Fun Facts About the Name Usha
- 152 babies named Usha: U.S. records list 152 babies given the name Usha from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Usha Mean?
Usha is a feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "dawn." It comes from the Sanskrit noun uṣas, "dawn," which is also the name of the Vedic goddess Uṣas, the personification of first light. The name is written उषा in Devanagari. Its literal sense is the dawn itself; broader interpretations such as "light" are symbolic extensions rather than separate etymologies.
Usha Name History & Origins
The word uṣas belongs to the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature. In the Rigveda, Uṣas is a major goddess addressed in several hymns; she is described as coming with the light of morning, driving away darkness, and awakening the world. These hymns are religious poetry, not a record of the name's first use as a personal name. The feminine given name Usha is a personal use of this same word.
A separate figure named Usha appears in later Hindu narrative. In the Bhagavata Purana and related accounts, Usha is the daughter of the demon king Banasura; she dreams of Aniruddha, Krishna's grandson, and the story turns on their secret marriage and the battle that follows. This literary Usha is distinct from the Vedic dawn goddess, though both use the same name.
The name is used as a feminine given name in India and among South Asian diaspora communities. In modern Indian languages it is written उषा in Devanagari and উষা in Bengali. The English spelling Usha reflects transliteration of these forms; the final vowel is pronounced fully in Indian languages and is often reduced in English speech.
How Popular is the Name Usha?
Usha has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1973. Its best rank was #4,850 in 1973.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | #17,788 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #19,103 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #17,958 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #15,674 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #13,380 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1989 | #14,455 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #10,855 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #8,122 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #10,231 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #8,031 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1978 | #9,706 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #6,872 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1976 | #10,837 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #7,950 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #4,850 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #5,096 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #5,521 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #5,397 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1968 | #6,968 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #5,789 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #7,599 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #6,161 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Usha Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have talent, charm and luck. You can succeed in art and in any educational occupation. You attract peculiar experiences. Your power and protection lies in spiritual side of life. You are an enthusiastic collector and you will be tenacious in holding onto the things you accumulate. You have a good memory and should make an effort to have a positive attitude. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
Dependable, very down-to-earth and well grounded, you are always looking for meaningful work, a career where you can take pride in your work and do the best job you are capable of. Your prime desire is to build protected and secure environment at home and at work. You can be very persuasive in achieving goals and gaining objectives. You can be very detailed and well-organized and possess great organizational skills. At times you may appear too stubborn and overly critical to others, but your practical approach to life and productivity makes you one of the most beneficent members of community.
✦ Usha's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Usha's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.