UK girl's name
Disha
An Indian feminine name meaning "direction" or "guide".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Disha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Disha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4056, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 17 births.
This profile covers 194 England and Wales registrations across 25 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 193 living people in the UK are called Disha. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Disha ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 17 girls were registered as Disha.
- • About 193 living people in the UK are estimated to have Disha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4056
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2007
17 births
Estimated living
193
2026
Meaning
What does Disha mean?
The name Disha has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which is an ancient Indo-Aryan language primarily used in the Indian subcontinent. The name can be traced back to ancient India, with its roots dating back several centuries.
In Sanskrit, the word "disha" means direction or cardinal point. It is believed that the name was initially given to children with the intention of guiding them toward a purposeful life and helping them find the right direction in their journey.
One of the earliest references to the name Disha can be found in the Hindu scriptures, particularly in the Vedas and Puranas. These ancient texts often used the word "disha" in a symbolic sense, representing the four cardinal directions or the spiritual path one should follow.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Disha. One of the earliest recorded examples is Disha Bharadwaj, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and grammarian who lived in the 6th century CE. Her contributions to the study of Sanskrit grammar and linguistics were highly influential during her time.
Another prominent figure with the name Disha was Disha Chakravarti, a 12th-century Hindu philosopher and logician from the Kashmir region. She is known for her work on the philosophy of language and her contributions to the Nyaya school of Hindu philosophy.
In more recent times, Disha Patani, an Indian actress born in 1992, has gained widespread recognition for her roles in various Bollywood films. Her performances have earned her numerous accolades and a significant fan following.
Disha Vakani, an Indian film and television actress born in 1978, is best known for her portrayal of the character Daya Jethalal Gada in the popular sitcom "Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah." Her comedic timing and acting skills have made her a household name in India.
Disha Ravi, an Indian climate activist born in 1998, gained international attention in 2021 for her involvement in the farmers' protest movement in India. Her arrest and subsequent release sparked debates around freedom of speech and environmental activism.
While the name Disha has its roots in Sanskrit and ancient Indian culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity in various parts of the world, with individuals from diverse backgrounds embracing its essence and meaning.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Disha over time
The chart below shows babies named Disha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Disha, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Disha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Disha 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 | #4113 | 21 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3040 | 82 | 10 |
| 2000s | #2487 | 80 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3392 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Disha
- 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
Disha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Disha in the UK right now?
In 2023, Disha was ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Disha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 17 babies registered as Disha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Disha?
An Indian feminine name meaning "direction" or "guide".
How many people are called Disha in the UK?
A total of 194 babies have been registered as Disha across the 25 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.