Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Nisha
GirlSanskrit, Hindi· “night”
- Meaning
- night
- Origin
- Sanskrit, Hindi
- Pronunciation
- NEE-shuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #8,216
- US babies 2025
- 13
- Best rank
- #1,244 (1984)
- Peak year
- 1984
Meaning and origin of Nisha
Nisha is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “night”.
Nisha is a Sanskrit name meaning "night," used as a girls' name across India. It is common in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil and other languages, and it has spread with Indian families around the world. It is said NEE-shuh. Related names include Nishi, and the boys' name Nishant, which means "end of night" or "dawn." Nisa, which sounds similar, is an Arabic word with a different meaning. Nisha is simple to spell and pronounce in English, and it is sometimes mistaken for a short form of Anisha, another Indian name.
Popularity over time
Nisha first appears in US Social Security records in 1961. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,244 in 1984, the same year it reached its highest count of 104 babies. In 2025, 13 babies were named Nisha, and it ranked #8,216 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #1,687 in 1980, #2,327 in 2000, #4,278 in 2010, and #8,216 in 2025. Of the 2,994 US girls named Nisha since records began, 28% were born in the 1980s, its biggest decade. The 1990s come next, with 803 babies. Since 2010, 309 more have been named Nisha.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Candyce, Alona, Holley, Tenesha, and Kellyn.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Nisha is usually pronounced NEE-shuh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with N and ends in “-ha”.
Middle names for Nisha
A few middle names that flow with Nisha: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Nisha
Similar names
Neha Girl
NAY-hah
“love, affection” · Hindi
#5,662
Asha Girl
AH-shuh
“hope” · Sanskrit
#1,373
Isha Girl
EE-shuh
“ruler, lord” · Sanskrit
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Saisha Girl
SY-shuh
“uncertain; modern Indian name” · Hindi
#3,019
Anisha Girl
uh-NEE-shuh
“uninterrupted; without night” · Sanskrit
#4,560
Divya Girl
DIHV-yuh
“divine, heavenly” · Sanskrit
#5,449
Priyanka Girl
pree-YAHNG-kuh
“dear, beloved” · Sanskrit
#14,518
Raja Unisex
RAH-juh
“king (Sanskrit); hope (Arabic)” · Sanskrit
#6,361
Monisha Girl
moh-NEE-shuh
“variant of Manisha, intellect or wish” · Sanskrit
rare
Jaya Girl
JY-uh
“victory” · Sanskrit
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Shaila Girl
SHY-luh
“of the mountain, rock” · Sanskrit
#5,211
Tanvi Girl
TAHN-vee
“slender, delicate” · Sanskrit
#4,059
Lists that include Nisha
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Nisha mean?
Nisha is a Sanskrit and Hindi name that means “night”.
What is the origin of the name Nisha?
Nisha has Sanskrit and Hindi roots. Nisha is a Sanskrit name meaning "night," used as a girls' name across India.
Is Nisha a popular name?
Not especially. Nisha ranked #8,216 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Nisha a boy or girl name?
Nisha is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Nisha?
Nisha is usually pronounced NEE-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