Anil: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Anil

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1989

46 babies

All-time total

1,160

#4,681 all-time among boys

First recorded

1959

in Social Security records

Anil popularity over time

1,160 babies have been named Anil since 1959, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	9	1	–	#2,830
1960s	86	9	+856%	#1,976
1970s	276	28	+221%	#1,370
1980s	334	33	+21%	#1,596
1990s	260	26	-22%	#2,014
2000s	133	13	-49%	#3,082
2010s	55	6	-59%	#7,620
2020s (to 2025)	7	1	-79%	#9,972

The story of Anil

Anil 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 1959, 1,160 American babies have been named Anil. Its peak came in 1989, when 46 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1980s.

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 Anil stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Anil?

The median living Anil is about 38 years old; half are between 29 and 47. An estimated 1,100 people named Anil are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Anil year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	7	#9,972
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	9	#8,253
2018	6	#10,854
2017	5	#12,384
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	5	#12,228
2013	7	#9,713
2012	6	#10,875
2011	7	#9,669
2010	10	#7,620
2009	10	#7,721
2008	12	#6,785
2007	6	#11,014
2006	10	#7,456
2005	10	#7,138
2004	9	#7,565
2003	12	#5,896
2002	16	#4,716
2001	20	#3,981
2000	28	#3,082
1995	22	#3,103
1990	37	#2,014
1985	31	#1,868
1980	33	#1,729
1975	39	#1,409
1970	14	#2,512
1965	10	#2,625
1960	7	#3,353
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Anil

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Anil Kapoor Indian actor and film producer (b. 1956) Contemporary
2 Anil Ambani Indian businessman (born 1959) Contemporary
3 Anil Kumble Indian cricketer (born 1970) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Anil, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Anil?

The median living Anil is about 38 years old. Half of all living Anils are between 29 and 47 years old.

How many people named Anil are alive today?

An estimated 1,100 people named Anil are alive in the United States, based on 1,160 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Anil mean?

Borrowed from Hindi अनिल (anil), Marathi अनिल (anil), Kannada ಅನಿಲ್ (anil), Tamil அனில் (aṉil), Malayalam അനിൽ (anil), Bengali অনিল (onil), Nepali अनिल (anil), Urdu اَنِیل (anīl), or Sinhalese අනිල් (anil), from Sanskrit अनिल…

How popular is the name Anil in 2025?

Anil 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 Anil?

1,160 babies have been named Anil in the United States since 1959, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Anil most popular?

Anil peaked in 1989, when 46 newborns received the name.

Is Anil a boy or girl name?

Anil is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Anil rising or falling?

Anil is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Anil?

Well-known people named Anil include Anil Kapoor (actor), Anil Ambani (businessperson), Anil Kumble (cricketer).

Names like Anil

Names that sound and feel close to Anil: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Anil with similar names → More names starting with A →