Anais

♀ Girl

Pronounced ah-nah-EES /ˌæn.əˈiːs/High

Meaning: Catalan and Occitan form of Anna, ultimately from Hebrew Hannah meaning grace or favor; the name is pronounced with three syllables and the stress on the final syllable in Catalan and French usageHigh

In 30 seconds: Anais is the Catalan and Occitan form of Anna, ultimately from Hebrew Hannah meaning grace or favor, made internationally famous by the Franco-Cuban novelist and diarist Anais Nin and carried with an exotic three-syllable melody.

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Origin HighHebrew, Occitan, Catalan

MeaningCatalan and Occitan form of Anna, ultimately from Hebrew Hannah meaning grace or favor; the name is pronounced with three syllables and the stress on the final syllable in Catalan and French usage

U.S. rank (2025)#892 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births299 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2021

Total births (all-time)≈ 9,210

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Anais is the Catalan and Occitan form of Anna, which derives from Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. In the medieval Romance-speaking regions of southern France and northeastern Spain, the Latin Anna transformed into Anais in local dialects. The name has been used in the Catalan-speaking regions — Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands — and in Occitan-speaking areas of southern France for centuries. Its final -s is silent in French but gives the name its characteristic visual distinctiveness.

In the 20th century the name achieved international fame through the Franco-Cuban author and diarist Anais Nin (1903–1977), whose intimate diaries and erotic fiction brought her name to global literary consciousness. The 1978 Cacharel perfume Anais Anais further embedded the name in popular culture. In the United States the name is used particularly by families with French, Catalan, Spanish, or general European cultural connections. It carries a literary, sensuous, and highly international quality that appeals to parents seeking an uncommon but genuinely rooted name.

Did you know? The French perfume house Cacharel launched a fragrance called Anais Anais in 1978 — doubling the name for musical effect — which became one of the best-selling floral perfumes of the late 20th century and introduced the name to millions who had never heard it before.

Overall data confidence 90%

Behind the Name — Anais — Catalan origin and usage

Variations

AnnaïsAnaïsAnna

Nicknames

AnaNais

Famous Bearers

★Anais Nin (1903–1977)
Franco-Cuban author celebrated for her intimate multi-volume diaries and her pioneering work in erotic fiction, including Delta of Venus.

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Anais mean?

Anais is the Catalan and Occitan form of Anna, from Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or divine favor.

How do you pronounce Anais?

It is said ah-nah-EES — three syllables, with the stress on the last syllable. The final s is silent.

Who was Anais Nin?

Anais Nin (1903–1977) was a celebrated Franco-Cuban author known for her multi-volume diaries and erotic fiction.

Is Anais a French name?

Anais is rooted in Catalan and Occitan but is widely used and associated with French culture.