Meisha
An invented feminine name of uncertain meaning or origin.
Name Census estimates that about 994 living Americans carry the first name Meisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Meisha today is around 36 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Meisha births was 1990 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Meisha. 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
994
~ 1 in 344,823 Americans
Peak year
1990
61 babies that year
Average age
36
years old
2022 SSA rank
#11,877
Tracked since 1967
Popularity
Meisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Meisha from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 333 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1980s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Meisha 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 Meisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Meishas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. California, New York, Florida recorded the most babies named Meisha, while Texas, New Jersey, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Meisha
The name Meisha is believed to have originated from the Arabic language, with its roots tracing back to ancient Middle Eastern cultures. The name is derived from the Arabic word "Mish," which means "air" or "breeze," symbolizing a gentle and refreshing presence.
In the historical context, the name Meisha gained prominence during the Islamic Golden Age, a period of cultural, economic, and scientific flourishing in the Middle East and North Africa between the 8th and 13th centuries. This era witnessed the rise of influential scholars, poets, and philosophers who may have borne this name or contributed to its spread through their literary works.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Meisha can be found in the writings of the renowned Persian poet and philosopher, Rumi (1207-1273 CE). Rumi's poetry often celebrated the beauty of nature and the human soul, making the name Meisha, with its connection to air and breeze, a fitting choice for a character or subject in his works.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Meisha. One such individual was Meisha al-Kalbi (8th century CE), a renowned Arab genealogist and scholar who made significant contributions to the study of Arabic tribes and their lineages. Her work, "Jamharat al-Nasab," remains an important reference for historians and researchers exploring the genealogies of ancient Arabian societies.
Another prominent figure was Meisha al-Merwazi (9th century CE), a celebrated female mathematician and astronomer from the Abbasid Caliphate. She is credited with developing innovative methods for calculating the positions of celestial bodies and contributing to the advancement of astronomical knowledge during the Islamic Golden Age.
In the realm of literature, Meisha Merali (born 1981) is a contemporary British author and journalist of Pakistani descent. Her critically acclaimed novel, "The Last Nomad," explores themes of cultural identity, displacement, and the human experience, resonating with readers across the globe.
Meisha Cammet (born 1978) is an American actress and producer known for her roles in television series such as "NCIS," "Bones," and "The Mentalist." Her diverse acting career has spanned over two decades, showcasing her talent and versatility on both the small and big screens.
As this name has traversed across cultures and eras, its essence and meaning have remained rooted in the concepts of gentleness, refreshment, and natural beauty, making it a timeless and captivating choice for parents seeking a name with depth and cultural richness.
People
Meisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Meisha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Meisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Meisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 994 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Meisha 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 344,823 US residents.
Is Meisha a common name?
We classify Meisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 90.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,048 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Meisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Meisha was 1990, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Meisha is about 36 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Meisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Meisha 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.