Given name & surname
Anaya
“one who looks up to God”
Anaya is used as a given name and a surname. One African interpretation is “one who looks up to God.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One African interpretation is “one who looks up to God.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is African.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1978. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Anaya through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 17,997
- 0 boys · 17,997 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 911 babies
- 2025
- 911
- #336 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +2%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 911 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 336 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 2.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (145). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 11,706 as a first name in 2020; 23,605 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Anaya’s family of names
In Asturian usage, Anaya has a diminutive in Naya. Anaya has a related form in Anayah. In Asturian usage, Anaya has a related form in Naya.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Anaya, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Yuna
“a gorgeous woman”
>99% girls
Yemaya
“an intelligent woman”
>99% girls
Khadija
“a perfect woman” · “a child born prematurely”
>99% girls
Afia
“born on a Friday”
>99% girls
Hawa
“one who is desired”
>99% girls
Safia
“one who is pure” · “having the lion's share”
>99% girls
Mariama
“a gift from God”
>99% girls
Zuri
“a beauty” · “lovely and white”
2% boys · 98% girls