Asha
Asha is a Muslim girl name of Swahili / Somali form of Aisha origin, meaning “Life, living”.
| Meaning | Life, living |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Swahili / Somali form of Aisha |
| Written as | عائشة |
| Pronunciation | AH-shah |
| Tradition | Muslim |
| Used in | East Africa, Somalia |
Meaning and origin of Asha
Across East Africa, Asha is the local Swahili and Somali way of saying Aisha, a name meaning 'life' or 'alive'. It comes from the Arabic root ʿ-y-sh, which is all about living, and so it shares its sense with Aisha and Ayesha. There is also an unrelated Sanskrit name Asha, meaning 'hope', that Hindu families in India use. Which meaning applies depends on the family's background, so the same four letters can point to two quite different traditions.
Is Asha a Muslim name?
For East African Muslims, Asha is simply their local form of Aisha, while the Indian Asha is a separate Sanskrit name meaning hope.
How popular is Asha?
It is widespread in Tanzania, Kenya and Somalia, while India has a separate Hindu name with the same spelling.
Gifts with the name Asha
- Asha name necklaces & bracelets (Amazon)
- Personalised Asha baby gifts (Amazon)
- Muslim baby gifts & books (Amazon)
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Spellings and variants of Asha
Names similar to Asha
More Muslim girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Asha mean?
Asha means 'Life, living'. It is of Swahili / Somali form of Aisha origin.
Is Asha a Muslim name?
For East African Muslims, Asha is simply their local form of Aisha, while the Indian Asha is a separate Sanskrit name meaning hope.
How do you pronounce Asha?
Asha is pronounced AH-shah.
Is Asha a boy or girl name?
Asha is usually a girl name.