The name Anay is of Hebrew origin and means "God answers." It is a variant spelling of the name Anna, which also has Hebrew roots and means "grace" or "favor."
The name Anay is not particularly common in English-speaking countries, but it is more prevalent in other parts of the world. For example, it is often used as a given name in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries.
In terms of history, the name Anna has been in use since biblical times. In the New Testament, Anna is mentioned as an elderly woman who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah. However, there is no specific historical figure associated with the name Anay.
Overall, while the name Anay may not be as well-known as some other names of Hebrew origin, it nonetheless has a rich and meaningful history behind it.
The name Anay has seen a varied trend in its popularity over the years in the United States, with peaks and valleys in its usage. In the mid to late eighties, there were relatively few babies given this name each year, starting from 5 births in 1984 and peaking at 23 births in 1991.
However, the early to mid nineties saw a significant increase in the popularity of Anay, with a sharp rise from 18 births in 1992 to 50 births in 2000. This trend continued into the new millennium, with the highest number of babies named Anay being born in 2001, totaling 55 births that year.
However, the popularity of the name started to decline thereafter, dropping from 47 births in 2003 to just 6 births in 2012. This downward trend continued until 2016, with only single-digit numbers of babies named Anay being born each year since then.
In total, over a span of nearly three decades (from 1984 to 2017), there have been 768 babies named Anay in the United States. While it's clear that the name's popularity has fluctuated significantly over time, its usage has persisted throughout these years.