"air, wind, breath of life"
Anila
Does Anila flow with your last name?
Wind-born and graceful — a Sanskrit name for free spirits
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Nicknames
Nicknames for Anila
2 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"gracious, generous"
"daughter of the wind"
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Browse nicknames →The Story of Anila
Anila comes from the Sanskrit 'anila', one of the names of Vayu, the Hindu god of wind. In Sanskrit, 'anila' means air or wind — the vital breath that sustains all life. The name also has an Arabic variant meaning gracious or one who provides. In Albanian tradition, Anila is a feminine name of its own heritage, meaning 'generous soul'.
Anila is used across multiple cultures with slightly different meanings — in India as a Sanskrit nature name honoring the wind deity, in Arabic-speaking countries as a variant of 'anila' meaning gracious, and in Albania as a traditional feminine name. This multicultural appeal gives it broad, steady usage.
In Hinduism, Vayu (of which Anila is one name) is one of the eight directional deities (Ashtadikpalas) and the father of Hanuman in some traditions. Naming a daughter Anila invokes the life-giving power of breath and wind, central to pranayama and yogic practice.
Historical Record
Anila first appeared in US Social Security records in 1979.
Over 571 babies have been named Anila in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Anila is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #5,694 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Anil/Anila is one of the 108 names of Vayu, the Hindu wind god
- Pranayama, the yogic practice of breath control, derives from 'prana' (breath) — the same life-force that Anila represents
- Albania has produced several notable women named Anila, making it a distinctly popular name in that country
Anila in Other Languages
Popularity Over Time
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Anila
Anila Karma
Activist
Environmental activist known for work in South Asian communities
Vayu (Anila) Fictional
Other
In Hindu mythology, Vayu/Anila is the god of wind and vital breath, father of Hanuman the monkey deity
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Compare Anila with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #5,694
- Total SSA Count
- 22
- Cultural Origins
- Indian Arabic South Asian Albanian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Common Nicknames
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Classic pairing, Arabic heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, Indian heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Anila
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Frequently Asked Questions About Anila
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About the Name Anila
Anila is a girl name with Indian, Arabic, South Asian, and Albanian origins . The name means "air, wind, breath of life" in Sanskrit .
Anila is currently ranked #5,694 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Anila has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Anila include Ani and Nila. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis