Kanisha

Kanisha is a feminine given name that gained recognition in the United States primarily from the 1970s through the 1990s. The name may be a variant of Keisha or Kaneisha, with the 'Ka-' prefix potentially deriving from linguistic elements found in various naming traditions. The '-nisha' element appears in several names and might be related to names of Sanskrit origin where 'Nisha' means 'night.' However, as a complete name, Kanisha represents a distinctive naming pattern that emerged in the United States rather than having direct roots in a single traditional naming system. Usage data shows Kanisha reached its peak popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s but has declined since then. The name exemplifies the trend toward melodic, multisyllabic feminine names with distinctive sounds that characterized certain American naming patterns in the late 20th century.

Pronounced kuh-NEE-shuh.

As of October 2026, Kanisha ranked #16373 for girls in US births in 2024 SSA, peaked at #717 for girls in 1990.