UK girl's name
Palwasha
An Afghan feminine given name meaning "flower" or "beautiful blossom".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Palwasha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Palwasha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4056, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 8 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1996 to 2023. 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 63% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Palwasha. 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 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Palwasha ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales in 2023, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 8 girls were registered as Palwasha.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Palwasha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4056
2023
Births in 2023
5
Latest year
Peak year
2018
8 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Palwasha mean?
The name Palwasha is derived from the Persian language and can be traced back to ancient Persia, now modern-day Iran. The name is a combination of two Persian words, "pal" meaning elephant and "washa" meaning beloved or dear. Together, the name Palwasha means "beloved as an elephant" or "dear as an elephant."
This name has its roots in the rich cultural and literary traditions of Persia. It is believed to have been used as a poetic metaphor, comparing the strength and grace of an elephant to a beloved person. The association of elephants with strength, wisdom, and longevity in Persian culture may have contributed to the popularity of this name.
The earliest recorded use of the name Palwasha can be traced back to the 10th century AD. In the famous Persian epic, the Shahnameh (Book of Kings) written by the renowned poet Ferdowsi, there is a character named Palwasha mentioned as a beautiful and virtuous princess.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Palwasha. One of the earliest was Palwasha Begum (1573-1608), a Mughal princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar. She was known for her patronage of arts and literature.
Another famous Palwasha was Palwasha Bashir (1912-1969), an Afghan poet and writer who was a prominent figure in the literary circles of Kabul during the 20th century. Her works, which often celebrated Afghan culture and traditions, have been widely acclaimed.
In the realm of music, Palwasha Naaz (born 1978) is a renowned Afghan singer and composer. Her powerful voice and ability to blend traditional Afghan music with contemporary influences have earned her international recognition.
Palwasha Hasan (born 1973) is a Pakistani politician and human rights activist. She has been a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and has worked tirelessly to promote women's rights and empowerment.
Palwasha Bazger Zikria (born 1991) is an Afghan women's rights activist and entrepreneur. She founded the Women's Annex Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering women and girls in Afghanistan through education and economic opportunities.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Palwasha throughout history, each leaving their mark in various fields and contributing to the rich cultural tapestry of their respective regions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Palwasha over time
The chart below shows babies named Palwasha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Palwasha, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2023, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Palwasha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Palwasha 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 | #4009 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4109 | 41 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3981 | 10 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Palwasha
- Poppy 52,802
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
FAQ
Palwasha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Palwasha in the UK right now?
In 2023, Palwasha was ranked #4056 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Palwasha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 8 babies registered as Palwasha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Palwasha?
An Afghan feminine given name meaning "flower" or "beautiful blossom".
How many people are called Palwasha in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Palwasha across the 13 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.