Holding steady, #8,910 for boys today.
Popularity of Anis since 1887
Babies named Anis per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 | 0 |
| 1890s | 0 | 0 |
| 1900s | 0 | 0 |
| 1910s | 6 | 0 |
| 1920s | 24 | 0 |
| 1930s | 11 | 0 |
| 1940s | 5 | 0 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 | 26 |
| 1990s | 11 | 33 |
| 2000s | 8 | 118 |
| 2010s | 0 | 123 |
| 2020s | 0 | 56 |
Meaning & origin
Anis carries a warm and relational meaning. While it first appeared in U.S. records in 1982, its popularity has remained modest. In 2025, it ranked 8910th with just 1 in 213,510 boys receiving the name. Its peak year was 2008, but overall it has maintained a stable trajectory. The name is deeply rooted in Arabic culture and is also used in South Asia, yet it remains uncommon in the United States, appealing to families seeking a name that is both simple and meaningful.
Anis is an Arabic name derived from the root 'anisa', meaning 'to be friendly' or 'to keep company'. It directly translates to 'close friend' or 'companion'. The name has been used across the Arabic-speaking world for centuries, particularly in North Africa and the Middle East, and is also found in South Asian Muslim communities.
“Anis” around the world
Where Anis lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
175
babies in 2024
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nissi
Sibling names for Anis
Names that share Anis's style, for a brother or sister.
