| Nitya | Ishani | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | eternal, constant | the goddess Parvati; ruler, mistress |
| Origin | sanskrit | sanskrit |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | NIT-yah | ih-SHAH-nee |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1988 | 1989 |
| Peak year | 2005 (57) | 2025 (68) |
| In 2025 | 44 | 68 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Nitya | Ishani |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 215 | 332 |
| 2010s | 386 | 510 |
| 2000s | 435 | 328 |
| 1990s | 95 | 75 |
| 1980s | 5 | 5 |
From Sanskrit nitya (नित्य), 'eternal, perpetual, constant'; also used as an epithet of the Goddess (Durga/Devi). Well established.
From Sanskrit ishani (ईशानी), 'mistress, ruler', a name of the goddess Parvati, consort of Ishana (Shiva). Well established as a goddess name.
Ishani is more popular than Nitya today: about 68 US babies were given the name Ishani in 2025, compared with 44 named Nitya.
Nitya means eternal, constant (sanskrit origin), while Ishani means the goddess Parvati; ruler, mistress (sanskrit origin).
In US records, Nitya first appears in 1988 and Ishani in 1989, so Nitya has the longer recorded history.