UK girl's name
Ayshe
A feminine Turkish name derived from Arabic, meaning "life" or "prosperous".
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.
Ayshe is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ayshe popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.
This profile covers 28 England and Wales registrations across 9 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 28 living people in the UK are called Ayshe. 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
- • Ayshe ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Ayshe.
- • About 28 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ayshe as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
4 births
Estimated living
28
2026
Meaning
What does Ayshe mean?
The name Ayshe is of Turkish origin, derived from the Arabic name Aisha, which means "living" or "alive." Its roots can be traced back to the 7th century and the life of Aisha, one of the wives of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
In the Islamic tradition, Aisha held a significant role as a scholar and narrator of the Prophet's teachings, known as hadith. She is revered as one of the most influential figures in early Islamic history and a symbol of female empowerment and education.
The earliest recorded use of the name Ayshe can be found in historical records and manuscripts from the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa from the 13th to the 20th centuries. During this period, the name Ayshe gained popularity among Turkish families, often given to girls as a tribute to the revered figure of Aisha in Islamic history.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Ayshe was Ayshe Sultan, born in 1608, who was the daughter of Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I. She played an influential role in the Ottoman court and was known for her patronage of the arts and her charitable endeavors.
Another prominent figure was Ayshe Sıdıka Hanim, born in 1850, who was a pioneering Turkish feminist and educator. She founded one of the first schools for girls in the Ottoman Empire and advocated for women's rights and education.
In the 20th century, Ayshe Naat Erener, born in 1915, was a renowned Turkish author and playwright. Her works explored themes of identity, gender, and societal norms, and she was celebrated for her contributions to Turkish literature.
Ayshe Kulin, born in 1941, is a contemporary Turkish novelist and journalist. Her novels have been widely translated and acclaimed internationally, capturing the rich cultural tapestry of Turkey and its historical narratives.
Ayshe Sezen, born in 1970, is a successful Turkish singer and songwriter. Her music has been widely popular in Turkey and among the Turkish diaspora, blending traditional elements with contemporary styles.
The name Ayshe continues to be a popular choice for Turkish families, carrying with it a rich cultural and historical significance rooted in the Islamic tradition and the Ottoman Empire's legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ayshe over time
The chart below shows babies named Ayshe 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 Ayshe, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ayshe by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ayshe 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 | #5692 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010s | #5754 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4959 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3485 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Ayshe
- 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
Ayshe: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ayshe in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ayshe was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ayshe most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Ayshe in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ayshe?
A feminine Turkish name derived from Arabic, meaning "life" or "prosperous".
How many people are called Ayshe in the UK?
A total of 28 babies have been registered as Ayshe across the 9 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.