Find out how popular the first name Anahly has been for the last 9 years (from 2008 to 2016) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Anahly by gender

Based on the last 9 years of data, Anahly is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2016, there were 5 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Anahly.

The history of the first name Anahly

The name Anahly is thought to have originated in the ancient Sumerian civilization, one of the earliest known civilizations in Mesopotamia, located in modern-day Iraq. It is believed to be derived from the Sumerian words "ana" meaning "heaven" and "ly" meaning "gift," suggesting a meaning of "heavenly gift" or "gift from the heavens."

Sumer, located in the fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, flourished around 3500-3000 BCE. The Sumerians developed one of the earliest writing systems, cuneiform, which was used to record their language, literature, and historical records. While no direct references to the name Anahly have been found in Sumerian cuneiform texts, the root words "ana" and "ly" have been identified in various inscriptions and clay tablets.

The earliest recorded use of a similar name can be traced back to the ancient Akkadian Empire, which succeeded the Sumerian civilization. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, a literary work from around 2100 BCE, there is a character named Anahita, which some scholars believe may be a variant of Anahly.

During the Neo-Babylonian period (626-539 BCE), a princess named Anah-ili-ilat is mentioned in several cuneiform inscriptions. The name "Anah-ili-ilat" is believed to be a variant of Anahly, reflecting the Babylonian influence on the name's evolution.

One of the earliest documented individuals with a name similar to Anahly was Anahita, a Persian goddess of fertility, healing, and wisdom, who was revered in ancient Persia (modern-day Iran) around the 5th century BCE. Her name is sometimes interpreted as a variant of Anahly, reflecting the cultural exchanges between Mesopotamia and Persia during that period.

In later historical records, a few notable individuals bore the name Anahly or its variants:

1. Anahita of Parthia (fl. 1st century BCE), a Parthian princess and potential heir to the Parthian throne.
2. Anahita Shahbanu (c. 628-c. 650 CE), a Persian princess and wife of the Sasanian king Yazdegerd III.
3. Anahita Rathavirahta (fl. 10th century CE), an Indian poet and scholar known for her writings on philosophy and linguistics.
4. Anahita Mishra (1922-2009), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer renowned for her contributions to Odissi dance.
5. Anahita Nawabi (born 1968), an Afghan politician and women's rights activist.

It is important to note that due to the ancient origins of the name and variations in spelling and transliteration across different cultures and time periods, the exact derivation and meaning of Anahly may be subject to scholarly debate.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Anahly was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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