Anaija
A feminine name with uncertain meaning, possibly derived from "Anna" or "Jane".
Name Census estimates that about 141 living Americans carry the first name Anaija. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Anaija today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Anaija births was 2002 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Anaija. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
141
~ 1 in 2,430,882 Americans
Peak year
2002
14 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2023 SSA rank
#13,580
Tracked since 2000
Popularity
Anaija: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Anaija from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 92 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anaija by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Anaija during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Anaija
The name Anaija is a modern invention with uncertain origins. It does not seem to have roots in any particular language or culture from history. The name is likely a creative combination of sounds and syllables that parents have found appealing in recent decades.
There are no known historical references or records of the name Anaija appearing in ancient texts, religious scriptures, or other historical documents. It appears to be a newly constructed name rather than one with a long lineage.
Due to the name's novelty, there are no famous historical figures or notable individuals from the past who bore the name Anaija. The earliest recorded examples of the name likely date back only a few decades at most, as it gained popularity as a unique and distinctive choice for newborns.
While it is challenging to trace the exact origins and meaning of Anaija, its increasing usage in modern times reflects a trend towards inventing new names or combining elements from various sources to create unique monikers. The name's lack of a clear linguistic or cultural heritage allows parents to imbue it with their own personal significance and associations.
As a relatively new name, Anaija does not have a well-established history or tradition behind it. However, its growing popularity suggests that it resonates with contemporary parents seeking a fresh and distinctive name for their children, contributing to the ever-evolving landscape of personal names in our modern world.
People
Anaija + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Anaija as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Anaija: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Anaija?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 141 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Anaija going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,430,882 US residents.
Is Anaija a common name?
We classify Anaija as "Very Rare". It ranks above 69.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 143 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Anaija most popular?
The single biggest year for Anaija was 2002, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Anaija is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Anaija in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Anaija a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Anaija in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Anaija still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Anaija in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Anaija can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Anaija?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.