Find out how popular the first name Nisha has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Nisha by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Nisha is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 11 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Nisha.

The history of the first name Nisha

Nisha is a name that has its origins in Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages in the world, with roots dating back to around 1500 BC. It is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word "Nisha," which means "night" or "darkness." The name was likely given to children born at night or during a lunar eclipse, which was considered auspicious in ancient Indian culture.

The earliest known use of the name Nisha can be traced back to ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, such as the Vedas and the Puranas, where it was occasionally used as a feminine name or as a reference to the personification of night. However, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact time period or specific texts where the name first appeared.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Nisha was a Buddhist nun who lived in the 5th century AD. She was known for her spiritual teachings and is mentioned in several Buddhist texts from that era.

In the 11th century, a renowned poetess and mystic from Kashmir, India, named Nisha Ksemendra, gained recognition for her exceptional literary works and spiritual insights. Her writings have been preserved and studied by scholars over the centuries.

During the Mughal Empire in India, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Nisha was occasionally used by members of the royal families and nobility. One notable figure was Nisha Begum, a princess and the daughter of Emperor Akbar, who lived in the late 16th century.

In more recent times, several prominent individuals have borne the name Nisha. Nisha Ganatra, born in 1974, is a Canadian-American film director and screenwriter known for her work on projects like "Chutney Popcorn" and "Late Night."

Another noteworthy individual is Nisha Sabrina Shirazi, an Afghan-American author and women's rights activist born in 1976, who has written extensively about her experiences growing up in Afghanistan during the Taliban regime.

While the name Nisha has its roots in ancient Sanskrit and Hindu culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and is now used by people of various backgrounds and ethnicities around the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Nisha was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Nisha, please contact us.

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