UK girl's name
Ashana
A Hindi feminine name meaning "hope" or "desire".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ashana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ashana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3860, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 5 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2003 to 2008. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Ashana. 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 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ashana ranked #3860 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 5 girls were registered as Ashana.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ashana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3860
2008
Births in 2008
5
Latest year
Peak year
2003
5 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Ashana mean?
The name Ashana is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language that has been a prominent language in South Asia for thousands of years. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "ashana," which means "hope" or "aspiration."
In Hindu mythology, the name Ashana is associated with the goddess Lakshmi, who is the divine embodiment of beauty, wealth, and prosperity. The name is often given to girls with the hope that they will embody the qualities of the goddess and lead a life filled with abundance and good fortune.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ashana can be found in the ancient Hindu text, the Mahabharata, which dates back to around the 8th century BCE. In this epic, Ashana is mentioned as the name of a minor character, a princess from a small kingdom.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have carried the name Ashana. One of the earliest recorded instances is Ashana Devi (1050-1120 CE), who was a renowned poet and scholar from the Kingdom of Kashmir. Her works, which included poetry and philosophical treatises, were highly influential during her time and are still studied today.
Another notable figure with the name Ashana was Ashana Bai (1670-1732), who was a prominent courtesan and musician in the court of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. She was renowned for her skill in playing the veena, a traditional Indian string instrument, and her compositions are still performed today.
In more recent times, Ashana Debi (1909-1995) was a celebrated Indian classical dancer and choreographer who helped popularize the traditional Odissi dance form. She was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan honors by the government of India for her contributions to the arts.
Another notable figure with the name Ashana was Ashana Habib (1925-2002), who was a Bangladeshi novelist and short story writer. Her works explored themes of feminism, social injustice, and the struggles of women in a patriarchal society. She was awarded the Ekushey Padak, one of the highest civilian honors in Bangladesh, for her literary contributions.
Lastly, Ashana Gupta (1945-2020) was an Indian environmentalist and social activist who dedicated her life to conserving the natural resources of the Himalayas. She founded the Chipko Movement, a non-violent protest movement aimed at protecting the forests and the livelihoods of the local communities.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ashana over time
The chart below shows babies named Ashana registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ashana, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2008, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ashana by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ashana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3700 | 19 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Ashana
- 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
Ashana: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ashana in the UK right now?
In 2008, Ashana was ranked #3860 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Ashana most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 5 babies registered as Ashana in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ashana?
A Hindi feminine name meaning "hope" or "desire".
How many people are called Ashana in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Ashana across the 4 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.