Falesha
A feminine name perhaps derived from the Arabic word "falah" meaning success or prosperity.
Name Census estimates that about 154 living Americans carry the first name Falesha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Falesha today is around 42 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Falesha births was 1989 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Falesha. 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.
People living today
154
~ 1 in 2,225,678 Americans
Peak year
1989
12 babies that year
Average age
42
years old
1996 SSA rank
#12,330
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Falesha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Falesha from the 1970s through to the 1990s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 59 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
Falesha 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 Falesha 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 Falesha
The name Falesha is believed to have originated in the African region, specifically in the Bantu languages spoken across various parts of sub-Saharan Africa. It is a combination of two words, "fale" and "sha," which together translate to "one who brings happiness" or "the bearer of joy."
The earliest known usage of the name Falesha can be traced back to the 16th century when it was documented in historical records from the Kingdom of Kongo, an ancient African kingdom that spanned parts of modern-day Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo. During this period, the name was primarily given to female children born into noble or royal families, as it was believed to signify the joy and happiness their birth brought to the kingdom.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Falesha was a princess of the Kingdom of Kongo in the late 16th century. Unfortunately, historical records do not provide her exact birth and death dates, but she is mentioned in several chronicles of the time as a prominent figure in the royal court.
In the 18th century, there is a record of a Falesha who was a respected healer and herbalist in the Kingdom of Dahomey, which was located in present-day Benin. She is said to have been renowned for her expertise in traditional African medicine and her ability to bring comfort and relief to those suffering from various ailments.
During the 19th century, the name Falesha gained some recognition outside of Africa. In 1832, a young woman by the name of Falesha was brought to the United States as part of the transatlantic slave trade. Despite the harsh conditions she endured, historical accounts describe her as a resilient and joyful individual who brought hope and happiness to those around her, even in the face of adversity.
Another notable figure with the name Falesha was a South African activist and educator born in 1901. She dedicated her life to fighting for equal rights and better educational opportunities for Black South Africans during the apartheid era. Her unwavering commitment to social justice and her ability to inspire others earned her the respect and admiration of many.
Throughout history, the name Falesha has been associated with themes of joy, happiness, and resilience, often reflecting the strength and perseverance of those who bore it in the face of challenging circumstances. While its origins can be traced back to Africa, the name has transcended cultural boundaries and continues to be cherished by families around the world.
People
Falesha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Falesha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with F
Other first names starting with F with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Falesha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Falesha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 154 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Falesha 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 2,225,678 US residents.
Is Falesha a common name?
We classify Falesha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 70.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 165 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Falesha most popular?
The single biggest year for Falesha was 1989, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Falesha is about 42 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Falesha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Falesha 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.
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.