A 1970s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Risha since 1954
Babies named Risha per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 62 |
| 1970s | 154 |
| 1980s | 129 |
| 1990s | 83 |
| 2000s | 168 |
| 2010s | 251 |
| 2020s | 117 |
Meaning & origin
Risha is a name of layered origins. First recorded in the U.S. in 1954, it saw its peak in 1979 and has been on a rising trajectory since 2000, reaching rank 5,410 in 2025. The name's appearance rate is 1 in 69,881 newborns, indicating moderate rarity. Its appeal likely stems from its cross-cultural resonance, connecting to Sanskrit traditions via the word 'rishi' and to Arabic name traditions through phonetic similarity to Aisha. The 1970s revival cluster highlights its mid-century adoption, while the recent uptick reflects broader interest in concise, vowel-ending names. Risha remains uncommon enough to feel distinctive, yet familiar in sound.
Risha may have multiple origins. In the Indian subcontinent, it is often considered a feminine variant of Rishi, which in Sanskrit means 'sage' or 'seer'. Alternatively, it could be a modern spelling variant of Aisha (Arabic for 'alive' or 'prosperous') or a shortening of Rashida (Arabic for 'rightly guided'). The name gained modest use in the United States from the 1950s, with a peak in the 1970s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ri, Rish, Sha
Variants: Risha, Rishaa, Rishah
Sibling names for Risha
Names that share Risha's style, for a brother or sister.
