UK girl's name
Anisha
Indian origin meaning "impure", "incomparable" or "superior".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Anisha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anisha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2000, with 14 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 116 births.
This profile covers 1,702 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 12% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,709 living people in the UK are called Anisha. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Anisha ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 14 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 116 girls were registered as Anisha.
- • Anisha ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #793 in 2008.
- • About 1,709 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anisha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2000
2024
Births in 2024
14
Latest year
Peak year
1998
116 births
Estimated living
1,709
2026
Meaning
What does Anisha mean?
The name Anisha has its origins in the Sanskrit language of ancient India, dating back to around the 5th century BCE. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "anish," meaning "command" or "order," suggesting a connotation of authority or leadership.
In Hinduism, the name Anisha is often associated with the goddess Anisha or Anishta, who is revered as a form of the divine mother and a symbol of strength and protection. This connection lends the name a spiritual significance within the Hindu tradition.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anisha can be found in the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a character. Additionally, the name appears in various Sanskrit texts and scriptures, further solidifying its historical roots.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Anisha. One such figure was Anisha Nayyar (1926-2005), an Indian classical dancer and choreographer renowned for her contributions to the Kathak dance form. Another prominent Anisha was Anisha Desai (1915-2001), an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a significant role in India's independence movement.
In the realm of literature, Anisha Halim (1914-1997) was a celebrated Pakistani writer and poet, known for her poignant works that explored themes of love, loss, and the human condition. Anisha Accaoui (1976-present) is a contemporary Lebanese-American artist and sculptor, whose works have been exhibited globally and received critical acclaim.
Lastly, Anisha Grange (1972-present) is a British social entrepreneur and activist, recognized for her efforts in promoting sustainable living and empowering communities through her initiatives and organizations.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals named Anisha who have left their mark on various fields throughout history, showcasing the enduring nature and versatility of this name across cultures and generations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Anisha over time
The chart below shows babies named Anisha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Anisha, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 14 births in 2024, compared with 116 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anisha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anisha 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 | #2104 | 65 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1110 | 357 | 10 |
| 2000s | #450 | 865 | 10 |
| 1990s | #332 | 415 | 4 |
Geography
Where Anisha is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Anisha. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Anisha ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #793 in 2008.
Across the UK
Anisha in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#793 in 2008
5 years of NRS records, 18 total registered
Related
Names similar to Anisha
- 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
Anisha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Anisha in the UK right now?
In 2024, Anisha was ranked #2000 for girls in England and Wales, with 14 births registered.
When was Anisha most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 116 babies registered as Anisha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Anisha?
Indian origin meaning "impure", "incomparable" or "superior".
How many people are called Anisha in the UK?
A total of 1,702 babies have been registered as Anisha across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 18 more in Scotland.
Where is Anisha most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Anisha ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #793 in 2008. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.