UK boy's name
Alishan
An Arabic origin name meaning "lofty" or "most high".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Alishan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Alishan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4789, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2000 to 2021. 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 10 living people in the UK are called Alishan. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Alishan ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 4 boys were registered as Alishan.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Alishan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4789
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2000
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Alishan mean?
The name Alishan is of Persian origin, derived from the combination of the Persian words "Ali" and "Shah." The name is believed to have emerged during the Islamic Golden Age, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century.
In Persian culture, the name Ali holds great significance as it was the name of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Ali was also the fourth caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate and the first Imam in Shia Islam. The word "Shah" means "king" or "sovereign" in Persian.
The earliest recorded use of the name Alishan dates back to the 10th century, when it was mentioned in the Persian epic poem "Shahnameh" by Ferdowsi. The poem chronicles the history of ancient Persia and includes references to various historical figures, some of whom may have borne the name Alishan.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Alishan. One of the most prominent was Alishan Areweltsi (1820-1901), an Armenian poet, scholar, and historian who made significant contributions to the study of Armenian literature and culture.
Another famous bearer of the name was Alishan Mussawi (1944-2015), an Iranian cleric and politician who served as the Minister of Intelligence and Security in Iran from 1989 to 1997.
In the realm of literature, Alishan Shamsuddeen (1926-2007) was a renowned Bangladeshi poet, playwright, and novelist who was widely celebrated for his contributions to Bengali literature.
The name Alishan has also been associated with religious figures, such as Alishan Qadri (1835-1917), an influential Sufi scholar and spiritual leader from India.
Additionally, Alishan Karim (born 1977) is a British actor of Iranian descent, best known for his roles in films like "The Kite Runner" and "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time."
While the name Alishan is primarily associated with Persian and Islamic cultures, it has gained popularity across various regions and communities, reflecting the rich cultural exchange and influence that have shaped human civilizations throughout history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Alishan over time
The chart below shows babies named Alishan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Alishan, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Alishan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Alishan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4789 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3467 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Alishan
- Alfie 86,546
- Alexander 85,525
- Adam 71,855
- Archie 59,965
- Arthur 43,586
- Aaron 36,366
- Alex 32,729
- Andrew 20,169
- Arlo 19,061
- Aidan 16,776
- Albie 16,017
- Albert 15,809
FAQ
Alishan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Alishan in the UK right now?
In 2021, Alishan was ranked #4789 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Alishan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 4 babies registered as Alishan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Alishan?
An Arabic origin name meaning "lofty" or "most high".
How many people are called Alishan in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Alishan across the 3 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.