Entry № 0713 · Arabic, Swahili origin

Sanaa Sanaa — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ SAH-nah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Arabic, Swahili
Meaning
"Splendor, brilliance"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Medieval (Arabic)

A name that means "splendor, brilliance".

Sanaa (سناء) is the Arabic word for "splendor" or "radiance" — also the name of the capital of Yemen (Sana'a, an ancient city). In Swahili it means "art" or "work of art."

Sanaa Lathan (born 1971), the American actress, gave the name international visibility.

Splendor. The Yemeni capital. The Swahili art.

The name in its native script.

سناء
Transliteration
Sanāʾ
Pronunciation
/ ˈsɑː.nə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Sanaa stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Sanaa · last year
142 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Sanaas before her.

Real people
Sanaa Lathan
American actress.
born 1971
In fiction
Sanaa
Common contemporary character name.

Names connected to Sanaa.

The number behind Sanaa.

1

The Pioneer

Sanaa reduces to one — the number of singular splendor.

Why families chose this name.

"Splendor in Arabic. The Yemeni capital. Five letters."
Reem · Mother of one · Damascus