Aisha

♀ Girl

Pronounced ah-EE-shah /ɑːˈiː.ʃɑː/High

Meaning: From the Arabic root 'a-y-sh', meaning to live. Aisha means 'living', 'she who lives', or 'full of life'.High

In 30 seconds: Aisha is one of the most significant names in Islamic history, borne by the Prophet Muhammad's beloved wife who became one of the most important scholars and political figures in early Islam.

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Origin HighArabic

MeaningFrom the Arabic root 'a-y-sh', meaning to live. Aisha means 'living', 'she who lives', or 'full of life'.

U.S. rank (2025)#337 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births910 girls (0.05% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1977

Total births (all-time)≈ 26,931

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Aisha derives from the Arabic root a-y-sh, meaning to live or to be alive. Aisha bint Abi Bakr (c. 613–678 CE) was the third and youngest wife of the Prophet Muhammad, daughter of his companion Abu Bakr (who became the first caliph). She was renowned for her intelligence, her memory, and her religious knowledge, and became a central figure in early Islamic jurisprudence.

Aisha has been among the most popular girls' names in the Muslim world for over fourteen centuries, used across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. In the West, it gained broader recognition through the African American community in the 1960s and 1970s, during a cultural reconnection with Arabic and Islamic heritage. It has appeared in the US top 500 for decades and is rising globally.

Did you know? Aisha bint Abi Bakr is reported to have narrated more than 2,000 hadith (sayings of the Prophet), making her one of the most prolific transmitters of Islamic knowledge and giving her name a singular scholarly legacy.

Overall data confidence 93%

Wehr, Hans. A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic — Root a-y-sh and its derivationsBehind the Name: Aisha — Islamic historical context and global usage

Variations

AyeshaAyshaAisyaAsha

Nicknames

AyeIshi

Famous Bearers

★Aisha bint Abi Bakr (c. 613–678 CE)
Wife of the Prophet Muhammad, scholar and major transmitter of Islamic hadith, deeply revered in Islamic tradition.

If you like Aisha…

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Layla— Arabic name meaning night with the same melodic three-syllable quality and cross-cultural appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Aisha mean?

Aisha means 'living' or 'she who lives', from the Arabic root a-y-sh, meaning to live or be alive.

How do you pronounce Aisha?

Aisha is pronounced ah-EE-shah (/ɑːˈiː.ʃɑː/), three syllables with stress on the second.

Is Aisha a boy or girl name?

Aisha is a girl's name.

How popular is Aisha?

Aisha is one of the most popular names in Muslim-majority countries and appears in the US top 500, with consistent use across diverse communities.