Nyisha
An Egyptian name meaning "she is the first" or "predecessor".
Name Census estimates that about 505 living Americans carry the first name Nyisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Nyisha today is around 38 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Nyisha births was 1980 (32 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Nyisha. 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
505
~ 1 in 678,721 Americans
Peak year
1980
32 babies that year
Average age
38
years old
2007 SSA rank
#10,639
Tracked since 1973
Popularity
Nyisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Nyisha from the 1970s through to the 2000s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 223 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
Nyisha 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 Nyisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Nyishas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Nyisha
The name Nyisha is believed to have its origins in the Indian subcontinent, derived from the Sanskrit word "nisha" or "nishā," meaning "night." The name may have been inspired by the beauty and mystique associated with the night, or it could have been used to honor deities or celestial bodies related to the night.
In ancient Hindu texts, such as the Vedas and Puranas, there are references to the concept of "nisha" and its significance in various rituals and ceremonies. The night was often personified as a goddess, and her blessings were sought for protection, fertility, and prosperity.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nyisha can be traced back to the 7th century CE, where it was mentioned in an inscription found in the Nalanda region of Bihar, India. This inscription was a dedication to a local ruler or patron of the arts, whose daughter was named Nyisha.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Nyisha. In the 11th century, Nyisha Devi was a renowned poetess and scholar from the Chola Empire in South India. Her works were widely acclaimed for their literary merit and philosophical depth.
During the Mughal era in the 16th century, Nyisha Begum was a prominent figure in the court of Emperor Akbar. She was known for her intelligence, diplomatic skills, and her influence in shaping the cultural and intellectual landscape of the time.
In the 19th century, Nyisha Ghose was a celebrated author and social reformer from Bengal. Her writings advocated for women's education and empowerment, and she played a significant role in the Bengali Renaissance movement.
Another notable figure was Nyisha Kapoor, a pioneering Indian actress who rose to prominence in the early 20th century. She was celebrated for her groundbreaking performances and her contributions to the Indian film industry in its formative years.
Nyisha Ramachandran was a distinguished Indian classical dancer and choreographer from the late 20th century. She was instrumental in preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Indian dance forms, earning numerous accolades and awards for her dedication to the arts.
People
Nyisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Nyisha 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
Nyisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Nyisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 505 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Nyisha 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 678,721 US residents.
Is Nyisha a common name?
We classify Nyisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 532 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Nyisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Nyisha was 1980, when 32 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Nyisha is about 38 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Nyisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Nyisha 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.