Ananda is an ancient Sanskrit word that translates to 'bliss' or 'happiness'. It is derived from the root 'ananda', which means 'to rejoice' or 'be happy'. In Buddhism, Ananda was the cousin and personal attendant of Gautama Buddha. The name has been popularized in various cultures, including Hinduism and Buddhism, often used to denote a sense of joy and spiritual contentment.
The name Ananda experienced a significant rise in popularity from the late 1990s to around 2002, with a peak of 128 births recorded in 2002. However, since then, its usage has declined considerably, with fewer than 30 births annually from 2007 onwards, and as low as 7 births in both 2019 and 2021. Overall, a total of 1618 babies were named Ananda between 1968 and 2023.