Entry № 381 · Sanskrit origin

Anika Anika — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ ah-NEE-kah /

Gender

Girl

Origin

Sanskrit

Meaning

"Graceful, sweet-faced"

Syllables

Rank · US 2025

№ 698

First recorded

Ancient (Sanskrit)

The meaning

A name that means "graceful, sweet-faced".

Anika has two parallel origins. In Sanskrit (आनिका), it means "graceful" or "sweet-faced." In Scandinavian languages, Anika is the diminutive of Anna (Hebrew "grace"). Both traditions converge on similar meaning.

Anika has been rising in the U.S. since 2010 — currently in the top 700. The actress Anika Noni Rose (voice of Princess Tiana) is a notable bearer.

Graceful. The Sanskrit-Scandinavian convergence.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

आनिका

Transliteration: Ānikā
Pronunciation: / əˈniː.kə /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Anika stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 698 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 698 in 2025

Babies named Anika · last year

412 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

2010

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Anikas before her.

Real people

Anika Noni Rose

American actress, voice of Princess Tiana.

born 1972

In fiction

Anika

Common contemporary character name.

Names connected to Anika.

Numerology

The number behind Anika.

The Seeker

Anika reduces to seven — the number of soft persistent grace.

Parents on Anika

Why families chose this name.

"Sanskrit on my side, Swedish on my husband's. Anika worked for both."

Priya · Mother of one · Stockholm