NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Mahisha

Feminine Hindu name meaning "the Great Goddess" or "buffalo demon".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Mahisha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mahisha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 11 births.

This profile covers 60 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1997 to 2015. 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 27% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 60 living people in the UK are called Mahisha. 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 2016 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Mahisha ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2005, when 11 girls were registered as Mahisha.
  • About 60 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mahisha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5730

2015

Births in 2015

3

Latest year

Peak year

2005

11 births

Estimated living

60

2026

Meaning

What does Mahisha mean?

The name Mahisha has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that served as the root for many modern Indian languages. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "mahisha," which means "buffalo." This association with the powerful and revered buffalo animal suggests that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals with qualities of strength, endurance, and resilience.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mahisha can be found in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, where it is mentioned as the name of a powerful Asura (demon) king. In this ancient text, Mahisha is depicted as a formidable adversary who wages war against the gods before ultimately being vanquished by the goddess Durga. This mythological reference highlights the name's connection to concepts of power, valor, and perseverance.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Mahisha. One such figure was Mahisha Darpana (c. 1135-1195 CE), a celebrated Indian mathematician and astronomer from the Chalukya dynasty. His contributions to the field of mathematics, including his work on infinite series and the calculation of the value of pi, have left an indelible mark on the development of Indian scientific thought.

Another significant bearer of the name was Mahisha Kalinga (c. 1275-1345 CE), a renowned Odia poet and scholar who played a pivotal role in the literary and cultural renaissance of the Kalinga region (modern-day Odisha). His poetic works, which drew inspiration from both Hindu and Buddhist traditions, are regarded as masterpieces of Odia literature.

In more recent times, Mahisha Chakraborty (1913-1989) gained recognition as a prominent Indian painter and sculptor. Born in Bengal, he was known for his unique blend of traditional Indian aesthetics and modern artistic sensibilities, which earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri award.

Another noteworthy figure was Mahisha Desai (1920-2001), an Indian cricketer who represented the national team in the 1940s and 1950s. He captained the Indian cricket team during their inaugural tour of Pakistan in 1952 and was widely regarded for his leadership skills and sportsmanship.

Lastly, Mahisha Dravid (born 1977) is a contemporary Indian author and environmentalist who has gained recognition for her efforts in promoting sustainable living and environmental conservation. Her literary works, which often explore themes of nature and ecological balance, have garnered critical acclaim and raised awareness about pressing environmental issues.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Mahisha over time

The chart below shows babies named Mahisha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Mahisha, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 11 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Mahisha
036811199720062015

Decades

Mahisha by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mahisha 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 #5752 9 3
2000s #3391 41 8
1990s #3632 10 3

Related

Names similar to Mahisha

FAQ

Mahisha: questions and answers

How popular is the name Mahisha in the UK right now?

In 2015, Mahisha was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Mahisha most popular?

The peak year on record was 2005, with 11 babies registered as Mahisha in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Mahisha?

Feminine Hindu name meaning "the Great Goddess" or "buffalo demon".

How many people are called Mahisha in the UK?

A total of 60 babies have been registered as Mahisha across the 14 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.