Find out how popular the last name Nisha is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Nisha.

Nisha, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Nisha surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Nisha in America

Nisha is the 96799th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Nisha surname appeared 188 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Nisha.

We can also compare 2010 data for Nisha to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Nisha

The surname Nisha has its origins in India, where it first emerged as a personal name during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Sanskrit word 'nisha,' which means 'night.' It is believed that the name may have been bestowed upon individuals who were born at night or had a nocturnal disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Nisha can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures known as the Puranas, where it is mentioned as the name of a goddess associated with the night. This association with the divine realm likely contributed to the name's popularity among certain communities in India.

During the Mughal era, which spanned from the 16th to the 19th century, the name Nisha gained prominence among the nobility and aristocratic classes. Historical records from this period indicate that several influential figures bore this name, including Nisha Begum, a renowned courtesan and poet who lived in the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Nisha was documented in the chronicles of the Maratha Empire, a dominant power in the Indian subcontinent at the time. One notable figure was Nisha Naik, a valiant warrior who fought against the Mughal forces in the Battle of Panipat in 1761.

As the name spread across different regions of India, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Nesha, Neesha, and Nishaa. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and linguistic preferences.

Among the famous bearers of the surname Nisha in more recent history, one can mention Nisha Ganatra, an Indian-American filmmaker and director known for her work on projects like "Chutney Popcorn" and "Late Night." Nisha Ganatra was born in 1974.

Another notable individual is Nisha Desai Biswal, an American diplomat and former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, born in 1964. Her career has been dedicated to strengthening ties between the United States and the nations of South and Central Asia.

Nisha Pahuja, a Canadian documentary filmmaker and director, has also gained recognition for her critically acclaimed works, such as "The World Before Her" and "Diamond Road." Pahuja was born in 1975.

Nisha Kataria, an Indian judge and former Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, has made significant contributions to the legal system in India. She was born in 1954 and served as the Chief Justice from 2014 to 2016.

Lastly, Nisha Sharma, an Indian-American author and writer, has garnered praise for her young adult novels, including "My So-Called Bollywood Life" and "Dating Dr. Dil." Sharma's works explore themes of identity, culture, and relationships.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Nisha

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Nisha.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Nisha was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Nisha has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

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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