UK girl's name
Anneli
A feminine Scandinavian form of Anne meaning "grace" or "gracious".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anneli is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anneli popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 6 births.
This profile covers 45 England and Wales registrations across 12 recorded years from 1997 to 2021. 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 45 living people in the UK are called Anneli. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anneli ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2004, when 6 girls were registered as Anneli.
- • About 45 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anneli as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2004
6 births
Estimated living
45
2026
Meaning
What does Anneli mean?
The name Anneli is a Finnish diminutive form of the name Anna, which is derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor." The name Anneli first appeared in the Finnish language during the Middle Ages, around the 12th to 15th centuries, when Christianity and its associated names were introduced to the region.
In Finland, Anneli was a popular name among the upper classes and nobility during the medieval period. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anneli can be found in a 14th-century document from the city of Turku, where a woman named Anneli Erikintytär (Anneli, daughter of Erik) is mentioned.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Anneli became more widespread in Finland, particularly among the rural population. It was often used as a middle name or as a diminutive form of Anna, which was a common name among Finnish women at the time.
One notable figure in Finnish history with the name Anneli was Anneli Juntonen (1908-1989), a Finnish writer and journalist who was known for her novels and children's books. She was born in the town of Kuopio and wrote extensively about rural life in Finland.
Another famous Anneli was Anneli Sari (1875-1950), a Finnish actress and singer who performed in various theater productions and operas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was born in Helsinki and is considered one of the pioneers of Finnish theater.
In the field of sports, Anneli Jäätteenmäki (born 1955) is a former Finnish cross-country skier who won several Olympic medals and World Championships in the 1970s and 1980s. She is regarded as one of the greatest cross-country skiers in Finnish history.
Anneli Tvedt (1936-2022) was a Norwegian writer and journalist who authored several novels and children's books. She was born in Oslo and received numerous awards and honors for her literary works throughout her career.
Lastly, Anneli Hallen (born 1939) is a Swedish actress and singer who has appeared in numerous films, television shows, and stage productions. She is best known for her roles in several popular Swedish TV series and has been active in the entertainment industry since the 1960s.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anneli over time
The chart below shows babies named Anneli registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anneli, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anneli by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anneli 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 | #5581 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5128 | 18 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4203 | 21 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Anneli
- 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
Anneli: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anneli in the UK right now?
In 2021, Anneli was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Anneli most popular?
The peak year on record was 2004, with 6 babies registered as Anneli in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anneli?
A feminine Scandinavian form of Anne meaning "grace" or "gracious".
How many people are called Anneli in the UK?
A total of 45 babies have been registered as Anneli across the 12 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.