UK girl's name
Sanjana
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'evening prayer'.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sanjana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sanjana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4709, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 23 births.
This profile covers 329 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 330 living people in the UK are called Sanjana. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sanjana ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 23 girls were registered as Sanjana.
- • Sanjana ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2005.
- • About 330 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sanjana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4709
2023
Births in 2023
4
Latest year
Peak year
2005
23 births
Estimated living
330
2026
Meaning
What does Sanjana mean?
The name Sanjana has its roots in the Sanskrit language, originating from the Indian subcontinent. It is believed to have emerged during the ancient Vedic period, which spanned from around 1500 BCE to 500 BCE.
The name Sanjana is derived from the Sanskrit word "sanjana," which means "born at dusk" or "twilight-born." This suggests that the name may have been given to children born during the twilight hours, a time considered auspicious in Hindu tradition.
In Hindu mythology, Sanjana is also associated with the goddess Sanjna, who is revered as the embodiment of divine knowledge and wisdom. This connection lends a spiritual significance to the name, making it a popular choice among Hindu families.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Sanjana can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In the epic, Sanjana is the name of a character who appears in the Adi Parva, one of the longest books of the Mahabharata.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sanjana. One of the earliest was Sanjana Zeylandin (1074-1153 CE), a renowned Persian poet and scholar who made significant contributions to the field of literature and philosophy.
Another famous Sanjana was Sanjana Devi (1495-1562 CE), a queen of the Mughal Empire who was known for her patronage of the arts and her philanthropic efforts. She commissioned the construction of several monuments and educational institutions during her reign.
In more recent times, Sanjana Kapoor (born 1983) is an Indian actress and model who has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows. She is also known for her work in promoting environmental causes and her advocacy for animal rights.
Sanjana Ramphal (1945-2009) was a prominent South African activist and politician who played a crucial role in the anti-apartheid movement. She served as the Assistant Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations and was a vocal advocate for human rights and social justice.
Sanjana Hattotuwa (born 1977) is a Sri Lankan researcher and activist who has worked extensively in the field of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D). She has been recognized for her contributions to promoting digital rights and internet freedom in South Asia.
While these are just a few examples, the name Sanjana has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures, each leaving their mark on history through their achievements and contributions to society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sanjana over time
The chart below shows babies named Sanjana registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sanjana, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2023, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sanjana by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sanjana 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 | #4402 | 13 | 3 |
| 2010s | #2964 | 114 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1283 | 184 | 10 |
| 1990s | #3031 | 18 | 3 |
Geography
Where Sanjana is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Sanjana. 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.
Sanjana ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #687 in 2005.
Across the UK
Sanjana in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#687 in 2005
1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered
Related
Names similar to Sanjana
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Sanjana: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sanjana in the UK right now?
In 2023, Sanjana was ranked #4709 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Sanjana most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 23 babies registered as Sanjana in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sanjana?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning 'evening prayer'.
How many people are called Sanjana in the UK?
A total of 329 babies have been registered as Sanjana across the 26 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.
Where is Sanjana most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Sanjana ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #687 in 2005. 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.