NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Anousha

An English feminine name of Persian origin meaning "eternal source of light".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Anousha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Anousha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5493, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 9 births.

This profile covers 82 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1999 to 2020. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 82 living people in the UK are called Anousha. 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 2021 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Anousha ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales in 2020, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2009, when 9 girls were registered as Anousha.
  • About 82 living people in the UK are estimated to have Anousha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5493

2020

Births in 2020

3

Latest year

Peak year

2009

9 births

Estimated living

82

2026

Meaning

What does Anousha mean?

The name Anousha has its origins in the Persian language, and it is believed to have emerged during the ancient Persian empire, which existed from around 550 BC to 330 BC. The name is derived from the Persian word "anoush," which means "sweet" or "pleasant." This suggests that the name was likely given to children with the hope that they would embody these desirable qualities.

In ancient Persian literature and poetry, there are references to the name Anousha, indicating its use and cultural significance during that time period. The name is also found in some historical records and documents from the Persian empire, though the earliest recorded instances are difficult to pinpoint with certainty.

One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Anousha was a Persian princess who lived during the Sassanid Empire, which ruled over Persia from the 3rd to the 7th century AD. Unfortunately, not much is known about her life or the specific years she lived.

Another notable figure with the name Anousha was a 13th-century Persian poet and mystic. She was known for her spiritual poetry and her contributions to the Sufi tradition. Her exact birth and death dates are uncertain, but she is believed to have lived during the latter part of the 13th century.

In the 16th century, there was an Anousha who was a renowned calligrapher and artist in the court of the Safavid Empire. She was celebrated for her intricate and beautiful calligraphic works, though the details of her life and the specific years she lived are not well documented.

During the 17th century, an Anousha was a prominent figure in the Persian textile industry. She was known for her innovative weaving techniques and the exquisite patterns she created. While her birth and death dates are unknown, her contributions to the Persian textile tradition have been widely recognized.

In the 19th century, an Anousha was a celebrated Persian dancer and performer. She was renowned for her graceful movements and her ability to captivate audiences with her performances. While her specific lifespan is not recorded, her name is mentioned in various accounts of the performing arts during that period.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who bore the name Anousha, reflecting its enduring presence and cultural significance within the Persian tradition.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Anousha over time

The chart below shows babies named Anousha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Anousha, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2020, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Anousha
02579199920092020

Decades

Anousha by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Anousha 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 #5493 3 1
2010s #4432 27 6
2000s #3210 48 8
1990s #3225 4 1

Related

Names similar to Anousha

FAQ

Anousha: questions and answers

How popular is the name Anousha in the UK right now?

In 2020, Anousha was ranked #5493 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Anousha most popular?

The peak year on record was 2009, with 9 babies registered as Anousha in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Anousha?

An English feminine name of Persian origin meaning "eternal source of light".

How many people are called Anousha in the UK?

A total of 82 babies have been registered as Anousha across the 16 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.