Sanaya is a modern name of uncertain origin, usually explained as an elaboration of the Arabic and Persian Sana, which means "brilliance" or "radiance"; in India it is also linked to a Sanskrit word for "eminent". It became familiar through Bollywood and is popular with South Asian families in several countries. In the United States Sanaya stood at number 7954 in 2000, peaked at number 1626 in 2016 and stands at number 2890 in 2025 with 59 births.