NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Sanela

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "shining, radiant".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Sanela is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sanela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2016, with 3 births.

This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2016 to 2016. 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.

Sanela is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Sanela. 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 2017 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Sanela ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2016, when 3 girls were registered as Sanela.
  • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sanela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5785

2016

Births in 2016

3

Latest year

Peak year

2016

3 births

Estimated living

3

2026

Meaning

What does Sanela mean?

The name Sanela is believed to have its origins in the Slavic languages, particularly in the Bosnian and Serbian cultures. It is thought to be a diminutive form of the name Sana, which is derived from the name of the Sana River in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The earliest known record of the name Sanela dates back to the late 19th century in the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly among Bosnian and Serbian communities.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Sanela was Sanela Bajramović (1903-1985), a Bosnian writer and poet who made significant contributions to the literary scene in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the mid-20th century.

Another notable individual with the name Sanela was Sanela Diana Jenkins (born 1976), a Bosnian-born British philanthropist and author. She is known for her humanitarian efforts and advocacy work, particularly in the areas of human rights and education.

In the world of sports, Sanela Škrijelj (born 1988) is a Bosnian professional basketball player who has represented the Bosnian national team and played for various clubs in Europe.

Sanela Jahić (born 1991) is a Bosnian singer and songwriter who gained popularity in the early 2010s with her debut album "Zašto me zoveš" (Why Do You Call Me).

Another notable figure is Sanela Prašović Gadžo (born 1964), a Bosnian film director and screenwriter. Her films have been showcased at international film festivals and have received critical acclaim for their exploration of social and political themes.

While the name Sanela is primarily associated with the Bosnian and Serbian cultures, it has also gained some popularity in other Slavic countries and communities around the world. However, its origins and earliest recorded use can be traced back to the region of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Decades

Sanela by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sanela 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
2010s #5785 3 1

Related

Names similar to Sanela

FAQ

Sanela: questions and answers

How popular is the name Sanela in the UK right now?

In 2016, Sanela was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Sanela most popular?

The peak year on record was 2016, with 3 babies registered as Sanela in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Sanela?

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "shining, radiant".

How many people are called Sanela in the UK?

A total of 3 babies have been registered as Sanela across the 1 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.