Ilish
The ilish, also known as the ilishi, hilsa, pulasa, hilsa herring or hilsa shad, is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food in the Bengal region and area, and is the national fish of Bangladesh and state fish of the Indian state of West Bengal.
Meaning & Origin of Ilish
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The ilish, also known as the ilishi, hilsa, pulasa, hilsa herring or hilsa shad, is a species of fish related to the herring, in the family Clupeidae. It is a very popular and sought-after food in the Bengal region and area, and is the national fish of Bangladesh and state fish of the Indian state of West Bengal.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Ilish
Ilish first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1993, with 9 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1993, when 9 Ilishs were born — ranking #8,720 that year. As of 2026, Ilish ranks #8,720 for baby girls with 9 births, with steady use. In total, more than 9 Ilishs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Ilish
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ilish is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ilish
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About the name Ilish
Ilish is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1993 and has accumulated 9 births in the dataset. Ilish's peak popularity came in 1993 when it ranked #8,720. Use the chart and map above to compare Ilish's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1993 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "I" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.