NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Tenisha

Originally a feminine name of varied origin probably meaning "lady's pet".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Tenisha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Tenisha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5691, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 9 births.

This profile covers 79 England and Wales registrations across 15 recorded years from 1996 to 2014. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 78 living people in the UK are called Tenisha. 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 2015 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Tenisha ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales in 2014, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 9 girls were registered as Tenisha.
  • About 78 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tenisha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5691

2014

Births in 2014

3

Latest year

Peak year

1997

9 births

Estimated living

78

2026

Meaning

What does Tenisha mean?

The name Tenisha is a modern feminine name that originated in the United States during the 20th century. It is believed to be a combination of the names Tenetia and Nisha, both of which have roots in different cultures and languages.

Tenetia is a variant of the Greek name Thenesia, which is derived from the Greek word "thenos," meaning "strong." This name was commonly used in ancient Greece and was associated with strength, resilience, and power. The name Nisha, on the other hand, is a Sanskrit name that means "night" or "darkness," and is popular in various South Asian cultures, including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

The name Tenisha gained popularity in the United States during the late 20th century, particularly among African American communities. It is believed that the name was created as a unique and modern name, blending elements from different cultural and linguistic traditions.

While there are no specific historical references or ancient texts that directly mention the name Tenisha, some notable individuals have borne this name throughout history. One of the earliest recorded examples is Tenisha Lashae Hicks, an American singer and songwriter born in 1986. Another notable figure is Tenisha Ingram, an American basketball player who played professionally in the early 2000s.

Other individuals with the name Tenisha include Tenisha Mercer, an American model and actress born in 1985, Tenisha Monique Townsend, an American singer and songwriter born in 1981, and Tenisha Fearon, a British sprinter and hurdler who competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

While the name Tenisha is relatively new and does not have a long historical lineage, it has become a popular and widely recognized name, particularly in the United States. Its unique blend of cultural influences and modern appeal has contributed to its widespread use and acceptance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Tenisha over time

The chart below shows babies named Tenisha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Tenisha, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2014, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Tenisha
02579199620052014

Decades

Tenisha by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tenisha 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 #5163 11 3
2000s #3351 42 8
1990s #2371 26 4

Related

Names similar to Tenisha

FAQ

Tenisha: questions and answers

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

In 2014, Tenisha was ranked #5691 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Tenisha most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 9 babies registered as Tenisha in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Tenisha?

Originally a feminine name of varied origin probably meaning "lady's pet".

How many people are called Tenisha in the UK?

A total of 79 babies have been registered as Tenisha across the 15 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.