Ananda
Transliteration of Sanskrit आनन्द (ānanda) or Pali ānanda.
Every Ananda since 1968 — 1,735 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ananda
Ananda is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1968, 1,735 American babies have been named Ananda — about 94% girls and 6% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 2002, when 128 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 2000s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ananda stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ananda year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | 6 | #13,611 | — | — |
| 2023 | 10 | #9,669 | — | — |
| 2022 | 10 | #9,723 | — | — |
| 2021 | 7 | #12,315 | — | — |
| 2020 | 9 | #10,315 | 8 | #8,787 |
| 2019 | 7 | #12,553 | 6 | #10,888 |
| 2018 | 12 | #8,659 | 6 | #10,845 |
| 2017 | — | — | 5 | #12,368 |
| 2016 | 13 | #8,442 | 5 | #12,302 |
| 2015 | 17 | #7,003 | 10 | #7,526 |
| 2014 | 16 | #7,332 | — | — |
| 2013 | 20 | #6,273 | 5 | #12,247 |
| 2012 | 16 | #7,486 | — | — |
| 2011 | 26 | #5,221 | 5 | #12,391 |
| 2010 | 28 | #4,988 | — | — |
| 2009 | 27 | #5,237 | 5 | #12,598 |
| 2008 | 34 | #4,462 | 6 | #11,121 |
| 2007 | 61 | #2,931 | — | — |
| 2006 | 44 | #3,568 | — | — |
| 2005 | 51 | #3,084 | 5 | #11,559 |
| 2004 | 57 | #2,812 | — | — |
| 2003 | 65 | #2,498 | — | — |
| 2002 | 128 | #1,484 | — | — |
| 2001 | 109 | #1,661 | 5 | #10,647 |
| 2000 | 115 | #1,552 | — | — |
| 1995 | 9 | #8,806 | — | — |
| 1990 | 15 | #5,845 | — | — |
| 1985 | 22 | #3,735 | — | — |
| 1980 | 14 | #4,987 | 5 | #6,293 |
| 1975 | 29 | #2,613 | 7 | #4,337 |
| 1970 | 20 | #3,213 | — | — |
| 1965 | — | — | — | — |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1955 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1945 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Ananda
- Ananda Mahidol Politician · 1925–1946
- Ananda Coomaraswamy Philosopher · 1877–1947
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ananda mean?
Transliteration of Sanskrit आनन्द (ānanda) or Pali ānanda.
How popular is the name Ananda in 2025?
Ananda did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Ananda?
1,735 babies have been named Ananda in the United States since 1968, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ananda most popular?
Ananda peaked in 2002, when 128 newborns received the name.
Is Ananda a boy or girl name?
Ananda is used for both: about 94% of babies named Ananda have been girls and 6% boys.
Is the name Ananda rising or falling?
Ananda is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ananda?
Well-known people named Ananda include Ananda Mahidol (politician), Ananda Coomaraswamy (philosopher).