UK girl's name
Nissa
One of the proposed meanings of this Arabic female name.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Nissa is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Nissa popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4688, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 4 births.
This profile covers 13 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2000 to 2010. 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.
Nissa is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 13 living people in the UK are called Nissa. 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 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nissa ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 4 girls were registered as Nissa.
- • About 13 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nissa as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4688
2010
Births in 2010
4
Latest year
Peak year
2010
4 births
Estimated living
13
2026
Meaning
What does Nissa mean?
The name Nissa has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "Nisha," which means "night" or "darkness." In Hindu mythology, Nisha is also the name of a goddess associated with night and darkness.
Nissa is also a variation of the Arabic name Nisa, which means "woman" or "female." In Islamic tradition, Nisa is one of the chapters in the Quran, and it deals with various aspects of women's rights and responsibilities.
The name Nissa can be found in ancient Sumerian texts, where it was used to refer to a goddess of vegetation and fertility. It is also believed to have been used in ancient Greek mythology, where it was associated with a nymph or a minor goddess.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Nissa dates back to the 12th century, when it was used by a princess of the Kingdom of Georgia. Nissa of Georgia (c. 1174-1216) was a prominent figure in the region and played a significant role in the political and cultural life of her time.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Nissa. In the 16th century, Nissa Bon (1492-1559) was a French scholar and humanist who was known for her contributions to the Renaissance movement.
In the 19th century, Nissa Florentia Beveridge (1858-1931) was a Scottish writer and translator who played a significant role in introducing Indian literature to the Western world.
Nissa Ravikovitch (1938-2011) was an Israeli poet and a prominent figure in modern Hebrew literature. Her works explored themes of identity, memory, and the human condition.
Nissa Benjelloun (1946-2007) was a Moroccan artist and sculptor who gained international recognition for her unique style and exploration of traditional Moroccan crafts.
In the world of sports, Nissa Delle-Ave (born 1985) is a Canadian Olympic swimmer who has represented her country in various international competitions.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Nissa throughout history, each leaving their mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and achievement.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nissa over time
The chart below shows babies named Nissa registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nissa, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2010, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nissa by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nissa 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 | #4688 | 4 | 1 |
| 2000s | #4590 | 9 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Nissa
- Niamh 20,347
- Nicole 19,687
- Natasha 15,578
- Nancy 12,607
- Naomi 12,199
- Natalie 10,885
- Nevaeh 7,869
- Nina 7,285
- Neve 7,180
- Natalia 7,099
- Nadia 6,032
- Nicola 4,927
FAQ
Nissa: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nissa in the UK right now?
In 2010, Nissa was ranked #4688 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Nissa most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 4 babies registered as Nissa in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nissa?
One of the proposed meanings of this Arabic female name.
How many people are called Nissa in the UK?
A total of 13 babies have been registered as Nissa across the 4 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.