Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Anika
GirlDutch, Scandinavian· “grace; pet form of Anna”
- Meaning
- grace; pet form of Anna
- Origin
- Dutch, Scandinavian
- Pronunciation
- AH-nih-kuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #955
- US babies 2025
- 269
- Best rank
- #479 (2004)
- Peak year
- 2006
Meaning and origin of Anika
Anika is a Dutch and Scandinavian name that means “grace; pet form of Anna”.
Anika is a diminutive of Anna, the form of the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor. It is used in Dutch, German and Scandinavian languages, often spelled Annika or Anneke. The Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren included a girl named Annika in her Pippi Longstocking stories, which made the name familiar to many children. In India, a similar-sounding name is used with its own Sanskrit associations. Anika is bright and crisp, with three quick syllables. Ani and Nika are nicknames.
Popularity over time
Anika first appears in US Social Security records in 1961. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 38 different years, starting in 1972. Its best national rank was #479 in 2004, and the most babies received it in 2006, when 642 were named Anika. In 2025, 269 babies were named Anika, and it ranked #955 nationally. That is 49% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,329 in 1980, #624 in 2000, #541 in 2010, and #955 in 2025. Of the 16,804 US girls named Anika since records began, 33% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 5,038 babies. Since 2010, 6,933 more have been named Anika.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Laney, Saniya, Kiersten, Yoselin, and Natalee.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Anika ranked highest in Washington, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | #391 | 18 |
| Oregon | #490 | 7 |
| Pennsylvania | #619 | 16 |
| New Jersey | #625 | 12 |
| California | #644 | 48 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Anika is usually pronounced AH-nih-kuh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-ka”.
Middle names for Anika
A few middle names that flow with Anika: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Anika
Similar names
Erika Girl
EH-rih-kuh
“ever ruler” · Old Norse
#1,109
Annika Girl
AH-nih-kuh
“grace” · Swedish
#995
Karina Girl
kuh-REE-nuh
“dear; also a form of Karin” · Scandinavian
#750
Malika Girl
MAH-lih-kuh
“queen” · Arabic
#2,711
Malaika Girl
mah-LY-kuh
“angel” · Swahili
#2,344
Monika Girl
MON-ih-kuh
“variant of Monica, origin uncertain” · Latin
#6,478
Arika Girl
uh-REE-kuh
“variant of Erika, "ever ruler"” · American (modern coinage)
#6,142
Erica Girl
EH-rih-kuh
“ever ruler” · Old Norse
#1,399
Rivka Girl
RIHV-kuh
“to tie, to bind” · Hebrew
#629
Alika Unisex
ah-LEE-kuh
“Hawaiian form of Alice or Alexander” · Hawaiian
rare
Annelise Girl
AN-uh-lees
“blend of Anna and Elise” · German
#1,072
Brooklyn Girl
BRUK-lihn
“from the New York borough” · American (modern coinage)
#118
Lists that include Anika
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Anika mean?
Anika is a Dutch and Scandinavian name that means “grace; pet form of Anna”.
What is the origin of the name Anika?
Anika has Dutch, Scandinavian, and Hebrew roots. Anika is a diminutive of Anna, the form of the Hebrew Hannah, meaning grace or favor.
Is Anika a popular name?
Yes. Anika ranked #955 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Anika a boy or girl name?
Anika is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Anika?
Anika is usually pronounced AH-nih-kuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings