UK girl's name
Ishana
Originated as a Sanskrit name with the meaning "ruler of the universe".
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.
Ishana is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ishana popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2013, with 8 births.
This profile covers 103 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1999 to 2024. 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 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 103 living people in the UK are called Ishana. 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
- • Ishana ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2013, when 8 girls were registered as Ishana.
- • About 103 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ishana as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2013
8 births
Estimated living
103
2026
Meaning
What does Ishana mean?
The name Ishana has its roots in the ancient Sanskrit language of India. It is believed to have originated sometime around the 5th century BCE, during the Vedic period of Indian history.
Ishana is a combination of two Sanskrit words: "ish" meaning "lord" or "master," and "ana" meaning "breath" or "life force." Therefore, the name can be interpreted as "the lord of life" or "the master of the life force."
In Hindu mythology, Ishana is one of the names used to refer to the powerful god Shiva, who is revered as the supreme deity and the source of all creation, destruction, and renewal. The name is mentioned in several ancient Hindu scriptures, including the Upanishads and the Puranas.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Ishana can be found in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad, a philosophical text dating back to around the 5th century BCE. In this text, Ishana is described as the ultimate reality, the source of all existence, and the embodiment of consciousness.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who have borne the name Ishana. One of the most famous was Ishana Narayana, a renowned Sanskrit scholar and philosopher who lived in the 9th century CE. He was known for his commentaries on various Hindu scriptures and his contributions to the field of Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
Another notable figure was Ishana Devi, a prominent female mystic and saint from the 16th century CE. She was revered for her spiritual teachings and her devotion to the goddess Kali. Her life and teachings were documented in the hagiographic work "Ishana Mangala."
In the realm of literature, Ishana Dutta was a celebrated Bengali poet and playwright who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His works, which often explored themes of social reform and cultural identity, had a significant impact on the Bengali literary renaissance.
Moving to more recent times, Ishana Munindra was a renowned Indian musician and exponent of the Hindustani classical music tradition. Born in 1923, he was widely acclaimed for his mastery of the sitar and his innovative approach to music.
Finally, Ishana Arora is a contemporary Indian author and screenwriter, known for her critically acclaimed novels and her work in the Indian film industry. Born in 1982, she has received numerous awards and accolades for her literary contributions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ishana over time
The chart below shows babies named Ishana registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1999 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 Ishana, the clearest high point is 2013. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ishana by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ishana 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 | #4853 | 16 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3714 | 61 | 10 |
| 2000s | #4197 | 23 | 6 |
| 1990s | #3900 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Ishana
- 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
Ishana: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ishana in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ishana was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ishana most popular?
The peak year on record was 2013, with 8 babies registered as Ishana in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ishana?
Originated as a Sanskrit name with the meaning "ruler of the universe".
How many people are called Ishana in the UK?
A total of 103 babies have been registered as Ishana across the 21 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.