Anaya

Following in the footsteps of Leila and Aaliyah, Anaya is a gentle but sparky name that's been climbing the US and UK charts since the early 2000s. Given to around 900 American babies in a recent year, it also ranked in the England and Wales Top 100 for the first time in 2025.

The exact origins of Anaya are contested — or rather, it can derive from multiple sources, in turn, widening its appeal. One likely source is the Arabic name Inaya, itself derived from the word inayah meaning "care, concern, help". A strictly feminine form of the unisex Inayat, it is familiar in France, the Netherlands, Lebanon, India, and Palestine.

Alternatively, Anaya could be a variation of the Hebrew Anaiah, meaning "Yahwah has answered", or it could be a form of the Basque name Anaia, meaning "brother". Additionally, parent may choose it as an alternative spelling for the modern invention Aniya, likely inspired by Aaliyah, Anita, Amaia, and Anya.

Pronounced uh-NY-uh.

As of October 2026, Anaya ranked #336 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #663.