Asha

Asha meaning

Asha (आशा) is a Hindu girl's name of Sanskrit origin.

Wish, desire, hope, expectation

Asha (आशा) is the Sanskrit ā-śā, "wish, desire, hope, expectation". Monier-Williams also records Āśā as Hope personified. A separate and unrelated word āśā means "space, region, quarter of the sky", one of the directions of the compass. In Hindi and many other Indian languages āśā is still the everyday word for hope, so the name is instantly understood. Name lists give it simply as "hope", in line with the dictionary. Its most famous bearer is Asha Bhosle, the playback singer and younger sister of Lata Mangeshkar, who recorded more than 12,000 songs in some 20 Indian languages over eight decades and was the first winner of the Filmfare award for best female playback singer.

Source: Monier-Williams, Sanskrit–English Dictionary (1899), p. 157 · entry ā-śā · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Monier-Williams, ā-śā, p. 157 · Britannica, Asha Bhosle

Famous namesakes

• Asha Bhosle, playback singer (1933–2026)

Fits your syllable

First sound आ

Krittika nakshatra, pada 1 · Mesh rashi

This exact sound isn't in the table; the closest is अ, which differs only in vowel length. North Indian table. Tables vary by region and family tradition, so confirm with your priest.

Spellings

Asha · Aasha

Related names

Also meaning hope

Also starting with Ash-

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