# Is Anika becoming a common girl's name? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 12, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468 "2012-09-12T04:25:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/1 "2012-09-12T04:25:02Z")
A little girl in the Cub’s pre-K is named Anika. My first thought was of little Anikin Skywalker. Turns out that she has more in common than the name; there’s a clear personality relationship, if you get my drift. At any rate, is “Anika” becoming a common name for little [del]anti-social brats[/del] girls? Don’t others see a resemblance in names there? ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/2 "2012-09-12T04:30:37Z")
Anika is a fairly common European variant of Anna. It’s been around for ages. The suffix “-ka” is a common form of a diminutive version of the name, the way “-ie” is in English. Here’s a page with the different versions: > **[Meaning, origin and history of the name Anika - Behind the Name](https://www.behindthename.com/name/anika)** > > The meaning, origin and history of the given name Anika ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/3 "2012-09-12T04:33:15Z")
Annika and Anika had a spike in popularity in the early 2000s, but that surge has faded and they were never very common. This comes from the Baby Name Voyager site: around 2004 there were about 240 Annikas out of every million babies in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/4 "2012-09-12T05:01:06Z")
I know two and they were born in 1998 and 2001. Annika’s parents are from Germany (mom) and Poland (dad). Anika’s parents are of Indian descent. Both are really lovely girls. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/5 "2012-09-12T05:12:52Z")
Annika is Pippi Longstocking’s friend in the book. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/6 "2012-09-12T05:43:48Z")
Around here it’s Anneka or Anneke but based on the same root and never has been very common among later generations. Too bad; it’s a pretty name. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/7 "2012-09-12T06:15:17Z")
I’ve known a couple of Annikas, both were Swedish. It was also on our shortlist for baby #2, although we ended up calling her Remy instead. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/8 "2012-09-12T07:03:08Z")
In Spain’s Ebro Valley and spelled with a c it’s a nickname for Ana. St. Anne being the patron saint of several towns in the area, it’s quite common although usually the kind of nick that’s “very close family only”. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/9 "2012-09-12T07:28:42Z")
It’s been common in the UK since [Anneka](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anneka_Rice)"Rear of the Year 1986" Rice ran around our TV screens in a tight jumpsuit. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/10 "2012-09-12T09:32:23Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > I’ve known a couple of Annikas, both were Swedish. Not so common nowadays. I’d guess it peaked some time in the 1930s/1940s. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/11 "2012-09-12T10:17:17Z")
> [@Girl\_From\_Mars](#): > > I’ve known a couple of Annikas, both were Swedish. It was also on our shortlist for baby #2, although we ended up calling her Remy instead. Annika Sorenstam influenced, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/12 "2012-09-12T13:17:46Z")
There was an Anika in my class when I was in grade school and I was born in 1967. I hope it’s becoming more popular, I think it’s a very pretty name. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/13 "2012-09-12T13:27:45Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Annika Sorenstam influenced, maybe? That’s my guess. Annika Sorenstam starts showing up a lot in Google News Archives in 1995, and that’s the same year that Annika debuted in the top 1000 Social Security names. ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/14 "2012-09-12T13:51:19Z")
I know a couple. One is probably 10-11 years old. The other was born on Monday. ---
**Author:** ![GilaB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@GilaB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GilaB)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/15 "2012-09-12T14:49:04Z")
Popularity chart for Annika (peaking at 327th most common girl name in the US in 2005) is [here](http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=annika&ms=false&exact=false). Popularity chart for Anika (peaking at 477th most common girl name in 2004) is [here](http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=anika&ms=false&exact=true). Interestingly, this spelling also charted in the 1970’s, although way down on the list (#985). ---
**Author:** ![eclectic\_wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ac91a4/32.png) [@eclectic\_wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eclectic_wench)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/16 "2012-09-12T14:54:19Z")
Just to point out that it’s An **a** kin Skywalker, not Anikin. They’re not related. ---
**Author:** ![the\_Lady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bb73d2/32.png) [@the\_Lady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_Lady)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/17 "2012-09-12T15:01:53Z")
I have a 6 year old niece in Vancouver named Annika. She’s the only one I’ve run across though. ---
**Author:** ![Snickers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/18 "2012-09-12T15:10:42Z")
I know two little girls 'round these parts named Annika. I was about to say that it’s reasonably popular around here, but then realized I couldn’t think of anyone else besides those two that have that name. I think it’s the Scandinavian influence. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/19 "2012-09-12T15:11:13Z")
I don’t know any Anikas, but I do know a good number of Anikos (it’s a popular Hungarian name. I swear, I feel like there are about 30 popular first names in Hungary, and 30 popular surnames, and everybody I know is some combination of the two.) ---
**Author:** ![AndyLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@AndyLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AndyLee)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468/20 "2012-09-12T17:04:31Z")
What ever happened to that guy in NJ who tried to name his baby Hitler or something like that? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-anika-becoming-a-common-girls-name/634468.md?page=2)