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Home › Baby Names Directory › Asha

Asha

♀ Girl

Pronounced AH-shuh /ˈɑː.ʃə/High

Meaning: Hope; from Sanskrit asha (hope, desire, wish); or life (Swahili); or truth/righteousness (Avestan Asha, one of the Zoroastrian divine concepts)Medium

In 30 seconds: A name with multiple independent roots: 'hope' in Sanskrit, 'life' in Swahili, and 'truth/righteousness' in Avestan (Zoroastrian). All three traditions produce a deeply positive name — hope, life, and truth in one.
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Origin MediumSanskrit, Swahili, Avestan
MeaningHope; from Sanskrit asha (hope, desire, wish); or life (Swahili); or truth/righteousness (Avestan Asha, one of the Zoroastrian divine concepts)
U.S. rank (2025)#1373 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births160 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2000
Total births (all-time)≈ 9,064

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200019632025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Asha has at least three independent origins: Sanskrit asha (hope, desire); Swahili, where it means life; and Avestan Asha, the Zoroastrian principle of truth and righteousness. All three traditions use it as a positive given name for women.

Asha is used across South Asian, East African, and Persian diaspora communities in the U.S. It ranked #1196 for girls in 2024.

Did you know? Asha is one of the central concepts of Zoroastrianism — Asha Vahishta (Best Truth/Righteousness) is one of the six divine emanations of Ahura Mazda, representing the cosmic principle of truth and moral order. So naming a child Asha connects them to one of the world's oldest monotheistic traditions.
Overall data confidence 84%
Behind the Name — Asha — multiple etymologiesU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AishaAsia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Asha Bhosle (1933-2026)
    Indian playback singer who recorded thousands of film songs
  • ★Asha Parekh (1942-)
    Leading Indian actress of 1960s and 1970s Hindi cinema
  • ★Asha Negi (1989-)
    Indian television and web-series actress known for Pavitra Rishta

If you like Asha…

Amara— African name meaning grace with the same multicultural depth
Aiyana— three-syllable name with the same floral/life meaning
Aisha— Arabic name with the same A-sha sound
Maya— two-syllable Sanskrit/Hebrew name meaning illusion or water
Nora— two-syllable name with the same gentle simplicity

Explore names like Asha

By themesanskrittwo-syllableswahilimulticulturallifehope
By meaningGod / DivineHopeTruthLife

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Asha mean?

Asha means 'hope' in Sanskrit, 'life' in Swahili, and 'truth/righteousness' in Avestan (Zoroastrian). Three independent origins, all deeply positive.

How do you pronounce Asha?

It's said AH-shuh — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Asha a boy or girl name?

Asha is used as a girls' name.

How popular is Asha?

Asha ranked #1196 for U.S. girls in 2024.

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