Velisha
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Slavic root "vel" meaning "great".
Name Census estimates that about 43 living Americans carry the first name Velisha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Velisha today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Velisha births was 1984 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Velisha. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Velisha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
43
~ 1 in 7,971,031 Americans
Peak year
1984
8 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
1989 SSA rank
#14,470
Tracked since 1968
Popularity
Velisha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Velisha from the 1960s through to the 1980s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 23 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Velisha 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 Velisha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Velisha
The name Velisha is believed to have its origins in the ancient Sanskrit language, which was the primary language of the Indian subcontinent during the Vedic period, dating back to around 1500-500 BCE. The name is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "Velisha," which means "creeper" or "vine." This name was likely given to girls born during the spring or summer months when vines and creepers were in full bloom, symbolizing new life and growth.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Velisha can be found in the Hindu epic poem, the Mahabharata, which was composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE. In this ancient text, Velisha is mentioned as the name of a minor character, a handmaiden to one of the principal queens. This suggests that the name was in use among the aristocratic classes during that time period.
The name Velisha gained popularity in various regions of India, particularly in the northern and central parts of the subcontinent. It was embraced by several Hindu communities and was often associated with the virtues of grace, beauty, and fertility, which were highly valued in ancient Indian society.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Velisha. One of the earliest recorded examples is Velisha Devi, a renowned Hindu mystic and philosopher who lived in the 7th century CE. She was renowned for her spiritual teachings and her contributions to the Advaita Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy.
Another prominent figure was Velisha Kumari, a 12th-century Indian princess and warrior from the Chahamana dynasty, who ruled over the Shakambhari region in present-day Rajasthan. She was known for her bravery and military prowess, leading her armies in several successful campaigns against rival kingdoms.
In the field of literature, Velisha Dutta was a celebrated 16th-century Bengali poet and lyricist, renowned for her devotional poetry dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. Her works were widely popular and influential in the Bengal region during that time.
Moving forward in time, Velisha Naidu was a prominent Indian freedom fighter and social activist who played a significant role in the Indian independence movement against British rule in the early 20th century. She was a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi and worked tirelessly for the empowerment of women and the underprivileged sections of society.
Lastly, Velisha Sharma was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer of the 20th century, who was instrumental in reviving and popularizing the Kathak dance form. She was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, in recognition of her contributions to the field of dance.
People
Velisha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Velisha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with V
Other first names starting with V with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Velisha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Velisha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 43 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Velisha 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 7,971,031 US residents.
Is Velisha a common name?
We classify Velisha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 52.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 47 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Velisha most popular?
The single biggest year for Velisha was 1984, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Velisha is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Velisha in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Velisha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Velisha 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.
Is Velisha still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Velisha in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Velisha can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Velisha?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.