Misa
A feminine Japanese name meaning "beautiful dignity" or "wonderful elegance."
Name Census estimates that about 729 living Americans carry the first name Misa. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Misa today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Misa births was 2011 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Misa. 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
729
~ 1 in 470,171 Americans
Peak year
2011
26 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,333
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Misa: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Misa from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 192 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Misa remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Misa 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 Misa during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Misas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, New York, Texas recorded the most babies named Misa, while Texas, New York, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 37 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Misa
The name Misa is believed to have its origins in various languages and cultures around the world. One possible source is the Japanese language, where it can be a feminine name derived from the word "misa," meaning "beautiful" or "elegant." It may also have roots in Slavic languages like Polish, where it could be a diminutive form of names such as Michalina or Michaela.
In terms of historical references, the name Misa is mentioned in some ancient texts and religious scriptures. For instance, in the Christian Bible, there is a character named Misa who was one of the daughters of Zelophehad, mentioned in the Book of Numbers. There are also records of the name being used in various European regions during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Misa can be found in the 12th century, when a woman named Misa von Kranichfeld was mentioned in historical documents from Germany. Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Misa.
One such person was Misa Naghiu (1905-1975), a Romanian writer and translator who was known for her works in children's literature. Another notable Misa was Misa Rezā Naṣrī (1859-1907), an Iranian scholar and writer who made significant contributions to the study of Persian literature.
In the realm of art, Misa Eleková (1951-2016) was a Slovak painter and printmaker who gained recognition for her unique artistic style. The name Misa was also borne by Misa Isayama (1888-1944), a Japanese educator and activist who advocated for women's rights and education in Japan during the early 20th century.
Additionally, Misa Kuranaga (1981-), a Japanese badminton player, has represented her country in various international competitions, including the Olympic Games.
These examples illustrate the diverse cultural backgrounds and historical contexts in which the name Misa has been used throughout the ages, showcasing its enduring presence across different regions and time periods.
People
Misa + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Misa 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
Misa: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Misa?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 729 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Misa 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 470,171 US residents.
Is Misa a common name?
We classify Misa as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 751 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Misa most popular?
The single biggest year for Misa was 2011, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Misa is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Misa a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Misa 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.