NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Risha

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "ray of light".

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.

Risha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Risha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 12 births.

This profile covers 179 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 25% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 178 living people in the UK are called Risha. 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

  • Risha ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2010, when 12 girls were registered as Risha.
  • About 178 living people in the UK are estimated to have Risha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5891

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2010

12 births

Estimated living

178

2026

Meaning

What does Risha mean?

The given name Risha has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was the classical language of the Indian subcontinent and is one of the oldest Indo-European languages. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "Rishi," which means a sage, seer, or enlightened being.

In ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, Rishis were revered as spiritual guides who had attained a high level of wisdom and enlightenment through their spiritual practices and teachings. They were considered to be the authors of the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, and played a crucial role in shaping the religious and philosophical traditions of the region.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Risha can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and mythological stories, where it was often used to refer to individuals who possessed exceptional spiritual qualities or had attained a high level of enlightenment.

One of the earliest and most notable figures in history to bear the name Risha was Rishi Valmiki, the renowned sage who is credited with writing the epic Sanskrit poem, the Ramayana. Valmiki is believed to have lived around the 5th century BCE and is considered one of the most influential figures in Hindu literature and mythology.

Another prominent historical figure with the name Risha was Rishi Vishvamitra, who was a celebrated sage and teacher in ancient Indian mythology. Vishvamitra was renowned for his spiritual pursuits and is said to have composed many hymns that are included in the Rigveda, one of the oldest and most sacred Hindu texts.

In the 6th century CE, there was a Buddhist scholar and monk named Risha Sukhavati, who is known for his contributions to the development of Mahayana Buddhism in China. He was responsible for translating several important Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Chinese, making them accessible to a wider audience.

During the medieval period, Risha Chaitanya, a renowned Hindu mystic and saint, played a significant role in the Bhakti movement, which emphasized devotional worship and personal devotion to the divine. Chaitanya, who lived in the 15th-16th century CE, is revered as an incarnation of Lord Krishna and his teachings had a profound influence on the spiritual and cultural landscape of Bengal and other parts of India.

In more recent history, Risha Hiroko was a Japanese writer and poet who lived in the 20th century. Born in 1903, she gained recognition for her poetic works that explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition. Her literary contributions have left a lasting impact on Japanese literature and have inspired generations of writers and poets.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Risha over time

The chart below shows babies named Risha 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 Risha, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 12 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Risha
036912199620102024

Decades

Risha by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Risha 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 #4362 24 5
2010s #3161 75 10
2000s #2571 68 9
1990s #3147 12 3

Related

Names similar to Risha

FAQ

Risha: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Risha was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Risha most popular?

The peak year on record was 2010, with 12 babies registered as Risha in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Risha?

A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "ray of light".

How many people are called Risha in the UK?

A total of 179 babies have been registered as Risha across the 27 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.