Misha
Misha (Миша) is a diminutive of the Russian name Mikhail (Михаил). A hypocoristic of Michael, its English-language equivalent would be Mike and Mick. It is sometimes used as a female name, mostly by non-Russians; the feminine Russian name Mikhaila exists but is rare. The spelling Mischa also exists, originating from German.
- Russian
Meaning & Origin of Misha
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Misha (Миша) is a diminutive of the Russian name Mikhail (Михаил). A hypocoristic of Michael, its English-language equivalent would be Mike and Mick. It is sometimes used as a female name, mostly by non-Russians; the feminine Russian name Mikhaila exists but is rare. The spelling Mischa also exists, originating from German.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Russian
The Story of Misha
As a girl name
American parents first put Misha on the record books as a girl name in 1954, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1991, when 135 Mishas were born — ranking #1,248 that year. The 2010s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 20% of all recorded Mishas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #2,240 among girl names with 84 births, gradually falling (-11%). In total, more than 4K Mishas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
The earliest SSA record of Misha as a boy name dates back to 1968, when 5 babies received it. 2021 was its biggest year on record, with 38 newborns named Misha — #3,121 in the national rankings. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 27% of all recorded Mishas. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #5,528 among boy names with 17 births, falling sharply (-23%). In total, more than 628 Mishas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Misha
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Misha. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Misha
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Misha (singer) (born 1975), Slovak R&B musician
- Misha (writer) (born 1955), American science fiction writer
- Misha Alperin , Ukrainian jazz musician
- Misha Aster , Canadian producer, director, writer and educator
- Misha B (born 1992), British singer and X Factor 2011 finalist
- Mischa Barton (born 1986), British-American actress
- Mikhail Baryshnikov (born 1948), nicknamed "Misha", Russian dancer, choreographer and actor
- Sir Misha Black (1910–1977), British architect
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Misha
Phonetically similar names — useful when Misha 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 Misha
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About the name Misha
Misha is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1954 and has accumulated 4K births in the dataset. Misha's peak popularity came in 1991 when it ranked #1,248. Use the chart and map above to compare Misha's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1991 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "M" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.