Fun Facts About the Name Asher
- A newer favorite: Asher first entered the U.S. top 100 in 2014 and stayed there through 2025 - a run of 12 consecutive years.
- More than 112 thousand babies named Asher: U.S. records list 112,613 babies given the name Asher from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,459 girls received the name Asher - about 1 girl for every 76 boys.
What Does the Name Asher Mean?
Asher is a masculine name from Biblical Hebrew, usually translated as "happy" or "blessed." The Hebrew name Asher (אָשֵׁר) is related to the noun osher (אֹשֶׁר), "happiness," and to the exclamation ashrei (אַשְׁרֵי), "blessed" or "happy." In Genesis 30:13, Leah names her son with a wordplay on her own happiness and on women calling her blessed, which is why the customary meaning is "happy" or "blessed." Some reference works connect the name to a homonymous Hebrew root meaning "to go straight" or "to advance," but the biblical wordplay is the basis for the usual translation.
Asher Name History & Origins
The name appears in the Hebrew Bible as Asher, the eighth son of Jacob and the second son of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant (Genesis 30:12 - 13). He is the ancestor of the Tribe of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In the allotment of Canaan, the tribe received territory in the northern coastal region, including land near Mount Carmel and toward the Phoenician coast (Joshua 19:24 - 31). The tribe was part of the northern kingdom of Israel, whose people were deported by Assyria in the eighth century BCE. In the New Testament, the prophetess Anna is described as a member of the tribe of Asher (Luke 2:36), which shows that the tribal name was still remembered in Jewish tradition in the Second Temple period.
After biblical times, Asher continued as a Jewish given name. Rabbi Asher ben Jehiel, a medieval Talmudist known as the Rosh, was active in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries. The English form of the name comes through Greek Asēr and Latin Aser from Hebrew Asher. In the English-speaking world, Asher is used as a given name in both Jewish and Christian families; in some older Bible translations the name appears as Aser. Modern literary uses, such as the title character of Chaim Potok's novel My Name Is Asher Lev, are later than the biblical and traditional Jewish use of the name.
How Popular is the Name Asher?
Asher recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2022. Asher entered the top 100 U.S. boy names in 2014.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #2,721 | 63 | 0.0039% |
| 2024 | #2,501 | 71 | 0.0044% |
| 2023 | #2,270 | 81 | 0.0051% |
| 2022 | #1,856 | 109 | 0.0067% |
| 2021 | #1,912 | 103 | 0.0063% |
| 2020 | #2,021 | 92 | 0.0057% |
| 2019 | #2,217 | 83 | 0.0049% |
| 2018 | #2,534 | 69 | 0.0041% |
| 2017 | #2,224 | 85 | 0.0049% |
| 2016 | #2,485 | 73 | 0.0041% |
| 2015 | #2,435 | 75 | 0.0042% |
| 2014 | #2,418 | 75 | 0.0042% |
| 2013 | #3,521 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2012 | #3,472 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 2011 | #4,078 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 2010 | #4,751 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2009 | #5,400 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2008 | #5,459 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2007 | #4,698 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2006 | #6,891 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #6,293 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2004 | #5,768 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #7,254 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #8,913 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2001 | #9,443 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #6,238 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #6,870 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #8,655 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #8,402 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #7,179 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1995 | #6,675 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #8,875 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1993 | #10,709 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1991 | #13,346 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #9,319 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #9,647 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #6,852 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #9,107 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #7,526 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1981 | #10,545 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #6,537 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #28 | 7,456 | 0.4365% |
| 2024 | #20 | 8,123 | 0.4736% |
| 2023 | #23 | 7,891 | 0.4619% |
| 2022 | #20 | 8,410 | 0.4821% |
| 2021 | #25 | 8,363 | 0.4784% |
| 2020 | #32 | 7,695 | 0.4461% |
| 2019 | #43 | 7,056 | 0.3935% |
| 2018 | #47 | 6,878 | 0.3789% |
| 2017 | #59 | 6,058 | 0.3274% |
| 2016 | #71 | 5,525 | 0.2912% |
| 2015 | #82 | 5,136 | 0.2680% |
| 2014 | #92 | 4,333 | 0.2256% |
| 2013 | #104 | 3,720 | 0.1967% |
| 2012 | #108 | 3,560 | 0.1877% |
| 2011 | #113 | 3,419 | 0.1800% |
| 2010 | #138 | 2,860 | 0.1491% |
| 2009 | #165 | 2,354 | 0.1187% |
| 2008 | #206 | 1,905 | 0.0934% |
