NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Nisa

A feminine Arabic name meaning "helper" or "friend", derived from the term nisaa meaning "women".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Nisa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nisa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2115, with 13 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 23 births.

This profile covers 352 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 57% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 353 living people in the UK are called Nisa. 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 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Nisa ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 13 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 23 girls were registered as Nisa.
  • Nisa ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #653 in 1997.
  • About 353 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nisa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2115

2024

Births in 2024

13

Latest year

Peak year

2010

23 births

Estimated living

353

2026

Meaning

What does Nisa mean?

The name Nisa is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which is one of the oldest Indo-Aryan languages spoken in ancient India. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "nisha" or "nisa," which means "night" or "darkness." This name has been in use since ancient times, and its earliest recorded instances can be traced back to Hindu texts and scriptures.

In Hindu mythology, Nisa is considered to be the goddess of night and is often associated with the moon and its mystical qualities. She is believed to be the embodiment of beauty, mystery, and tranquility, and her name is revered by many Hindu devotees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nisa can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Ramayana. In this epic, Nisa is mentioned as the name of a celestial nymph who was renowned for her beauty and grace.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Nisa. One of the most famous was Nisa Gol (1243-1289), a renowned Persian poet and mystic who lived during the Seljuk Empire. Her poetry was widely celebrated for its depth and eloquence, and she was a prominent figure in the literary circles of her time.

Another notable Nisa was Nisa Qazvini (1472-1542), a Persian calligrapher and artist who was renowned for her intricate and beautiful works of art. She was a master of the Nasta'liq script and her works are still admired and studied by calligraphers and art enthusiasts today.

In the Islamic world, the name Nisa has also been in use for centuries. One of the most famous bearers of this name was Nisa Sabri (1858-1946), a Syrian poet and feminist who was a pioneer in advocating for women's rights in the Arab world. Her works were widely celebrated and she played a significant role in shaping the literary landscape of the region.

Another notable figure was Nisa Qassim (1890-1962), an Egyptian feminist and activist who fought for women's suffrage and equal rights in her country. She was a prominent figure in the Egyptian women's movement and her efforts paved the way for greater gender equality in the region.

Lastly, Nisa Majid (1956-2005) was a renowned Pakistani writer and activist who was an outspoken advocate for women's rights and social justice. Her works explored themes of gender, identity, and societal norms, and she was widely celebrated for her courage and unwavering commitment to her cause.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Nisa over time

The chart below shows babies named Nisa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Nisa, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 13 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Nisa
06121723199620102024

Decades

Nisa by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nisa 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 #2182 65 5
2010s #2067 155 10
2000s #2245 105 10
1990s #2372 27 4

Geography

Where Nisa is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Nisa. 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.

Nisa ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #653 in 1997.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Nisa in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#653 in 1997

1 years of NRS records, 3 total registered

Related

Names similar to Nisa

FAQ

Nisa: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Nisa was ranked #2115 for girls in England and Wales, with 13 births registered.

When was Nisa most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 23 babies registered as Nisa in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Nisa?

A feminine Arabic name meaning "helper" or "friend", derived from the term nisaa meaning "women".

How many people are called Nisa in the UK?

A total of 352 babies have been registered as Nisa across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 3 more in Scotland.

Where is Nisa most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Nisa ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #653 in 1997. 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.