Keisha
About Keisha
A long-popular name, particularly among the African-American community, Keisha was first publicized by the child actress, Keshia Knight Pulliam, who starred on the old Cosby Show. It entered the US Top 1000 in 1967 and remained there for 30 years, but it hasn't featured again since 1997.
Keshia likely emerged as a spin on the Biblical name Keziah - inspired by either the Keh-zee-uh pronunciation of the name, or it's meaning, "cassia tree", sometimes pronounced as cash-uh. Other theories suggest it's a Swahili name meaning "favorite", a variation of Casey, a spin on the Scottish name Keitha, or a contracted form of the Arabic Khadija.
Recent years had seen usage of Keisha dwindle to around 40 babies each year, but, in 2023, it had a small spike of popularity and was given to 70 girls.
Pronounced KEE-shah.
As of October 2026, Keisha ranked #2738 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #233 in 1976.
Editor: Pamela Redmond
Sources: US popularity data is from the Social Security Administration. Meanings and origins are from Nameberry's name references.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #3,206 | 51 | 28.5 |
| 2015 | #2,949 | 59 | 33.1 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | #4,035 | 37 | 21.4 |
| 2018 | #4,035 | 36 | 21.2 |
| 2019 | #3,531 | 44 | 26.2 |
| 2020 | #3,428 | 45 | 27.8 |
| 2021 | #3,270 | 49 | 29.9 |
| 2022 | #3,679 | 42 | 25.6 |
| 2023 | #2,534 | 70 | 43.6 |
| 2024 | #2,566 | 69 | 42.6 |
| 2025 | #2,738 | 63 | 39.2 |
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Keisha.
- Cherise
- Tatianna
- Breonna
- Nicki
- Britney
- Sheryl
- Shauna
- Kornelia
- Merilyn
- Kirstie
- Markie
- Susanne
- Deanna
- Trisha
- Cassadee
- Kimberley
- Stefani
- Trina
- Jody
- Chanelle
Keisha on lists
Famous Keishas
- Keisha Castle
Hughes, New Zealand actress
- Keisha Kerreece Fayeanne Buchanan
British singer of pop group the Sugababes
- Keisha Jackson
American R&B singer; daughter of singer Millie Jackson
- Keisha Bell
American soccer player
- Keisha Grey
American adult film actress
- Keisha
American adult film actress and dancer
- Keisha White
English pop singer
- Keisha Lewis aka Karlie Redd
American rapper and TV personality ("Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta")
Keisha in pop culture
- Keisha
character in the TV series "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper"
- "Keisha's Song
" song by Kendrick Lamar
- Keisha
character in "A Hauted House"
- Keisha
protagonist and narrator of fictional queer and mystery podcast "Alice Isn't Dead"
- Keisha
character in "Magic School Bus"