Asher is a name of Hebrew origin, derived from the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Old Testament. The name Asher means "happy" or "blessed," and it is associated with good fortune and prosperity. According to biblical tradition, Asher was the son of Jacob and Zilpah, and his tribe was known for its abundance of natural resources such as oil and other valuable commodities.
The name Asher has been used throughout history, with notable figures such as Asher ben Jehiel, a prominent Jewish scholar and rabbi from the 14th century, and Asher Brown Durand, an American landscape painter from the 19th century. Today, Asher is still a popular given name for boys, ranking among the top 500 most common names in the United States.
In addition to its Hebrew origins, Asher has also been adopted by other cultures throughout history. In ancient Persian culture, Asher was used as a title for nobility, while in modern times it has become increasingly popular as a given name in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia.
Overall, Asher is a name with a rich historical and cultural background, rooted in biblical tradition and associated with positivity and prosperity. Its enduring popularity across different cultures and time periods speaks to its enduring appeal as a name for boys.
The name Asher experienced a significant rise in popularity over the past five decades, with the highest recorded number of births occurring within the last ten years. The late 1970s and early 1980s saw relatively few births bearing this name, but by the mid-1990s, there was a notable increase, reaching double digits annually from 1995 onwards. The turn of the century marked an even more substantial growth in popularity, with over 70 births recorded per year between 2000 and 2016. Since then, Asher has consistently ranked among the top baby names, with over 80 births annually from 2017 to 2023.