UK name, mostly girls
Nyasha
A feminine name of Shona origin meaning "mercy" or "bearer of grace".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 49 boys.
Nyasha is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Nyasha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3178, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 18 births.
This profile covers 129 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 2000 to 2018. 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 39% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 128 living people in the UK are called Nyasha. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Nyasha ranked #3178 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 18 girls were registered as Nyasha.
- • Nyasha is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 128 living people in the UK are estimated to have Nyasha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 72.5% of Nyasha registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3178
2018
Births in 2018
7
Latest year
Peak year
2008
18 births
Estimated living
128
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Nyasha
In England and Wales birth records, Nyasha has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 27.5% of registrations are for boys and 72.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Nyasha registered for boys
- Ranked #3,937 in 2019
- 4 boys registered in 2019
- Peak: 2007 (9 births)
Nyasha registered for girls
- Ranked #3,178 in 2018
- 7 girls registered in 2018
- Peak: 2008 (18 births)
Meaning
What does Nyasha mean?
The name Nyasha originates from the Shona language of Zimbabwe. It is derived from the word "kunyas(h)a," which means to have mercy, be kind, or show compassion. The name likely emerged in the late 15th or early 16th century, during the establishment of the Rozwi Empire in present-day Zimbabwe.
Nyasha is a popular name among the Shona people, one of the largest ethnic groups in Zimbabwe. The name reflects the cultural values of kindness, empathy, and compassion, which are highly regarded in Shona society.
While there are no known historical records of the name appearing in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been a part of the Shona oral tradition for centuries. The earliest recorded examples of the name date back to the late 19th century, during the colonial era in Zimbabwe.
One of the notable historical figures with the name Nyasha is Nyasha Mushekwi, a Zimbabwean professional footballer born in 1987. He has played for several clubs in Europe, including Mamelodi Sundowns in South Africa and KV Oostende in Belgium.
Another person of note is Nyasha Mbawara, a Zimbabwean singer and songwriter born in 1984. She is known for her unique blend of traditional Zimbabwean music and contemporary genres, and has released several successful albums.
Nyasha Simbanegavi, born in 1965, is a Zimbabwean lawyer and human rights activist. She has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and has worked with various organizations to promote gender equality and social justice.
Nyasha Chikwinya, born in 1978, is a Zimbabwean-British politician and Member of Parliament for Vauxhall in London. She is the first black woman to represent the constituency and has been recognized for her work in promoting diversity and inclusion in British politics.
Nyasha Mushati, born in 1982, is a Zimbabwean-American entrepreneur and co-founder of the technology company Nasiri. She has been recognized for her contributions to the tech industry and her efforts in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Nyasha throughout history, reflecting its cultural significance and enduring popularity among the Shona people of Zimbabwe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Nyasha over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Nyasha in England and Wales, from 2000 to 2019. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Nyasha, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2018, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nyasha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Nyasha 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 | #3942 | 38 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2443 | 91 | 10 |
Related
Names similar to Nyasha
- 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
Nyasha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Nyasha in the UK right now?
In 2018, Nyasha was ranked #3178 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Nyasha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 18 babies registered as Nyasha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Nyasha?
A feminine name of Shona origin meaning "mercy" or "bearer of grace".
How many people are called Nyasha in the UK?
A total of 129 babies have been registered as Nyasha across the 17 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.