| Ananya | Priya | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | unique, matchless | Beloved, dear |
| Origin | sanskrit | sanskrit |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | uh-NUN-yah | PREE-yah |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1995 | 1969 |
| Peak year | 2008 (214) | 2014 (211) |
| In 2025 | 52 | 99 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Ananya | Priya |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 538 | 700 |
| 2010s | 1,679 | 1,650 |
| 2000s | 1,652 | 1,745 |
| 1990s | 141 | 1,342 |
| 1980s | 0 | 809 |
| 1970s | 0 | 308 |
| 1960s | 0 | 8 |
From Sanskrit ananya (अनन्य), 'without another, unique, matchless'; also 'undivided' in the sense of single-minded devotion. Well established.
From the Sanskrit priya (priyā) meaning 'beloved, dear, cherished'. A well-established Indic 'beloved' root, also the basis of Priyanka.
Priya is more popular than Ananya today: about 99 US babies were given the name Priya in 2025, compared with 52 named Ananya.
Ananya means unique, matchless (sanskrit origin), while Priya means Beloved, dear (sanskrit origin).
In US records, Ananya first appears in 1995 and Priya in 1969, so Priya has the longer recorded history.