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Ayesha

Girl name · 357 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ayesha: 357 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 14 births in 2010.

Of Arabic origin, Ayesha means “living” or “prosperous,” derived from the Arabic root ʿ-y-sh, signifying life and vitality. It is most famously associated with Aisha bint Abi Bakr, the beloved wife of the Prophet Muhammad and a prominent figure in early Islamic history. In Scotland, the name gained modern prominence through the acclaimed singer-songwriter Ayesha, who blends folk and electronic music. While no place names in Scotland directly trace to this root, the name shares its etymological family with the Scottish village of Auchinleish, whose Gaelic origins carry a similar sense of “field of life.” Ayesha was also the heroine of H. Rider Haggard’s 1887 novel *She*, a mystical queen whose name inspired a wave of Victorian-era popularity in the English-speaking world.