UK girl's name
Aasha
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "hope" or "desire".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Aasha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aasha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 4 births.
This profile covers 35 England and Wales registrations across 11 recorded years from 2000 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 35 living people in the UK are called Aasha. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Aasha ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 4 girls were registered as Aasha.
- • About 35 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aasha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5666
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2002
4 births
Estimated living
35
2026
Meaning
What does Aasha mean?
The name Aasha originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that dates back to around the 2nd millennium BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "asha," which means hope, desire, or wish. The name Aasha is commonly found in Indian cultures, particularly among Hindus and Sikhs.
In Hindu scriptures, the concept of "asha" is mentioned in the Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita, which are considered some of the most important ancient texts in Hinduism. The name Aasha is often associated with the idea of having hope, aspiration, and a positive outlook on life.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Aasha can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a character. The Mahabharata is considered one of the longest epic poems in the world and is an important part of Hindu mythology.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Aasha. One of the most famous was Aasha Bhosle (1933-2022), an Indian singer who was considered one of the most versatile and influential playback singers in Bollywood. She recorded over 20,000 songs in various languages and was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honor in cinema.
Another notable figure was Aasha Shakti Vohra (1932-2022), an Indian social worker and activist who dedicated her life to empowering women and promoting education. She founded the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Sarvatra in 1989, which aimed to provide vocational training and employment opportunities for underprivileged women.
Aasha Kumari (born 1975) is an Indian politician who served as a member of the Indian Parliament, representing the Lok Sabha (Lower House) from Dholpur, Rajasthan. She has been involved in various social welfare initiatives and has advocated for women's rights and education.
Aasha Reddy (born 1954) is an Indian-American physician and medical researcher who has made significant contributions to the field of oncology. She is known for her work in developing targeted therapies for breast cancer and has received numerous awards and honors for her research.
Aasha Davis (born 1993) is an American professional tennis player who has won several singles and doubles titles on the ITF Women's Circuit. She has represented the United States in international competitions, such as the Fed Cup and the Pan American Games.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aasha over time
The chart below shows babies named Aasha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Aasha, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aasha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aasha was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5736 | 15 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4477 | 20 | 6 |
Related
Names similar to Aasha
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Aasha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aasha in the UK right now?
In 2018, Aasha was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Aasha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 4 babies registered as Aasha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aasha?
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "hope" or "desire".
How many people are called Aasha in the UK?
A total of 35 babies have been registered as Aasha across the 11 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.