Anjali

GirlSanskrit, Hindi· “offering with joined hands”

Meaning
offering with joined hands
Origin
Sanskrit, Hindi
Pronunciation
UHN-juh-lee
Syllables
3
US rank 2025
#2,652
US babies 2025
65
Best rank
#933 (2000)
Peak year
2005

Meaning and origin of Anjali

Anjali is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “offering with joined hands”.

Anjali comes from Sanskrit and refers to an offering made with joined hands, the gesture of cupped or pressed palms used in prayer and greeting. The same gesture appears in the Namaste salutation and in yoga. As a name, Anjali expresses reverence and devotion. It is widely used in India and among families of Indian heritage around the world. Anjali is usually pronounced UHN-juh-lee, and it feels graceful and serene. Anju is a common affectionate nickname.

Popularity over time

075150225300198020002020Peak 2005: 255
US babies named Anjali per year, 1880 to 2025

Anjali first appears in US Social Security records in 1964. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 4 different years, starting in 2000. Its best national rank was #933 in 2000, and the most babies received it in 2005, when 255 were named Anjali. In 2025, 65 babies were named Anjali, and it ranked #2,652 nationally. That is 56% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #2,344 in 1980, #933 in 2000, #1,180 in 2010, and #2,652 in 2025. Of the 5,822 US girls named Anjali since records began, 40% were born in the 2000s, its biggest decade. The 2010s come next, with 1,475 babies. Since 2010, 1,940 more have been named Anjali.

Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Jazmyne, Abrianna, Mayte, Sahara, and Aida.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Anjali ranked highest in California and Texas.

StateRank thereBabies
California#166013
Texas#22279

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for girls.

Anjali is usually pronounced UHN-juh-lee, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-li”.

Middle names for Anjali

A few middle names that flow with Anjali: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Chloe Girl
KLOH-ee
“young green shoot” · Greek
#23
Grace Girl
GRAYS
“grace” · English
#38
Claire Girl
KLAIR
“clear, bright” · French
#68
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#18
Luna Girl
LOO-nuh
“moon” · Latin
#27

Sibling names for Anjali

Similar names

Ananya Girl
uh-NUHN-yuh
“unique, without equal” · Sanskrit
#3,105
Sahana Girl
suh-HAH-nuh
“patience, endurance” · Sanskrit
#1,921
Anisha Girl
uh-NEE-shuh
“uninterrupted; without night” · Sanskrit
#4,560
Avani Girl
uh-VAH-nee
“earth” · Sanskrit
#806
Natali Girl
nah-TAH-lee
“born at Christmas; variant of Natalie” · Spanish
#3,438
Denali Unisex
duh-NAH-lee
“the high one” · Native American
#2,338
Magali Girl
MAH-guh-lee
“Provençal form of Margaret, pearl” · French
#4,511
Emili Girl
EM-ih-lee
“variant of Emily; rival” · American (modern coinage)
#4,209
Kali Girl
KAH-lee
“the black one” · Sanskrit
#323
Riya Girl
REE-yuh
“uncertain; Indian name” · Hindi
#1,546
Diya Girl
DEE-yuh
“lamp” · Hindi
#1,714
Asha Girl
AH-shuh
“hope” · Sanskrit
#1,373

Lists that include Anjali

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Anjali mean?

Anjali is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “offering with joined hands”.

What is the origin of the name Anjali?

Anjali has Sanskrit and Hindi roots. Anjali comes from Sanskrit and refers to an offering made with joined hands, the gesture of cupped or pressed palms used in prayer and greeting.

Is Anjali a popular name?

Not especially. Anjali ranked #2,652 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Anjali a boy or girl name?

Anjali is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.

How do you pronounce Anjali?

Anjali is usually pronounced UHN-juh-lee. 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