A 1980s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Nisha since 1961
Babies named Nisha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 59 |
| 1970s | 457 |
| 1980s | 846 |
| 1990s | 803 |
| 2000s | 520 |
| 2010s | 216 |
| 2020s | 93 |
Meaning & origin
Nisha, of Sanskrit origin, entered U.S. baby name records in 1961 and saw its peak popularity in 1984. Despite its relatively low overall rank of 7,885 in 2025, the name has been rising steadily since 2016, suggesting a renewed interest. With a 1-in-123,636 occurrence rate, Nisha remains a distinctive choice. It saw a revival in the 1980s after decades of moderate use, and though not among the top state-specific names, its cultural roots and melodic sound continue to attract families seeking a name with deep meaning and international flair.
Derived from Sanskrit निशा (niśā), meaning 'night.' In Hindu mythology, Nisha is often used as a name for the night personified or as an epithet for the goddess Lakshmi, who is associated with the full moon night. The name has been used across the Indian subcontinent for centuries and gained some popularity in English-speaking countries in the late 20th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Nish, Nishi, Nishu
Sibling names for Nisha
Names that share Nisha's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Priya, Anjali, Asha, Maya, Kavya, Aanya, Ishani, Lisha, Teisha, Aparna, Ashna, Leesha, Meisha, Nesha, Richa, Ashika, Deepika, Muskan, Nishika, Pragya, Resha, Tishia, Arnisha, Ekta, Kerisha, Oviya, Rashika, Samriddhi, Sanjna, Twisha
Brothers: Ravi, Arjun, Vikram, Rahul, Sanjay, Vaibhav, Vraj, Ajai, Ashwath, Jatin, Devarsh, Iniyan
