UK girl's name
Denisha
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a combination of names.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Denisha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Denisha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 7 births.
This profile covers 65 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 65 living people in the UK are called Denisha. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Denisha ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 7 girls were registered as Denisha.
- • About 65 living people in the UK are estimated to have Denisha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
2012
7 births
Estimated living
65
2026
Meaning
What does Denisha mean?
Denisha is a feminine given name that originated in the United States in the late 20th century. It is a combination of the names Denise and Nisha, both of which have roots in different cultures and languages.
The name Denise is derived from the Greek name Dionysios, which means "follower of Dionysus," the Greek god of wine, vegetation, and fruitfulness. Nisha, on the other hand, is a Sanskrit name meaning "night" or "darkness." The combination of these two names, Denisha, is believed to have emerged as a unique and distinct name in the African American community in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s.
While there are no known historical references or ancient texts mentioning the name Denisha directly, its components, Denise and Nisha, have been recorded in various contexts throughout history. The name Denise has been used in Europe since the Middle Ages, with records showing its use in France and Germany as early as the 12th century.
Some notable individuals named Denisha throughout history include Denisha Merriweather, an American social activist and founder of the Black Lives Matter movement in St. Louis, Missouri. Denisha Greaves is a former professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks and the Charlotte Sting in the early 2000s.
Another notable figure is Denisha Jones, an American singer and songwriter who was a member of the R&B girl group Blaque in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Denisha Pendleton was a British actress and model who appeared in several television shows and films in the 1990s and 2000s. Denisha Hubbard is an American author and entrepreneur who has written several books on personal development and self-empowerment.
It is important to note that while the name Denisha has gained popularity in recent decades, it is a relatively modern name with limited historical records or references prior to the late 20th century. However, its unique blend of cultural influences and meanings reflects the diversity and creativity of name-giving practices in the United States.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Denisha over time
The chart below shows babies named Denisha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Denisha, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Denisha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Denisha 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 | #5095 | 27 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3905 | 32 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3810 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Denisha
- Daisy 49,435
- Danielle 13,507
- Darcie 11,010
- Darcy 10,516
- Darcey 9,708
- Delilah 9,098
- Demi 9,052
- Daniella 4,324
- Destiny 3,732
- Diana 3,258
- Dorothy 3,104
- Dolly 2,246
FAQ
Denisha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Denisha in the UK right now?
In 2017, Denisha was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Denisha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 7 babies registered as Denisha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Denisha?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a combination of names.
How many people are called Denisha in the UK?
A total of 65 babies have been registered as Denisha across the 17 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.