Unisex name · African, Arabic

Sani

How to say it: SAH-nee · /ˈsani/

Hausa and Arabic name meaning 'brilliant, second'; also Japanese 'praise' - widely used in West Africa.

Sani was the 9,396th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 13 babies of either sex (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 2000s, its births are down about 5% in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #7,860 by 2030.

Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · Insee 2025 data, published July 2026 · How we compute these figures

#9,396for boys in 2025
1 in 255,026US babies
13born in 2025
#7,860projected for 2030
2000sits peak decade
under 1 in 200chance a classmate shares it

Key facts

Key facts about Sani
Rank among boys’ names, 2025#9,396
Babies born in 2025 (both sexes)13
Share of births1 in 255,026
Peak decade2000s
Change over 10 years−5%
Projected rank for 2030 (estimate)#7,860
In France, 2025#2,436 among boys’ names, 5 births

Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA), Insee (France). How we compute these figures.

Its life, decade by decade

Sani is a newcomer: almost all of its history is from the last forty years.

1900195020002020–25
Peak: 6 per million births, 2000s.

What goes with it

Parents who love Sani also love

Nicknames

  • San

In the classroom

In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Sani is about under 1 in 200.

Around the world

This spelling is used in Arabic, English, Finnish, French, Hindi.

In France: #2,436 for boys in 2025.

Famous people named Sani

From Wikidata and Wikipedia

Keep exploring

Find names you'll both love, starting with Sani

The one-minute style quiz.

Take the quiz

Or see the Vowel app →