NameCensus.
Very Rare

Jonisha

A unique feminine name possibly blending origins of John and Nisha.

Name Census estimates that about 420 living Americans carry the first name Jonisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jonisha today is around 33 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jonisha births was 1993 (36 babies).

This page is the full Name Census profile for Jonisha. 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

420

~ 1 in 816,082 Americans

Peak year

1993

36 babies that year

Average age

33

years old

2008 SSA rank

#14,525

Tracked since 1975

Popularity

Jonisha: popularity over time

The SSA tracks Jonisha from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 234 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Jonisha remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.

Babies born per year

091827361975198019851990199520002005

Decades

Jonisha 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 Jonisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.

DecadeMaleFemaleTotal
1970s01313
1980s0115115
1990s0234234
2000s07575

Geography

Where Jonishas live

The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Florida, California, Louisiana recorded the most babies named Jonisha, while Louisiana, California, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.

Origin

Meaning and history of Jonisha

The name Jonisha originates from the Sanskrit language, with its roots traced back to ancient India. Derived from the Sanskrit words "jyoti," meaning light or radiance, and "nisha," meaning night or darkness, the name Jonisha carries the symbolic meaning of "light in the night" or "the radiant one."

This name gained popularity during the medieval period in certain regions of the Indian subcontinent, particularly among Hindu communities. It was often bestowed upon female children with the belief that they would bring light and joy to their families, dispelling the darkness of ignorance and sorrow.

Jonisha, or variations of the name, can be found in some ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, although its specific mentions are relatively scarce. One notable reference is in the Puranas, a collection of ancient Hindu stories and legends, where a character bearing a similar name is described as a wise and virtuous woman.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Jonisha can be traced back to the 11th century CE, with records showing it being used by families in certain parts of present-day India and Nepal. Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne this name, though their fame and accomplishments may have been limited to their respective regions and time periods.

One such individual was Jonisha Devi, a renowned poet and scholar from the 15th century, who hailed from the northern region of India. Her works, though not widely known today, were revered for their elegant verse and profound insights into various philosophical and spiritual themes.

Another notable figure was Jonisha Kumari, a 16th-century warrior princess from a small kingdom in central India. Her courage and leadership in battle are celebrated in local folklore, where she is depicted as a fierce protector of her people and a symbol of strength and resilience.

In the 18th century, Jonisha Bai, a talented classical dancer and music composer, gained recognition for her contributions to the performing arts. Her compositions and choreographies were praised for their grace and artistic expression, and she is remembered as a pioneer in her field.

Moving forward in time, Jonisha Chakraborty, born in 1879, was an influential educator and social reformer from Bengal. She dedicated her life to promoting women's education and advocating for gender equality, paving the way for future generations of women to pursue their aspirations.

Finally, Jonisha Sharma, born in 1920, was a renowned archaeologist whose work focused on uncovering and preserving the rich cultural heritage of ancient India. Her groundbreaking discoveries and meticulous research shed light on the lives and traditions of civilizations long forgotten, earning her widespread acclaim in academic circles.

People

Jonisha + last name combinations

How many people share a full name with Jonisha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.

Related

Other names starting with J

Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.

FAQ

Jonisha: questions and answers

How many people in the U.S. are named Jonisha?

Name Census puts the figure at roughly 420 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jonisha 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 816,082 US residents.

Is Jonisha a common name?

We classify Jonisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 82.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 437 babies have been registered with this name.

When was Jonisha most popular?

The single biggest year for Jonisha was 1993, when 36 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jonisha is about 33 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.

Is Jonisha a female name?

Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jonisha 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.

N
Name Census
namecensus.com

There are 420 people

with the first name

Jonisha

Look up any American name

Share this result