NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Misa

A feminine Japanese name meaning "beautiful dignity" or "wonderful elegance.".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Misa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Misa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 3 births.

This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2007 to 2022. 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Misa. 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 2023 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Misa ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2007, when 3 girls were registered as Misa.
  • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Misa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5669

2022

Births in 2022

3

Latest year

Peak year

2007

3 births

Estimated living

18

2026

Meaning

What does Misa mean?

The name Misa is believed to have its origins in various languages and cultures around the world. One possible source is the Japanese language, where it can be a feminine name derived from the word "misa," meaning "beautiful" or "elegant." It may also have roots in Slavic languages like Polish, where it could be a diminutive form of names such as Michalina or Michaela.

In terms of historical references, the name Misa is mentioned in some ancient texts and religious scriptures. For instance, in the Christian Bible, there is a character named Misa who was one of the daughters of Zelophehad, mentioned in the Book of Numbers. There are also records of the name being used in various European regions during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Misa can be found in the 12th century, when a woman named Misa von Kranichfeld was mentioned in historical documents from Germany. Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Misa.

One such person was Misa Naghiu (1905-1975), a Romanian writer and translator who was known for her works in children's literature. Another notable Misa was Misa Rezā Naṣrī (1859-1907), an Iranian scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the study of Persian literature.

In the realm of art, Misa Eleková (1951-2016) was a Slovak painter and printmaker who gained recognition for her unique artistic style. The name Misa was also borne by Misa Isayama (1888-1944), a Japanese educator and activist who advocated for women's rights and education in Japan during the early 20th century.

Additionally, Misa Kuranaga (1981-), a Japanese badminton player, has represented her country in various international competitions, including the Olympic Games.

These examples illustrate the diverse cultural backgrounds and historical contexts in which the name Misa has been used throughout the ages, showcasing its enduring presence across different regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Misa over time

The chart below shows babies named Misa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2007 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Misa, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Misa
01223200720142022

Decades

Misa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Misa 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 #5669 3 1
2010s #5790 9 3
2000s #5373 6 2

Related

Names similar to Misa

FAQ

Misa: questions and answers

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

In 2022, Misa was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Misa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2007, with 3 babies registered as Misa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Misa?

A feminine Japanese name meaning "beautiful dignity" or "wonderful elegance.".

How many people are called Misa in the UK?

A total of 18 babies have been registered as Misa across the 6 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.