• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Request a Name

Appellation Mountain

Where every name has a story

  • Baby Name Advice & More
  • Master List: Girl Names
  • Master List: Boy Names
  • Private Baby Name Consulting

Baby Name of the Day: Anjali

November 7, 2011 By appellationmountain 20 Comments


At first glance, she looks like a creative twist on Angela, but this exotic import is a completely different name.

Thanks to Casandra for suggesting Anjali as our Baby Name of the Day.

With names like Annalie and Aynslee in use for girls, you’re forgiven if you don’t spot Anjali’s Sanskrit roots.

Anjali translates to offering, but the meaning is far more nuanced.

More names you might like:

  • Fetching Names: The Honest iFetching Names: The Honest i
  • Gemstone Names for Girls: Opal, Topaz, PearlGemstone Names for Girls: Opal, Topaz, Pearl
  • Baby Name Poppy: Vibrant and MeaningfulBaby Name Poppy: Vibrant and Meaningful
  • Modern Virtue Names: Haven, Noble, TrueModern Virtue Names: Haven, Noble, True
  • Botanical Girl Names: Blossom, Eden, FleurBotanical Girl Names: Blossom, Eden, Fleur

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Print

Comments

  1. crg says

    December 5, 2011 at 12:44 AM

    I taught a little girl named Anjalie. Her father’s family was Indian. I had never heard it before- it suited her well.

    Reply
  2. waltzingmorethanmatilda says

    November 8, 2011 at 4:18 AM

    *see this one appealing.

    Reply
  3. waltzingmorethanmatilda says

    November 8, 2011 at 4:18 AM

    I’ve seen quite a few babies recently with yoga-inspired names, so I can really this one appealing.

    Reply
    • waltzingmorethanmatilda says

      November 11, 2011 at 11:49 PM

      I did in fact see an Anjali in an Australian birth notice from Names for Real, so my hunch that it would fit in with this current trend seems to have been proven correct.

      Reply
  4. Sarah A says

    November 8, 2011 at 12:07 AM

    I live in a city with one of the highest concentrations of Indians in the U.S. Now I’m curious if there are any Anjalis running around my neighborhood 🙂 I do know (all under 12) Veena, Meena, Sheena (sp?), Gurvinder (he hates it though and goes by Gunu), and Yash. And the African-American brothers Elijah and Isaiah.

    I think Anjali is beautiful and while I’d be surprised to meet one who wasn’t Indian, I don’t think it’s a requirement. Wouldn’t sisters named Anjali and Aditi be adorable? 😉

    Reply
  5. C in DC says

    November 7, 2011 at 11:42 PM

    I went to college with a number of girls from India. There were some great choices among their names: Anjali, Sunita (nn Sunny), Alka, Priya, Sharmila, Devika.

    Reply
  6. Rosy says

    November 7, 2011 at 9:58 PM

    I have a not-so-great association with an Anjali, but the other Anjali I know of is my former English teacher’s five-year-old (her mother is Indian, I believe). I think it’s pretty. I have a weakness for Indian names– some of my favorites are Priya, Indira, and Jaswinder.

    Reply
  7. dreadedjaws says

    November 7, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    It’s a pretty name… a high school friend has a baby (she’s probably a year and a half old) with this name. I was pretty surprised when I saw it – it wasn’t what I imagined she’d use. She has no Indian heritage and from what I know, neither does her husband. I like the sound of it and it’s nice for someone else’s kids. It’s just not my personal style. It does remind me a lot of Angela/Angelina, and maybe that’s why it feels familiar.

    Reply
  8. Julie says

    November 7, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    At our pediatrician’s office, one of the nurses is named Anjoli. She’s African American, so I’m betting there’s a story there, but I’ve never had the nerve to ask.

    I like Anjali, it’s very pretty.

    Reply
  9. Kristine says

    November 7, 2011 at 11:30 AM

    I have always loved this name! I would definitely consider using it. And I have met 2 Anjalis in my life, both young, so it seems to be fairly common (at least where I live)

    Reply
  10. Raquel Somatra says

    November 7, 2011 at 12:24 PM

    This name is lovely. I love nearly all the Indian names I hear, but my husband has some hesitation since neither of us has any physical connection to India. And “But we love Indian food” isn’t good enough for him. Sigh!

    Reply
  11. Lauren says

    November 7, 2011 at 8:30 AM

    I like its sound a lot! Not for me as a name for my own kid, but on someone else’s she would be lovely!

    Reply
  12. Angela (@angelaaiea) says

    November 7, 2011 at 6:34 AM

    I have also seen “Anjulie”… I assume it’s a variation?

    Reply
    • appellationmountain says

      November 7, 2011 at 7:00 AM

      I think so, though Anjuli and Anjulie seem to only be used outside of India – the singer Anjulie was born in Canada, of Indian descent. I’m guessing now, but given the number of languages/dialects/vernacular forms in which Anjali could be used as a given name, there almost certainly multiple pronunciations – even if the differences are subtle – that would lead parents to choose slightly different spellings. I’ve seen Anjolie, too.

      Reply
      • Fionn says

        November 7, 2011 at 10:56 AM

        I’ve always wondered if perhaps some of the Anglo Anjulie/Anjolies were named phonetically after the perfume Enjoli? Stranger things have happened!

        Reply
        • appellationmountain says

          November 7, 2011 at 1:25 PM

          I wondered about that, too, Fionn. I seems like a long shot, but I can still hear the Enjoli commercial in my head. “I can bring home the bacon …” Oh dear. It might be stuck now!

          Reply
      • Charlotte Vera says

        November 8, 2011 at 11:07 AM

        Anjuli was the name given to the heroine of M.M. Kaye’s 1970s novel The Far Pavillions, which is possibly why she’s gained some popularity outside of India. I actually went to highschool with two Canadian twins named Anjuli and Sujina (nn Juli and Jina) whose mother grew up in India. Anjuli had been named for Kaye’s character.

        I think your distinction is correct, Abby. I don’t recall ever meeting an Anjuli in India, but I knew lots of Anjalis of various ages. I can’t speak to whether the name would seem dated or not though.

        Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Fetching Names: The Honest i | Appellation Mountain says:
    December 29, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    […] Anjali – She’s an Indian import that could wear well circa 2012.

    Reply
  2. Fetching Names: The Honest i | Appellation Mountain says:
    December 29, 2011 at 2:04 AM

    […] Anjali – She’s an Indian import that could wear well circa 2012.

    Reply
  3. See the Real Deal at For Real Baby Names | Waltzing More Than Matilda says:
    November 26, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    […] Beckham. I have seen real babies called Anjali and Tigerlily – names that have featured on Appellation Mountain and Nook of […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


POPULAR POSTS

Tweets by @appmtn
Visit Appellation Mountain's profile on Pinterest.

Copyright © 2022 · AppellationMountain.net on Genesis Framework · Privacy Policy · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.