Aisha is an Arabic name meaning “alive” or “she who lives”, from the root ʿ-y-sh. It is the name of Aisha bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her), a wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and a great teacher of Islam. In 2025, 436 girls in England and Wales were named Aisha.
What does Aisha mean?
Aisha comes from ʿāsha, “to live”, the same root as maʿīshah, “livelihood”. It carries a simple, hopeful meaning: a child who lives and thrives. In Arabic the name is spelled with an ʿayn at the start and a hamza in the middle, which is why it is written in so many different ways in English.
How do you pronounce Aisha?
Closest to the Arabic is AA-ee-sha, three syllables with the first one long. In the UK you will also hear eye-EE-sha and, for Ayesha, EYE-sha.
How do you spell Aisha? Spellings and variants
- Aisha: the most popular spelling in England and Wales.
- Ayesha (common in South Asian families), Aishah, Aysha, A’isha.
- Ayşe (Turkish), Aïcha (French and North African).
How popular is Aisha in the UK?
Aisha sits just outside the top 100 girls’ names in England and Wales. In 2025, 436 girls were named Aisha (106th), and Ayesha ranked 229th.
| Spelling | Rank in 2025 | Babies in 2025 | Change since 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aisha | 106 | 436 | up 3 places |
| Ayesha | 229 | – | down 12 places |
Aisha bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with her)
Aisha was the daughter of Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s closest friend and the first caliph, and was a wife of the Prophet Muhammad. Like all the Prophet’s wives she is honoured as a “Mother of the Believers” (33:6).
She is remembered above all for her knowledge. Aisha narrated more than two thousand hadith, more than almost any other Companion, and after the Prophet’s death senior Companions came to her with questions about the Qur’an, the Sunnah and Islamic law. Much of what Muslims know about the Prophet’s daily life at home, his prayer and his character comes from her. When asked about his character, she answered, “His character was the Qur’an” (Sahih Muslim 746). She died in Madinah in 678.
For girls, Aisha is a wonderful example of a woman who loved learning and taught others. Our guide to Islamic gifts for girls includes books about the women of early Islam.
Aisha and the Hudhud book
In Hudhud, a girl called Aisha becomes the traveller who flies at night with a talking hoopoe through the stories of Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa, Isa and Muhammad (peace be upon them), with her name in place of the sample hero’s, Yusuf.
What middle names go with Aisha?
What are nicknames for Aisha?
Ash and Aishu are common. The Prophet himself sometimes called her Aish (Sahih al-Bukhari 3768), and he is reported to have called her Humayra, “little rosy one”.
What are good sibling names for Aisha?
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
What does Aisha mean in Islam?
Aisha means “alive”, “living” or “she who lives” in Arabic, from the root ʿ-y-sh, “to live”. It is the name of Aisha bint Abi Bakr, a wife of the Prophet and a great scholar.
Is Aisha in the Qur’an?
Aisha is not named in the Qur’an, but as a wife of the Prophet she is one of the “Mothers of the Believers” (33:6). The Prophet said her excellence over other women was like that of tharid over other foods (Sahih al-Bukhari 3770).
Is it Aisha or Ayesha?
Both are transliterations of عائشة. In England and Wales in 2025, Aisha ranked 106th and Ayesha 229th (ONS).
Is Aisha a popular name in the UK?
Aisha was given to 436 girls in England and Wales in 2025, ranking 106th, just outside the top 100 (ONS). Counting Ayesha, Aishah and other spellings, the name is more common than any one spelling shows.
How do you pronounce Aisha?
Closest to the Arabic is AA-ee-sha. Many British speakers say eye-EE-sha, and Ayesha is often said EYE-sha.
Why is Aisha famous in Islam?
She narrated more than two thousand hadith and taught the Companions after the Prophet’s death, so much of what Muslims know about his life at home comes from her.
What are nicknames for Aisha?
Ash and Aishu are common. The Prophet himself sometimes called her “Aish” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3768).
What are good middle names for Aisha?
Aisha Maryam, Aisha Fatima, Aisha Noor and Aisha Zainab are popular. Some families add Siddiqa, her title, meaning “the truthful”.