Lisha
A feminine given name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "God's promise".
Name Census estimates that about 2,070 living Americans carry the first name Lisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lisha today is around 52 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lisha births was 1960 (275 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lisha. 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
2.1K
~ 1 in 165,582 Americans
Peak year
1960
275 babies that year
Average age
52
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,896
Tracked since 1954
Popularity
Lisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lisha from the 1950s through to the 2020s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 1,157 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lisha 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 Lisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Lishas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 23 states and territories. California, Texas, Ohio recorded the most babies named Lisha, while Minnesota, Oklahoma, Missouri recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 39 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lisha
The name Lisha has its origins in the Sanskrit language, an ancient and classical language of South Asia. It is believed to have emerged between 1500 and 500 BCE during the Vedic period in ancient India. Lisha is derived from the Sanskrit word "lila," which means play, sport, or pastime.
In Hindu mythology, the word "lila" is often associated with the divine plays or manifestations of the gods, particularly the playful and mischievous nature of Lord Krishna. The name Lisha may have been inspired by this concept, symbolizing a playful and joyful spirit.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lisha can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Puranas. These texts, which date back to the 3rd or 4th century CE, contain narratives and stories related to Hindu deities and their incarnations.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lisha. One such figure was Lisha Arya, a renowned Indian classical dancer who lived from 1909 to 1976. She was known for her expertise in the Kathak dance form and her contributions to reviving and preserving this ancient art form.
Another prominent individual named Lisha was Lisha Chen, a Chinese-American writer, and journalist born in 1932. She was known for her work in promoting cultural understanding and bridging the gap between Eastern and Western cultures through her writing and advocacy.
In the realm of literature, one cannot overlook the influence of Lisha Killick, an Australian author born in 1957. She is renowned for her award-winning children's books and her ability to capture the imagination of young readers through her captivating stories.
The name Lisha also found its way into the world of music with Lisha Singh, an Indian classical vocalist born in 1960. She is celebrated for her mastery of the Hindustani classical music tradition and her soulful renditions of timeless compositions.
Lastly, Lisha Arora, born in 1985, is a notable Indian fashion designer and entrepreneur. She has gained recognition for her innovative and sustainable approach to fashion, blending traditional Indian techniques with contemporary designs.
While the name Lisha may have originated in ancient India, it has transcended geographical boundaries and cultural barriers, resonating with individuals from diverse backgrounds and walks of life throughout history.
People
Lisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lisha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 2,070 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lisha 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 165,582 US residents.
Is Lisha a common name?
We classify Lisha as "Rare". It ranks above 93.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,382 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Lisha was 1960, when 275 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lisha is about 52 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Lisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lisha 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.