UK girl's name
Maneesha
A Hindi feminine name meaning "wish" or "desire".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Maneesha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Maneesha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3998, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.
This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1997 to 2001. 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 7 living people in the UK are called Maneesha. 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 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Maneesha ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales in 2001, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Maneesha.
- • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Maneesha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3998
2001
Births in 2001
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
4 births
Estimated living
7
2026
Meaning
What does Maneesha mean?
The name Maneesha has its origins in the Sanskrit language, originating from ancient India. It is a combination of two words – 'mani' meaning 'jewel' or 'gem', and 'isha' meaning 'lord' or 'master'. Thus, the name Maneesha can be interpreted to mean 'lord of jewels' or 'master of gems'.
Historically, the name Maneesha has been linked to various Hindu deities and spiritual traditions. In the ancient Hindu scriptures, such as the Upanishads and the Puranas, there are references to the name 'Maneesh', which is believed to be a variation of Maneesha. The name is associated with wisdom, knowledge, and spiritual enlightenment.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Maneesha can be found in the 7th century CE, where it was mentioned in the Buddhist text 'Saddharmapundarika Sutra'. This text refers to a character named 'Maneeshika', which is believed to be a derivative of Maneesha.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Maneesha. One of the most famous was Maneesha James Reju, an Indian spiritual teacher and author who lived from 1944 to 1990. He was a close disciple of the renowned mystic Osho and played a pivotal role in the spread of Osho's teachings worldwide.
Another noteworthy individual was Maneesha Bhaktavatsalam, an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who lived from 1939 to 2017. She was renowned for her contributions to the art of Bharatanatyam and was the recipient of several prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
In the field of literature, Maneesha Shyam Dewan was a prominent Indian writer and poet who lived from 1937 to 2008. She was best known for her works in Hindi and English, and her poetry often explored themes of spirituality, love, and the human condition.
Maneesha Kachroo was a talented Indian classical singer who lived from 1957 to 2000. She was a disciple of the legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj and was renowned for her performances of Hindustani classical music, particularly in the Mewati gharana tradition.
Lastly, Maneesha Gupta was an Indian software engineer and entrepreneur who co-founded the e-commerce platform Shopclues in 2011. She played a pivotal role in the growth and success of the company, which became one of India's leading online marketplaces.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Maneesha over time
The chart below shows babies named Maneesha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Maneesha, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2001, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Maneesha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Maneesha 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 | #3998 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #3174 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Maneesha
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Maneesha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Maneesha in the UK right now?
In 2001, Maneesha was ranked #3998 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Maneesha most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Maneesha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Maneesha?
A Hindi feminine name meaning "wish" or "desire".
How many people are called Maneesha in the UK?
A total of 7 babies have been registered as Maneesha 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.