UK name, mostly girls
Harsha
A masculine name originating from Sanskrit, meaning joy, happiness, or delight.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2011. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 3 boys.
Harsha is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Harsha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2011 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1998 to 2011. 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 6 living people in the UK are called Harsha. 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 2012 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Harsha ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2011, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 3 girls were registered as Harsha.
- • Harsha is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Harsha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 66.7% of Harsha registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2011
Births in 2011
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Harsha
In England and Wales birth records, Harsha has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 33.3% of registrations are for boys and 66.7% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Harsha registered for boys
- Ranked #4,810 in 2016
- 3 boys registered in 2016
- Peak: 2016 (3 births)
Harsha registered for girls
- Ranked #5,785 in 2011
- 3 girls registered in 2011
- Peak: 1998 (3 births)
Meaning
What does Harsha mean?
The name Harsha is derived from Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that originated in the Indian subcontinent. The word "harsha" in Sanskrit means joy, happiness, or delight. This name has its roots in Hindu culture and has been prevalent in various parts of the Indian subcontinent for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Harsha can be found in the 7th century CE, when it was borne by the famous Indian emperor Harsha Vardhana. He ruled over a vast territory in northern India from 606 to 647 CE and was known for his military conquests, patronage of arts and literature, and efforts to promote Buddhism.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas, there are references to characters bearing the name Harsha or variations of it. For example, in the Mahabharata, there is a character named Harshavarman, who was a king of the Kamarupa kingdom (present-day Assam).
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Harsha. One of the most prominent was Harsha Shiksha, a 12th-century Indian philosopher and logician who made significant contributions to the Navya-Nyaya school of logic.
Another famous bearer of the name was Harsha Narayana, a 16th-century Indian poet and writer who composed works in Sanskrit and Brajbhasha, a literary language derived from Sanskrit.
In more recent times, Harsha Bhogle (born 1961) is a renowned Indian cricket commentator and journalist who has covered numerous international cricket matches and tournaments.
Harsha Walia (born 1982) is a Canadian writer, scholar, and community organizer known for her work on issues of racial justice, feminism, and anti-capitalist movements.
Harsha Vardhan (born 1954) is an Indian politician and former health minister who played a crucial role in India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The name Harsha has maintained its popularity in various parts of the Indian subcontinent, particularly in regions where Sanskrit and Hindu culture have had a significant influence. It continues to be a popular choice for parents seeking a name with deep cultural and historical roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Harsha over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Harsha in England and Wales, from 1998 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Harsha, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2011, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Harsha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Harsha 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 | #5785 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3848 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Harsha
- Hannah 67,635
- Holly 52,307
- Harriet 24,781
- Hollie 17,902
- Harper 15,784
- Heidi 12,675
- Hallie 9,873
- Hope 9,414
- Hayley 5,968
- Hazel 5,954
- Hanna 5,735
- Heather 5,497
FAQ
Harsha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Harsha in the UK right now?
In 2011, Harsha was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Harsha most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 3 babies registered as Harsha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Harsha?
A masculine name originating from Sanskrit, meaning joy, happiness, or delight.
How many people are called Harsha in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Harsha across the 2 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.