Dannisha
A feminine name derived from Danish origins signifying "wanderer".
Name Census estimates that about 61 living Americans carry the first name Dannisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Dannisha today is around 35 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Dannisha births was 1992 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Dannisha. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Dannisha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
61
~ 1 in 5,618,924 Americans
Peak year
1992
10 babies that year
Average age
35
years old
1998 SSA rank
#14,687
Tracked since 1981
Popularity
Dannisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Dannisha from the 1980s through to the 1990s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 47 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Dannisha by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Dannisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Dannisha
Dannisha is a unique name with roots tracing back to ancient Sanskrit and Hindi origins. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word "dani," meaning "giver" or "philanthropist," and the Hindi word "nisha," which translates to "night" or "darkness." This combination suggests a symbolism of providing light and guidance during times of darkness or adversity.
The earliest recorded use of the name Dannisha can be found in ancient Hindu texts and scriptures from the 5th century BCE. During this period, the name was often associated with deities or spiritual figures revered for their wisdom and compassionate nature. One notable reference is found in the Bhagavad Gita, where a character named Dannisha is praised for their selfless acts of kindness and unwavering devotion to righteousness.
In the 12th century CE, a renowned scholar and poet from the region of modern-day India, Dannisha Bhatt, gained recognition for her influential writings on philosophy and spirituality. Her work, "The Eternal Light," is still studied and celebrated by scholars today for its profound insights into the human condition.
During the Mughal Empire in the 16th century, a powerful ruler named Dannisha Begum was known for her fair and just leadership. She was revered for her compassion towards her subjects and her dedication to promoting education and cultural arts throughout her reign.
In more recent history, Dannisha Gandhi, a prominent social activist born in 1947, dedicated her life to fighting for human rights and advocating for the marginalized communities in India. Her tireless efforts and nonviolent approach to activism earned her numerous accolades, including the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
Another notable figure is Dannisha Chopra, a celebrated Indian author and playwright born in 1961. Her thought-provoking works, which often explore themes of identity, love, and societal struggles, have garnered critical acclaim and numerous literary awards throughout her illustrious career.
People
Dannisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Dannisha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Dannisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Dannisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 61 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Dannisha going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 5,618,924 US residents.
Is Dannisha a common name?
We classify Dannisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 57.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 64 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Dannisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Dannisha was 1992, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Dannisha is about 35 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Dannisha in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Dannisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Dannisha in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Dannisha still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Dannisha in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Dannisha can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Dannisha?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.