UK girl's name
Anni
A feminine name of Hebrew 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.
Anni is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anni popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1743, with 17 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 23 births.
This profile covers 262 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1998 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 74% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 264 living people in the UK are called Anni. 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
- • Anni ranked #1743 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 17 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2016, when 23 girls were registered as Anni.
- • Anni ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #802 in 2014.
- • About 264 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anni as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1743
2024
Births in 2024
17
Latest year
Peak year
2016
23 births
Estimated living
264
2026
Meaning
What does Anni mean?
The name Anni has its origins in the German and Scandinavian languages, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is a diminutive form of the name Anna, derived from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favor."
In Germany, the name Anni was particularly popular during the 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be found in the 1853 novel "Der grüne Heinrich" by Swiss author Gottfried Keller, where one of the characters is named Anni.
Moving to Scandinavia, the name Anni has been popular in countries like Sweden, Norway, and Denmark for centuries. It is believed to have been introduced to the region through German influences during the Middle Ages.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Anni. One of the earliest was Anni Frind (1800-1876), a German writer and poet who gained recognition for her works on women's rights and social issues.
Another prominent figure was Anni Albers (1899-1994), a German-American textile artist and printmaker who played a significant role in the development of modern weaving techniques. Her innovative approach to textiles and design has had a lasting impact in the art world.
In the world of literature, Anni Blomqvist (1938-2020) was a Finnish author known for her children's books and young adult novels. Her works often explored themes of growing up and navigating the complexities of life.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad (born 1945), better known as Frida from the Swedish pop group ABBA, is undoubtedly one of the most famous individuals with the name Anni. Her powerful vocals and stage presence contributed greatly to the group's worldwide success.
Lastly, Anni Dewi (born 1962) is a renowned Indonesian singer and songwriter who has had a significant impact on the country's music scene. Her soulful voice and poetic lyrics have earned her numerous accolades and a dedicated fan base.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anni over time
The chart below shows babies named Anni registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Anni, the clearest high point is 2016. The latest England and Wales figure is 17 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anni by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anni 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 | #2043 | 69 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2141 | 143 | 10 |
| 2000s | #3462 | 47 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3848 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Anni is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Anni. 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.
Anni ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #802 in 2014.
Across the UK
Anni in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#802 in 2014
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Anni
-
Anni Llŷn
writer; television presenter
Welsh presenter and author
1988-
-
Anni Hogan
disc jockey
British musician
1961-
-
Anni Byard
candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election
Related
Names similar to Anni
- 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
Anni: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anni in the UK right now?
In 2024, Anni was ranked #1743 for girls in England and Wales, with 17 births registered.
When was Anni most popular?
The peak year on record was 2016, with 23 babies registered as Anni in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anni?
A feminine name of Hebrew origin meaning "grace".
How many people are called Anni in the UK?
A total of 262 babies have been registered as Anni across the 25 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Anni most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Anni ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #802 in 2014. 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.