'Anaheim' originates from a blend of Spanish and German elements: 'Ana' (from the Spanish place name 'Santa Ana') combined with the German word 'heim', where 'heim' meant 'home'.

'Anaheim' was coined in the mid-19th century (around 1857) by German settlers who combined the local place-name element 'Ana' (referring to the Santa Ana River/valley) with the German 'heim' to form the community name; this coined name eventually became the official name of the city.

Initially, the name literally implied 'Ana's home' or 'home by the Santa Ana (River)'; over time it came to refer specifically to the city of Anaheim and things associated with that city (e.g., Disneyland).