WeeNames Scotland’s favourite name finder

← All names

Anneka

Girl name · 22 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Anneka: 22 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 8 births in 1985.

Anneka is a variant of Anna, which ultimately derives from the Hebrew name Hannah, meaning "grace" or "favour." This spelling gained traction in the late 20th century, partly thanks to the actress Anneka Rice, known for presenting the popular 1980s BBC show *Treasure Hunt* and for her own action-adventure series *Anneka's Guide to...* and *Challenge Anneka*. Her vivacious television persona helped popularise the name in Britain. While there is no major Scottish place directly named after an Anneka, the name shares its root with the Scottish town of Annan – the River Annan likely originates from a Celtic word for "water." The double-'n' spelling gives Anneka a slightly more ornate feel than the classic Anna, yet it remains straightforward to pronounce.

Girl 5 of 52 years

Peak year
19858 babies
Latest (1990)
#6153 babies
Total births
22since 1985
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1985 · 8
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).