Mushka
A feminine Russian pet form of the name Maria, possibly meaning "little mouse".
Name Census estimates that about 473 living Americans carry the first name Mushka. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Mushka today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Mushka births was 2024 (25 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Mushka. 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
473
~ 1 in 724,639 Americans
Peak year
2024
25 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,235
Tracked since 1988
Popularity
Mushka: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Mushka from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 144 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Mushka remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mushka 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 Mushka during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Mushkas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Mushka
The name Mushka has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was prominent in ancient India during the Vedic period, dating back to around 1500-500 BC. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "muṣka," which means "sheath" or "scabbard," referring to the protective covering for a sword or knife.
In Hindu mythology, Mushka is mentioned as the name of a demon or asura who fought against the gods. This reference can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, which dates back to around 400 BC-400 AD.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mushka is found in the Gupta Empire, which ruled over parts of modern-day India and Pakistan from the 4th to the 6th century AD. During this period, Mushka was a relatively common name among the ruling class and nobility.
In the 7th century AD, there was a famous Buddhist monk named Mushka who traveled extensively throughout Asia, spreading the teachings of Buddhism. He is credited with establishing several monasteries and temples in regions such as Central Asia and China.
Another notable figure named Mushka was a renowned Indian mathematician and astronomer who lived during the 8th century AD. He made significant contributions to the field of mathematics, particularly in the areas of trigonometry and calculus.
During the medieval period, the name Mushka was associated with several rulers and military leaders in various parts of the Indian subcontinent. One such figure was Mushka Deva, a king of the Rashtrakuta Empire in the 10th century AD, who was known for his military conquests and patronage of the arts.
In the 12th century AD, there was a famous Sufi mystic and poet named Mushka who hailed from present-day Afghanistan. His writings and teachings had a profound influence on the spiritual and cultural landscape of the region.
Throughout history, the name Mushka has been borne by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including scholars, artists, warriors, and spiritual leaders. While it may not be as widely used today as it once was, the name continues to hold significance and cultural resonance in certain parts of the world.
People
Mushka + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Mushka 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
Mushka: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Mushka?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 473 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Mushka 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 724,639 US residents.
Is Mushka a common name?
We classify Mushka as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 481 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Mushka most popular?
The single biggest year for Mushka was 2024, when 25 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Mushka is about 17 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Mushka a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Mushka 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.