Given name & surname · also Hebrew, Indian
Isha
“the protector”·“a lively woman”·“one who is protective”
Isha is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “the protector”, “a lively woman”, and “one who is protective”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “the protector”, “a lively woman”, and “one who is protective”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Indian, Hebrew, and Hindi naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1960. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Isha through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,151
- 0 boys · 5,151 girls
- Most popular year
- 2023
- 209 babies
- 2025
- 176
- #1,276 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +24%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 176 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,276 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 24.4% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (44). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,525 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Isha
- Isha KoppikarIndian actressborn 1976
- Isha TalwarIndian actressborn 1987
- Isha SharvaniIndian actressborn 1984
- Esha ChawlaIndian actressborn 1988
- Isha Basant JoshiIndian writer1908–2000
- Isha LakhaniIndian tennis playerborn 1985
- Isha JohansenSierra Leonne football executiveborn 1965
- Isha AmbaniIndian heiressborn 1991
- Isha SesayBritish journalist of Sierra Leonean descent. From 2005 to 2018, she worked as an anchor and correspondent for CNN Internationalborn 1976
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Isha, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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Briella is a feminine given name from Hebrew.
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Raaya is a feminine given name from Hindi.
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Noa
“an active woman; movement”
13% boys · 87% girls
Talia
“morning dew from heaven” · “blooming”
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Dhyana
“one who meditates”
>99% girls
Eliana
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Virika
“one who is brave”
>99% girls