UK girl's name
Monisha
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin signifying grace or good fortune.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2017. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Monisha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Monisha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2017 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5765, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 14 births.
This profile covers 108 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2017. 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 21% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 107 living people in the UK are called Monisha. 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 2018 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Monisha ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales in 2017, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 14 girls were registered as Monisha.
- • About 107 living people in the UK are estimated to have Monisha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5765
2017
Births in 2017
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
14 births
Estimated living
107
2026
Meaning
What does Monisha mean?
The name Monisha has its origins in Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "muni," which means a sage or a wise person. The name is believed to have been in use since ancient times, and it is found in various Hindu scriptures and texts.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Monisha can be found in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. In the Rig Veda, one of the four Vedas, there is a mention of a sage named Monisha who was known for his wisdom and knowledge.
During the medieval period, the name Monisha gained popularity among the Hindu communities in India. It was often given to children with the hope that they would grow up to be wise and knowledgeable individuals.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Monisha. One of the most famous was Monisha Bharadwaj (born around the 7th century BCE), a renowned philosopher and scholar who is credited with authoring several important texts on Indian philosophy and religion.
Another prominent figure was Monisha Devi (1498-1567), a powerful queen who ruled over the Garhwal region in the Western Himalayas. She was known for her military prowess and her efforts to promote education and culture in her kingdom.
In the field of literature, Monisha Mehrotra (1909-1994) was a celebrated Hindi writer and poet. She was awarded the prestigious Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, in recognition of her literary contributions.
The name Monisha has also been associated with the world of music. Monisha Bajaj (born 1966) is a renowned Indian classical vocalist who has performed extensively both in India and abroad.
In more recent times, Monisha Kaltenborn (born 1971) gained international recognition as the first Indian-origin team principal in Formula One racing when she led the Sauber F1 team from 2012 to 2017.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Monisha over time
The chart below shows babies named Monisha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2017. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Monisha, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2017, compared with 14 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Monisha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Monisha 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 | #5764 | 9 | 3 |
| 2000s | #3285 | 55 | 9 |
| 1990s | #1588 | 44 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Monisha
- 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
Monisha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Monisha in the UK right now?
In 2017, Monisha was ranked #5765 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Monisha most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 14 babies registered as Monisha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Monisha?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin signifying grace or good fortune.
How many people are called Monisha in the UK?
A total of 108 babies have been registered as Monisha across the 16 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.