UK girl's name
Ilisha
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beloved".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ilisha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ilisha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5545, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2001 to 2008. 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 10 living people in the UK are called Ilisha. 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 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ilisha ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 4 girls were registered as Ilisha.
- • About 10 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ilisha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5545
2008
Births in 2008
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
4 births
Estimated living
10
2026
Meaning
What does Ilisha mean?
The name Ilisha has its roots in the Sanskrit language, originating in ancient India. It is believed to have derived from the word "Iḷā," which means "earth" or "soil." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with fertility, growth, and the natural world.
In Hindu mythology, Iḷā is mentioned as the daughter of the sage Vashishtha and the wife of the deity Budha. This association with important figures in the ancient texts lends a sense of reverence and significance to the name.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Ilisha can be traced back to ancient Sanskrit literature, such as the Puranas and the Mahabharata. These texts, which date back to the 4th century BCE, contain references to characters bearing this name or variations of it.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Ilisha. One of the earliest recorded examples is Ilisha, a renowned Sanskrit grammarian and scholar who lived in the 7th century CE. His works on grammar and linguistics were highly influential during the classical period of Indian literature.
Another notable figure was Ilisha Nandi, a Bengali poet and writer who lived in the 16th century. She is celebrated for her contributions to the Vaishnava literary tradition and her devotional poetry dedicated to the Hindu deity Krishna.
In the realm of science, Ilisha Pathak was an Indian botanist and plant taxonomist who lived from 1890 to 1975. She made significant contributions to the study of Indian flora and helped establish the National Botanic Garden in Lucknow, India.
Moving to more modern times, Ilisha Kharegat was a renowned Marathi actress who graced the stage and screen in the mid-20th century. Born in 1923, she is remembered for her performances in numerous Marathi plays and films, leaving a lasting impact on the cultural landscape of Maharashtra.
Lastly, Ilisha Morar is a contemporary artist and sculptor from India. Born in 1972, her works explore themes of identity, culture, and the human experience, often incorporating traditional Indian motifs and materials into her creations.
These individuals, spanning different eras and fields, exemplify the diverse and rich legacy associated with the name Ilisha, which has its roots firmly planted in the ancient soil of the Indian subcontinent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ilisha over time
The chart below shows babies named Ilisha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2001 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ilisha, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2008, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ilisha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ilisha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4504 | 10 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Ilisha
- Isabella 58,822
- Isla 51,854
- Isabelle 46,163
- Imogen 33,758
- Ivy 23,306
- Isabel 20,895
- Isobel 19,706
- Iris 10,353
- India 8,371
- Iqra 4,452
- Indie 3,873
- Iona 3,682
FAQ
Ilisha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ilisha in the UK right now?
In 2008, Ilisha was ranked #5545 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ilisha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 4 babies registered as Ilisha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ilisha?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "beloved".
How many people are called Ilisha in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Ilisha across the 3 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.