| 2007 | #233 | 1,580 | 0.0761% |
| 2006 | #252 | 1,369 | 0.0666% |
| 2005 | #288 | 1,156 | 0.0579% |
| 2004 | #335 | 895 | 0.0451% |
| 2003 | #411 | 626 | 0.0317% |
| 2002 | #484 | 478 | 0.0246% |
| 2001 | #529 | 415 | 0.0214% |
| 2000 | #578 | 346 | 0.0176% |
| 1999 | #601 | 312 | 0.0162% |
| 1998 | #686 | 247 | 0.0129% |
| 1997 | #729 | 213 | 0.0113% |
| 1996 | #776 | 188 | 0.0099% |
| 1995 | #932 | 142 | 0.0075% |
| 1994 | #886 | 149 | 0.0077% |
| 1993 | #946 | 129 | 0.0066% |
| 1992 | #961 | 125 | 0.0063% |
| 1991 | #1,055 | 105 | 0.0052% |
| 1990 | #1,096 | 95 | 0.0046% |
| 1989 | #1,214 | 78 | 0.0039% |
| 1988 | #1,189 | 72 | 0.0038% |
| 1987 | #1,009 | 88 | 0.0047% |
| 1986 | #1,008 | 84 | 0.0046% |
| 1985 | #940 | 94 | 0.0051% |
| 1984 | #1,055 | 72 | 0.0040% |
| 1983 | #930 | 90 | 0.0050% |
| 1982 | #1,115 | 67 | 0.0037% |
| 1981 | #1,044 | 76 | 0.0042% |
| 1980 | #1,111 | 66 | 0.0037% |
| 1979 | #1,224 | 56 | 0.0033% |
| 1978 | #1,327 | 47 | 0.0029% |
| 1977 | #1,409 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 1976 | #1,574 | 34 | 0.0022% |
| 1975 | #1,508 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 1974 | #1,888 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 1973 | #1,699 | 27 | 0.0017% |
| 1972 | #2,022 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #2,574 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1970 | #2,304 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #2,559 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,035 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #1,908 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1966 | #2,138 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #3,262 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #2,120 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1963 | #3,059 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #2,852 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1961 | #2,553 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1960 | #2,427 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #2,039 | 16 | 0.0007% |
| 1958 | #2,832 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #2,644 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1956 | #2,504 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1955 | #3,916 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1954 | #2,460 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #2,403 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #2,890 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #2,256 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #3,047 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #2,030 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #2,620 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #3,107 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #2,935 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #2,253 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #1,994 | 13 | 0.0010% |
| 1943 | #1,988 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #2,390 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1941 | #3,162 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1940 | #1,987 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1939 | #2,295 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1938 | #2,190 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #1,996 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1936 | #1,806 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #2,402 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1934 | #1,935 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1933 | #2,377 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1932 | #1,718 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1931 | #3,110 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1930 | #3,618 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1929 | #2,604 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1928 | #2,860 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #2,044 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1926 | #2,080 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1925 | #2,097 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1924 | #2,048 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1923 | #2,232 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1922 | #1,549 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1921 | #1,985 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1920 | #2,055 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1919 | #1,631 | 21 | 0.0021% |
| 1918 | #2,079 | 15 | 0.0015% |
| 1917 | #1,994 | 15 | 0.0016% |
| 1916 | #1,859 | 16 | 0.0018% |
| 1915 | #1,708 | 17 | 0.0020% |
| 1914 | #1,876 | 12 | 0.0018% |
| 1913 | #2,292 | 7 | 0.0014% |
| 1910 | #1,606 | 5 | 0.0026% |
| 1895 | #985 | 6 | 0.0051% |
| 1890 | #1,013 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1887 | #826 | 6 | 0.0059% |
| 1886 | #766 | 7 | 0.0063% |
| 1885 | #843 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1881 | #788 | 6 | 0.0060% |
| 1880 | #822 | 6 | 0.0054% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Asher
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Asher Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Asher's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Asher's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.