Tanisha

A American name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysAmericanRising fast
#5264 1630in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name.

Tanisha is a girl's and boy's baby name of American origin, possibly derived from the Hausa name Taniша (meaning 'born on Monday') or created as a blend of names like Tamara and Nisha, meaning 'born on Monday' or 'ambition.'

With over 19,000 recorded births, Tanisha emerged as a distinctly American name in the 1970s and became widely popular in African American communities through the 1980s and 90s. It carries the creative spirit of African American naming innovation — taking elements of existing names and combining them into something new and distinctly cultural. The name has a warm, musical quality that has kept it beloved for decades.

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Popularity Over Time

Tanisha was #1487 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #5264, but its charm endures.

0190379569758198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Tanisha
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s109
2010s593
2000s1,366
1990s4,771
1980s6,811
1970s5,628
1960s44

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(58 years, 19672024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Tanisha
YearBirthsRank
202425#5264
202317#6894
202219#6436
202124#5379
202024#5298
201940#3777
201837#3996
201739#3914
201644#3577
201553#3173
201449#3322
201358#2933
201272#2543
201194#2069
2010107#1896
200985#2314
2008131#1711
2007130#1694
2006136#1589
2005141#1493

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Tanisha as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Tanisha has also been given to 21 boys in the U.S. since 1977.

Unranked
Current rank
21
Total births
1989
Peak year
Compare Tanisha as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Tanisha be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Tanisha is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #5264. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19672024) · Methodology