UK name, mostly girls
Asha
A South Asian feminine name meaning "hope" or "desire".
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.
Asha is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Asha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1097, with 31 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 125 births.
This profile covers 1,695 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,780 living people in the UK are called Asha. 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
- • Asha ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 31 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 125 girls were registered as Asha.
- • Asha ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.
- • About 1,780 living people in the UK are estimated to have Asha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 94.8% of Asha registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1097
2024
Births in 2024
31
Latest year
Peak year
2003
125 births
Estimated living
1,780
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Asha
In England and Wales birth records, Asha has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 5.2% of registrations are for boys and 94.8% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Asha registered for boys
- Ranked #4,991 in 2023
- 3 boys registered in 2023
- Peak: 2009 (7 births)
Asha registered for girls
- Ranked #1,097 in 2024
- 31 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2003 (125 births)
Meaning
What does Asha mean?
The name Asha has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient language of India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "asha," which means "hope" or "desire." The name has been in use for centuries and can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Asha can be found in the Rigveda, one of the oldest and most revered Hindu scriptures, composed around 1500-1000 BCE. In the Rigveda, Asha is personified as a divine concept representing truth, righteousness, and cosmic order.
In ancient Indian literature, Asha is also mentioned as the name of a character in the epic Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th or 9th century BCE. Asha was the daughter of King Virata, and her story plays a significant role in the epic's narrative.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Asha. One of the earliest recorded was Asha Bhosle, an Indian singer and actress who was born in 1933 and is still actively performing. She is renowned for her contributions to Indian cinema and has recorded thousands of songs in various languages.
Another famous Asha was Asha Devi, an Indian freedom fighter and social activist who lived from 1909 to 1995. She actively participated in the Indian independence movement and worked tirelessly for women's rights and education.
In more recent times, Asha Bhosle, the Indian playback singer, has continued to be one of the most celebrated individuals with this name. Born in 1933, she has recorded over 12,000 songs in various Indian languages and is considered one of the most prolific playback singers in the world.
Asha Parekh, an Indian actress and director, was born in 1942 and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful actresses of her time. She starred in numerous Bollywood films and is also known for her philanthropic work.
Asha Rangappa, an American lawyer and former FBI agent, is another notable individual with this name. Born in 1973, she has been a vocal commentator on issues related to national security and has authored several books on the subject.
The name Asha has remained popular across various cultures and regions, with its roots firmly grounded in the ancient Sanskrit language and Hindu traditions. Its meaning of "hope" and "desire" has resonated with many, making it a timeless and enduring choice for generations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Asha over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Asha in England and Wales, 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 Asha, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 31 births in 2024, compared with 125 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Asha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Asha 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 | #1214 | 136 | 5 |
| 2010s | #924 | 414 | 10 |
| 2000s | #451 | 832 | 10 |
| 1990s | #403 | 313 | 4 |
Geography
Where Asha is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Asha. 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.
Asha ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.
Across the UK
Asha in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#765 in 2020
18 years of NRS records, 73 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#391 in 2023
7 years of NISRA records, 23 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Asha
-
Asha Banks
songwriter; actor; singer; musician; television actor; stage actor; film actor
English actress and singer
2003-
-
Asha Randall
synchronized swimmer
British synchronised swimmer
1990-
-
Asha Philip
sprinter; athletics competitor; trampoline gymnast
British sprinter
1990-
-
Asha Leo
model
English model
1985-
-
Asha Gill
model; television presenter
British model and broadcaster
1972-
Related
Names similar to Asha
- 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
Asha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Asha in the UK right now?
In 2024, Asha was ranked #1097 for girls in England and Wales, with 31 births registered.
When was Asha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 125 babies registered as Asha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Asha?
A South Asian feminine name meaning "hope" or "desire".
How many people are called Asha in the UK?
A total of 1,695 babies have been registered as Asha across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 73 more in Scotland and 23 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Asha most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Asha ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #391 in 2023. 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.