UK girl's name
Manisha
A Hindu feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "desire" or "wish".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Manisha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Manisha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5687, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 73 births.
This profile covers 460 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 4% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 463 living people in the UK are called Manisha. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Manisha ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 73 girls were registered as Manisha.
- • Manisha ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #793 in 2008.
- • About 463 living people in the UK are estimated to have Manisha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5687
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
73 births
Estimated living
463
2026
Meaning
What does Manisha mean?
Manisha is a feminine given name of Sanskrit origin, derived from the word "manishi," which means "intellect" or "wisdom." The name has its roots in ancient Indian culture and is believed to have been in use since the Vedic period, which dates back to around 1500-500 BCE.
The name Manisha holds deep symbolic significance in Hindu traditions, as it is often associated with the qualities of intelligence, knowledge, and understanding. In ancient Sanskrit literature, such as the Vedas and Upanishads, the term "manishi" is frequently used to describe individuals who possess profound wisdom and spiritual enlightenment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Manisha can be found in the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian epic composed around the 8th or 9th century BCE. In this epic, Manisha is mentioned as the name of a sage or rishi, revered for his deep insights and knowledge.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Manisha. One of the most renowned bearers of this name was Manisha Pandit (1857-1910), a prominent Indian social reformer and educator who played a crucial role in promoting women's education and advocating for social and educational reforms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Another notable figure was Manisha Koirala (born 1970), a Nepali actress who has appeared in numerous Bollywood and Nepali films, and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished and talented actresses of her generation.
In the realm of literature, Manisha Kulshreshtha (born 1954) is a renowned Indian author and poet, known for her contributions to Hindi literature and her thought-provoking works that explore various aspects of human existence and contemporary issues.
The name Manisha has also been associated with individuals in the field of science and technology. Manisha Mohan (born 1965) is a prominent Indian computer scientist and educator, recognized for her contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and her efforts in promoting STEM education among women and underprivileged communities.
Additionally, Manisha Arora (born 1972) is a distinguished Indian-American computer scientist and entrepreneur, known for her work in the field of cybersecurity and her leadership in various technology companies and organizations.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Manisha, each contributing to their respective fields and leaving a lasting impact on society.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Manisha over time
The chart below shows babies named Manisha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Manisha, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 73 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Manisha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Manisha 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 | #5687 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4073 | 33 | 6 |
| 2000s | #1649 | 198 | 10 |
| 1990s | #510 | 226 | 4 |
Geography
Where Manisha is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Manisha. 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.
Manisha ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #793 in 2008.
Across the UK
Manisha in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#793 in 2008
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Manisha
-
Manisha Foster
tennis player
British tennis player
1993-
Related
Names similar to Manisha
- 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
Manisha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Manisha in the UK right now?
In 2023, Manisha was ranked #5687 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Manisha most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 73 babies registered as Manisha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Manisha?
A Hindu feminine name derived from Sanskrit meaning "desire" or "wish".
How many people are called Manisha in the UK?
A total of 460 babies have been registered as Manisha across the 21 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Manisha most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Manisha ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #793 in 2008. 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.