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Sanaa

Girl name · Arabic

Meaningradiance, brilliance · Arabic

Sanaa is an Arabic girl name meaning “radiance, brilliance”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.

Did you know?

  • Hidden namesLook closely: Sanaa has the name Ana hiding inside it.
  • GenerationSanaa peaked in 2006, which makes it a Gen Z name. The typical Sanaa you'd meet today is about 19 years old.
  • Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Sanaa would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 18,051 baby girls got the name in 2025.
  • HistorySanaa first shows up in US birth records in 1977, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 48 years since.
  • Where it's lovedWant to meet a lot of Sanaas? Head to Maryland, where it's the #731 girl name, its best showing of any state.
Baby smiling with eyes closed
hello, little Sanaa

US births per million girls, 1977–2025

0130260197720002025

Most popular states (2025)

MD rank #731

Similar names

Unisex name: SantanaGirl name: SandraGirl name: SanaUnisex name: SandyGirl name: SantinaGirl name: Hanaa
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Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).

About the name Sanaa

Sanaa is a girl name of Arabic origin meaning “radiance, brilliance”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It hit its peak in the 2000s, so it feels familiar without being trendy. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.

Origin:Arabic names

Other spellings of Sanaa

Girl name: Sana

More Arabic girl names

Questions about the name Sanaa

What does the name Sanaa mean?

Sanaa means “radiance, brilliance” and comes from Arabic. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Sana (“radiance, brilliance”).

What is the origin of the name Sanaa?

Sanaa is Arabic in origin. Other Arabic names to consider are Eleanor (“possibly light”), Layla (“night”), Lyla (“night”) and Aaliyah (“exalted”).

Is Sanaa a boy or girl name?

Sanaa is a girl name. In 2025, 89 US girls were named Sanaa.

How popular is the name Sanaa?

Sanaa ranked #2,099 for US girls in 2025, given to 89 babies. Its best year was 2006, when it reached #605. Over the last five years it has slipped 605 places.

What names are similar to Sanaa?

If you like Sanaa, you might also like Sana. Sana is another spelling of the same name.

What should I know before naming my baby Sanaa?

Sanaa is an Arabic girl name meaning “radiance, brilliance”. Arabic names are often chosen for a virtue or a blessing parents hope their child will carry. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's easy to spell and quick to call across a playground, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.