UK girl's name
Isha
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "lord" or "ruler".
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.
Isha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Isha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #826, with 45 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 145 births.
This profile covers 2,237 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 31% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 2,296 living people in the UK are called Isha. 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
- • Isha ranked #826 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 45 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 145 girls were registered as Isha.
- • Isha ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.
- • About 2,296 living people in the UK are estimated to have Isha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#826
2024
Births in 2024
45
Latest year
Peak year
2003
145 births
Estimated living
2,296
2026
Meaning
What does Isha mean?
The name Isha has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that was widely used in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit root word "ish," which means lord, master, or ruler. The name Isha, therefore, carries the meaning of "ruler" or "lord."
In Hindu mythology, Isha is one of the names used to refer to the supreme deity, Lord Shiva. It is mentioned in several ancient Hindu texts, such as the Upanishads and the Puranas. The Shvetashvatara Upanishad, for example, mentions Isha as an all-pervading and all-powerful being who is the source of all creation.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Isha can be found in the Rigveda, one of the oldest sacred texts in Hinduism, dating back to around 1500-1200 BCE. In the Rigveda, Isha is described as a divine being who bestows blessings and protection upon devotees.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Isha. One of the most famous was Isha Upanishad, a revered Hindu sage and philosopher who lived around the 8th century BCE and is credited with authoring the eponymous Upanishad, a sacred Hindu text.
Another notable figure was Isha Sarasvati (c. 1835-1918), a renowned Indian philosopher and spiritual leader who founded the Shanti Ashram, a prominent center for the study of Vedic philosophy and meditation.
In the realm of literature, Isha Shrestha (1925-2007) was a celebrated Nepali writer and poet, known for her contributions to the Nepali literary canon and her advocacy for women's rights.
Isha Ambani (born 1991) is a prominent figure in the Indian business world, serving as a director of the Reliance Industries conglomerate, which was founded by her father, Mukesh Ambani.
Isha Sesay (born 1976) is a British journalist and author, best known for her work as a correspondent and anchor for CNN, covering major global events and reporting from various conflict zones.
While the name Isha has its roots in ancient Sanskrit and Hindu culture, it has transcended its origins and gained popularity across various regions and cultures, with people from diverse backgrounds adopting it for its unique and meaningful connotations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Isha over time
The chart below shows babies named Isha 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 Isha, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 45 births in 2024, compared with 145 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Isha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Isha 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 | #865 | 208 | 5 |
| 2010s | #630 | 729 | 10 |
| 2000s | #346 | 1,189 | 10 |
| 1990s | #827 | 111 | 4 |
Geography
Where Isha is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Isha. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Isha ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #760 in 2022.
Across the UK
Isha in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#760 in 2022
16 years of NRS records, 72 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Isha
-
Isha Sesay
journalist; actor; news presenter
British journalist of Sierra Leonean descent. From 2005 to 2018, she worked as an anchor and correspondent for CNN International
1976-
Related
Names similar to Isha
- 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
Isha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Isha in the UK right now?
In 2024, Isha was ranked #826 for girls in England and Wales, with 45 births registered.
When was Isha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 145 babies registered as Isha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Isha?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "lord" or "ruler".
How many people are called Isha in the UK?
A total of 2,237 babies have been registered as Isha across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 72 more in Scotland.
Where is Isha most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Isha ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #760 in 2022. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.