living people in the UK are estimated to have Annaya 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
2015
12 births
Estimated living
123
2026
Meaning
What does Annaya mean?
The name Annaya has its origins in the Sanskrit language, one of the oldest languages in the world, spoken primarily in ancient India. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "ananta," which means "infinite" or "eternal." The name is thought to have emerged during the Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
In Hindu mythology, Ananta is the name of the celestial serpent upon which Lord Vishnu, the preserver and protector of the universe, is said to rest. This association with the divine and the concept of eternity has imbued the name Annaya with a sense of timelessness and spiritual significance.
The earliest recorded use of the name Annaya can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, which are considered sacred scriptures in Hinduism. However, it is difficult to pinpoint specific individuals from that era who bore this name, as records were primarily oral and written accounts were scarce.
Throughout history, the name Annaya has been carried by notable individuals across various cultures and regions. One such figure was Annaya Maharshi, a renowned Indian sage and spiritual teacher who lived in the 9th century CE. He is remembered for his teachings on meditation, self-realization, and the attainment of inner peace.
Another notable bearer of the name was Annaya Devi, a 16th-century Indian poet and mystic from the state of Rajasthan. Her works, which centered on devotional poetry and spiritual enlightenment, were widely celebrated during her lifetime and continue to be studied and revered today.
In the modern era, Annaya Charan Sukla, an Indian scholar and linguist who lived from 1890 to 1963, made significant contributions to the study of Sanskrit literature and grammar. His works, including translations and commentaries on ancient Sanskrit texts, are considered invaluable resources for researchers and academics.
Moving beyond the Indian subcontinent, Annaya Kemelikian was an Armenian-American artist and sculptor who lived from 1914 to 1992. Her works, inspired by her cultural heritage and personal experiences, explored themes of identity, displacement, and the human condition. Kemelikian's sculptures and installations can be found in various art museums and public spaces around the world.
Lastly, Annaya Cheska was a Polish-American author and journalist who lived from 1938 to 2017. She gained recognition for her insightful writings on political and social issues, particularly her coverage of Eastern European affairs during the Cold War era. Cheska's memoir, "Through the Iron Curtain," offered a poignant account of her experiences living under communist rule in Poland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Annaya over time
The chart below shows babies named Annaya registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Annaya, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Annaya by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Annaya 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 | #3852 | 24 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3102 | 82 | 10 |
| 2000s | #4785 | 14 | 4 |
| 1990s | #3225 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Annaya
- 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
Annaya: questions and answers
How popular is the name Annaya in the UK right now?
In 2024, Annaya was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Annaya most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 12 babies registered as Annaya in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Annaya?
An Arabic feminine name denoting paradise or heavenly garden.
How many people are called Annaya in the UK?
A total of 124 babies have been registered as Annaya across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.