Nyesha
An English feminine given name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from an African language.
Name Census estimates that about 1,467 living Americans carry the first name Nyesha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nyesha today is around 34 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nyesha births was 1993 (71 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nyesha. 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
1.5K
~ 1 in 233,643 Americans
Peak year
1993
71 babies that year
Average age
34
years old
2020 SSA rank
#14,663
Tracked since 1971
Popularity
Nyesha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nyesha from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 584 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1990s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Nyesha 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 Nyesha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nyeshas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 14 states and territories. New York, California, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Nyesha, while South Carolina, Alabama, Ohio recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 28 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Nyesha
The given name Nyesha is believed to have its origins in the Swahili language, which is primarily spoken in parts of East Africa, particularly in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The name is thought to be derived from the Swahili word "nyesha," which translates to "rain" or "shower."
In Swahili culture, names often carry significant meanings and are chosen with great care and consideration. The name Nyesha may have been given to children as a symbol of blessings, fertility, and renewal, as rain is often associated with life-giving properties in many African cultures.
While the exact origins of the name are uncertain, it is possible that Nyesha may have been used in historical contexts within East African communities. However, there is a lack of documented evidence of its appearance in ancient texts or religious scriptures from the region.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Nyesha is Nyesha Malina, an American actress and model born in 1990. She is best known for her roles in television shows like "The Deep End" and "The Mob Doctor."
Another notable figure with the name is Nyesha Arrington, an American professional basketball player born in 1992. She played in the WNBA for teams like the Los Angeles Sparks and the Atlanta Dream.
Nyesha Stone, born in 1984, is an American chef and restaurateur. She gained recognition for her culinary skills and has appeared on various cooking shows, including "Top Chef" and "Food Network Star."
In the world of music, Nyesha Lauryn is an American singer and songwriter born in 1993. She has released several singles and has gained a following for her soulful vocals and unique style.
Nyesha DeWitt, born in 1978, is an American author and motivational speaker. She has written several books focused on personal growth, empowerment, and overcoming adversity.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have carried the name Nyesha throughout history, showcasing its use and presence across various fields and disciplines.
People
Nyesha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nyesha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with N
Other first names starting with N with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Nyesha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nyesha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,467 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nyesha 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 233,643 US residents.
Is Nyesha a common name?
We classify Nyesha as "Rare". It ranks above 92.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,531 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nyesha most popular?
The single biggest year for Nyesha was 1993, when 71 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nyesha is about 34 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nyesha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nyesha 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.