UK girl's name
Ayishah
A female name of Arabic origin meaning "life-giver".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ayishah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ayishah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3514, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 7 births.
This profile covers 43 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2004 to 2014. 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 86% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 43 living people in the UK are called Ayishah. 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 2015 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ayishah ranked #3514 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 7 girls were registered as Ayishah.
- • About 43 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ayishah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3514
2014
Births in 2014
6
Latest year
Peak year
2009
7 births
Estimated living
43
2026
Meaning
What does Ayishah mean?
The name Ayishah originates from the Arabic language and culture, dating back to the 7th century AD. It is a feminine form of the Arabic name Aisha, derived from the root word "'aysh" meaning "life" or "to live." The name's earliest recorded usage was associated with Aisha, the third and youngest wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
In Islamic tradition, Aisha is revered as a significant figure, known for her extensive knowledge of Islamic teachings and her role in transmitting numerous hadiths (sayings and traditions of the Prophet Muhammad). Her full name, Ayishah bint Abi Bakr, is mentioned in the Quran and other Islamic texts, solidifying her place in religious and historical records.
One of the earliest documented instances of the name Ayishah can be found in the writings of Ibn Ishaq, an 8th-century Arab Muslim historian, who chronicled the life of the Prophet Muhammad and his companions, including Aisha.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Ayishah. One of the most prominent was Ayishah al-Ba'uniyyah (1456-1516), a renowned Sufi mystic and scholar from Damascus, Syria. Her writings and teachings on Sufism and Islamic spirituality had a significant impact on her contemporaries and subsequent generations.
Another notable figure was Ayishah al-Taymuriyah (1384-1492), a prominent female scholar and theologian from Cairo, Egypt. She was renowned for her expertise in various Islamic disciplines, including Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence), and Tafsir (Quranic exegesis).
In the realm of literature, Ayishah al-Nisa'iyyah (1199-1288) was a celebrated poet and writer from Damascus. Her poetic works, often focusing on themes of love and spirituality, were widely acclaimed during her lifetime and have been preserved in various literary anthologies.
The name Ayishah also gained prominence in the Indian subcontinent, particularly during the Mughal era. One notable figure was Ayishah Sultan Begum (1611-1677), the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir and wife of Prince Murad Baksh. She was known for her patronage of arts and architecture, contributing to the construction of several notable buildings in India.
These examples illustrate the historical significance and widespread use of the name Ayishah across various cultures and regions, reflecting its rich legacy and enduring influence over centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ayishah over time
The chart below shows babies named Ayishah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ayishah, the clearest high point is 2009. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2014, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ayishah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ayishah 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4566 | 22 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4265 | 21 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Ayishah
- 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
Ayishah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ayishah in the UK right now?
In 2014, Ayishah was ranked #3514 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Ayishah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 7 babies registered as Ayishah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ayishah?
A female name of Arabic origin meaning "life-giver".
How many people are called Ayishah in the UK?
A total of 43 babies have been registered as Ayishah across the 10 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.