UK girl's name
Usha
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "dawn" or "morning rays".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2006. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Usha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Usha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2006 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5061, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2006 to 2006. 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.
Usha is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Usha. 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 2007 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Usha ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales in 2006, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 3 girls were registered as Usha.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Usha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5061
2006
Births in 2006
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Usha mean?
Usha is a Sanskrit name that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Ushas," which means dawn or the morning rays of the sun. The name has been in use for centuries and is associated with Hindu mythology and ancient Vedic texts.
In Hindu mythology, Usha is the name of the goddess of dawn. She is depicted as a beautiful young woman who rides a chariot drawn by horses or bulls. The Rig Veda, one of the oldest and most sacred Hindu scriptures, contains numerous hymns dedicated to Usha, praising her beauty and the renewal of life that comes with each new day.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Usha can be found in the Mahabharata, a monumental Sanskrit epic from ancient India. In the epic, Usha is the name of a princess who falls in love with Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. Their love story is a celebrated tale of devotion and perseverance.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Usha. One of the most famous is Usha Mehta (1920-2000), an Indian freedom fighter and politician who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement. She was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and worked tirelessly for women's rights and social reform.
Another notable Usha is Usha Uthup (born 1947), an Indian pop singer and musician. She is known for her versatile voice and energetic stage performances, and has won numerous awards throughout her career, including the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors.
In the field of literature, Usha Narayanan (born 1933) is a renowned Indian author and journalist. She has written numerous books, including novels, short stories, and plays, and has been awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award, India's highest literary honor.
Usha Parmar (1933-2020) was an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who played a significant role in preserving and promoting the Kathak dance form. She received the Padma Bhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, for her contributions to the arts.
Usha Rajeswari (born 1942) is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer who has been instrumental in popularizing the Bharatanatyam dance form. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Usha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Usha 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5061 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Usha
- Una 945
- Uma 592
- Umaiza 556
- Umaymah 540
- Umme 508
- Ursula 481
- Umaima 407
- Uzma 370
- Umaimah 333
- Umayyah 238
- Umamah 231
- Urwa 200
FAQ
Usha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Usha in the UK right now?
In 2006, Usha was ranked #5061 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Usha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 3 babies registered as Usha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Usha?
A feminine given name of Sanskrit origin meaning "dawn" or "morning rays".
How many people are called Usha in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Usha across the 1 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.