Anil
Borrowed from Hindi अनिल (anil), Marathi अनिल (anil), Kannada ಅನಿಲ್ (anil), Tamil அனில் (aṉil), Malayalam അനിൽ (anil), Bengali অনিল (onil), Nepali अनिल (anil), Urdu…
Every Anil since 1959 — 1,160 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Anil Kapoor Actor · b. 1956
- Anil Ambani Businessperson · b. 1959
- Anil Kumble Cricketer · b. 1970
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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).