Alisha

GirlEnglish, Germanic· “variant of Alicia; noble kind”

Meaning
variant of Alicia; noble kind
Origin
English, Germanic
Pronunciation
uh-LEE-shuh
Syllables
3
US rank 2025
#1,229
US babies 2025
183
Best rank
#118 (1987)
Peak year
1989

Meaning and origin of Alisha

Alisha is an English and Germanic name that is usually said to mean “variant of Alicia; noble kind”.

Alisha is a modern English spelling of Alicia, the Latinized form of Alice. Alice comes from the Germanic Adalheidis, meaning "noble kind." Alisha spells the name the way it is commonly pronounced in English, and it became popular in the United States and Britain in the late twentieth century. It is sometimes also linked to Sanskrit names that sound similar, though these are separate. Alisha has a gentle, friendly sound and is easy to spell. Ali and Lisha are possible nicknames.

Popularity over time

07501.5k2.2k3k1960198020002020Peak 1989: 2,437
US babies named Alisha per year, 1880 to 2025

Alisha first appears in US Social Security records in 1948. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 55 different years, starting in 1964. Its best national rank was #118 in 1987, and the most babies received it in 1989, when 2,437 were named Alisha. In 2025, 183 babies were named Alisha, and it ranked #1,229 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #151 in 1980, #401 in 2000, #782 in 2010, and #1,229 in 2025. Of the 56,996 US girls named Alisha since records began, 38% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 14,510 babies. Since 2010, 4,228 more have been named Alisha.

Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Britney, Jaclyn, Meagan, Sasha, and Rachael.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Alisha ranked highest in Florida, Indiana, and New York.

StateRank thereBabies
Florida#46240
Indiana#7248
New York#79020
New Jersey#8508
Virginia#10446

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for girls.

Alisha is usually pronounced uh-LEE-shuh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with A and ends in “-ha”.

Middle names for Alisha

A few middle names that flow with Alisha: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Chloe Girl
KLOH-ee
“young green shoot” · Greek
#23
Grace Girl
GRAYS
“grace” · English
#38
Claire Girl
KLAIR
“clear, bright” · French
#68
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
#18
Luna Girl
LOO-nuh
“moon” · Latin
#27

Sibling names for Alisha

Similar names

Alissa Girl
uh-LIH-suh
“form of Alice or Alyssa” · English
#1,942
Belinda Girl
buh-LIHN-duh
Germanic
#1,819
Alyssa Girl
uh-LIS-uh
“form of Alice; also alyssum flower” · English
#453
Natasha Girl
nuh-TAH-shuh
“Christmas day” · Russian
#1,148
Tabitha Girl
TAB-ih-thuh
“gazelle” · Aramaic
#1,308
Geraldine Girl
jehr-uhl-DEEN
“feminine of Gerald; spear rule” · English
#2,447
Trisha Girl
TRIH-shuh
“noble” · English
#3,511
Anisha Girl
uh-NEE-shuh
“uninterrupted; without night” · Sanskrit
#4,560
Samantha Girl
suh-MAN-thuh
“uncertain; possibly Samuel plus -antha” · American (modern coinage)
#151
Alexa Girl
uh-LEK-suh
“defender of men” · Greek
#1,029
Emery Girl
EH-mur-ee
“industrious ruler” · English
#74
Marissa Girl
muh-RIH-suh
“elaboration of Maria; linked to the sea” · English
#1,679

Lists that include Alisha

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Alisha mean?

Alisha is an English and Germanic name that is usually said to mean “variant of Alicia; noble kind”.

What is the origin of the name Alisha?

Alisha has English and Germanic roots. Alisha is a modern English spelling of Alicia, the Latinized form of Alice.

Is Alisha a popular name?

Not especially. Alisha ranked #1,229 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Alisha a boy or girl name?

Alisha is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.

How do you pronounce Alisha?

Alisha is usually pronounced uh-LEE-shuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings