Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1994. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Sanai through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 4,261
- 25 boys · 4,236 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 297 babies
- 2025
- 160
- #1,378 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −1%
- Steady
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 160 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,378 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 1.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 297 in 2008. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (20). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,681 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Sanai’s family of names
In Greek usage, Sanai as a surname is a transliteration of Σαναΐ. In Japanese usage, Sanai as a surname is a Roman-alphabet rendering of 讃井.
The ring: spellings.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Sanai, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Amani
“one who is peaceful” · “one with wishes and dreams”
18% boys · 82% girls
Miah
Miah is a surname from Bengali, ultimately from Classical Persian.
>99% girls
Jayla
“one who is charitable”
>99% girls
Aliyah
Aliyah is used as a given name. One Arabic interpretation is “an ascender; one having the highest social standing.”
>99% girls
Aylin
“having a moonlit halo”
1% boys · 99% girls
Shatha
>99% girls
Lamis
“a soft-skinned woman”
>99% girls
Galadriel
“radiance” · “maiden crowned with a garland”
>99% girls