Anil

♂ Boy

Pronounced ah-NEEL /ɑˈnil/Medium

Meaning: From the Sanskrit anil, 'the wind; the air'; a name of Vayu, the god of wind; we note the deityLow

In 30 seconds: The wind; the god of wind: Anil is Sanskrit. Crisp, classic, and warm (said 'ah-NEEL'). We note the deity.

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Origin LowIndian, Sanskrit

MeaningFrom the Sanskrit anil, 'the wind; the air'; a name of Vayu, the god of wind; we note the deity

U.S. rank (2024)#9938 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1989

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,160

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Anil comes from the Sanskrit anil, 'the wind; the air'; a name of Vayu, the god of wind (we note the deity). A crisp, classic name (said 'ah-NEEL').

In the U.S. it appears in Indian families. Rare, the-wind at the root, and crisp.

Did you know? Anil means 'the wind; the air' in Sanskrit — a name of Vayu, the god of wind — a crisp, classic name (we note the deity; said 'ah-NEEL').

Overall data confidence 42%

References — Anil — Sanskrit etymology

Variations

AneelAnhil

Nicknames

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If you like Anil…

Nikhil— a companion -il Sanskrit boys' name

Amil— shares Anil's Sanskrit roots

Akhil— shares the -il ending

Sharvil— a fellow Sanskrit choice

Anagh— a fellow Indian choice

Explore names like Anil

By themesanskrit indian mythology

By meaningGod / Divine Wind / Air

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Anil mean?

Anil is Sanskrit for 'the wind; the air'; a name of Vayu, the god of wind. We note the deity.

How do you pronounce Anil?

It's said ah-NEEL /ɑˈnil/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Anil a boy or girl name?

Anil is a boy's name.

How popular is Anil?

Anil is a very rare name in the U.S.