Name of the Day: Asher
With Ashley gone to the girls, what’s a parent to do?
This masculine moniker is one possible option. Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting Asher as Name of the Day.
While Ashley and Asher share a syllable, they aren’t related. Ashley (and Ashton) are Old English place names and surnames.
Asher, on the other hand, has his roots in the Bible. Flip to the Old Testament, and you’ll find his adventures outlined. One of Jacob’s sons and founder of one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, his name has been is use among Jewish families for generations.
You’ll sometimes find Asher listed as a twin name for Felix. They share an uplifting meaning – happiness, from the Hebrew osher. The Tribe of Asher was considered quite fortunate, too – Asherites are usually considered prosperous and wise.
As with many a Biblical moniker, there’s some debate about the name’s origins. Others have suggested Asher is related to the god Ashur, the Father of the Gods in Assyrian lore, or possibly Asherah, an ancient Semitic mother goddess.
Asher gained ground following the Protestant Reformation, though one of the earliest prominent American settlers a leader in the first Jewish settlement in the US. Asher Levy was among the two dozen Jews who set sail from Brazil for New Amsterdam back in 1654.
American history also gives us:
- Asher Benjamin, an architect active in the early 1800s. His style dominated New England right up until the Civil War;
- Painter Asher Durand was a close friend of Thomas Cole – considered the founder of the nineteenth century Hudson River School – and also an early leader in the movement;
- Nineteenth century politician Asher Robbins served in the US Senate from Rhode Island.
Much like the mega-popular Jacob, the name remained in use in Jewish circles. Asher Ginsberg – better known by his penname Ahad Ha’am – wrote widely in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries of the need for a Jewish home in Palestine. In 1972, Chaim Potok penned My Name is Asher Lev, about the struggles of an artistic boy born into a Hassidic Jewish family in 1940s Brooklyn. Potok himself is said to have identified strongly with Asher.
Asher is worn as a middle name by 80s Brat Packer actor Judd Nelson and legendary playwright Arthur Miller.
From 1880 through the 1990s, Asher occasionally appeared in the US Top 1000 and was in sparing use.
Today many parents won’t think of Asher as especially Jewish or Biblical. Instead, he fits in perfectly with current trends – in fact, he’ll probably strike some as nothing more than a novel spin on Ashley and Ashton. He climbed to #206 in 2008, and seems poised to continue his rise. Consider the company he’d keep in the US Top 100:
- Carter
- Connor
- Cooper
- Hunter
- Tyler
And that’s not counting other Biblical favorites, like the Top 10 Jacob and #15 Noah.
Little wonder he appears on plenty of baby name forums. Asher feels perfectly current and would sound just right on a modern boy. The only challenge? He may very well be bestowed on many modern boys in the next decade.
Filed under: Biblical Babes, Hot Names of 2010, Literary Babes, Names for Boys, Names of the Day | 12 Comments
Tags: Ashley, Felix, Ashton, Asher
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I like Asher, even though it seems a bit on the popular side… I know a cute 4-year-old Asher (his baby sister was just named Arden). It sounds so soft and slightly feminine to me – maybe because the the name always makes me think of the girl name Asha (Sanskrit= hope) and then, by association the Cornershop song Brimful of Asha. Perhaps it’s because I heard the name Asha before I ever heard the name Asher in use? In any case, not a bad association, if it is a bit random. I actually quite like Asha as a name too, and prefer it to Ashley on a girl.
JNE – I love that song, Brimful of Asha — I don’t know many people who have heard of it!
As for the name Asher — it’s only all right. Reminds me of the song from Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat where the narrator sings out the names of each of his brothers. (I know, the Biblical connection — unfortunatly, my first instinct is toward the musical connection!)
I guess I’m glad it’s being used, but I would never use it on a son.
I’ve know two boys born in the last 6 weeks with Asher in the name. One has it as a first name and one has it as a middle. Both were born to Jewish families, though I don’t think either set of parents were looking for a Jewish name, per se. Also, neither familiy knows the other, so I thought it was a sure sign of Asher’s rising popularity. I think the name is all right; I don’t dislike it or anything – but I wouldn’t use it.
Thanks for exploring the history! Growing up in NY, I had heard of Asher Levy; there’s an Asher Levy Pl. in the city (although I think it’s spelled Asser), but hadn’t heard the name used on anyone else until these two babies were born.
Asser is a valid variant, Photoquilty. But I cannot fathom a modern English-speaking parent using that spelling, so … Asher it is!
Yeah, I’m aware of the issues there.
I love the name Asher, it has a strong, cool vibe, a pleasant meaning and the possible nickname option of Ash. It does seem to be rising. I have seen quite a few in the Birth Announcements, especially in places like South Dakota and North Dakota.
I really, really like Asher. I’m only surprised that it’s not more popular than it is. To me the “er” ending is all boy. I can’t think of any girls’ names besides Amber that end in that suffix.
For many years, there was a local restaurant called Skeeter’s (yes, we are all hicks here) that was known for two things: they were open 24 hrs, and a menu item consisting of eggs atop a bed of hash browns and cheddar cheese called “the Asher special.” I believe it was named for their son, Asher, who would have to be well into his thirties now.
I like Asher for a boy as I agree that Ashley- though originally a boys name- just yells girl to me. I think its masculine and of course you can shorten it even more to Ash if one wished. I thinks its one of those names which will grow in popularity and we will soon see loads of little Ashers running around!
Ashley is still kicking on boys here in NZ and more so in England. I don’t think it will ever be truly lost. One can hope. I love the name and would consider it.
Unfortunately, with our accents both Asha and Asher sound identical which would explain the few Ashers I’ve seen recently in BAs for Aussie girls. Putting non-rhotacism aside, it still pays to the get the spelling right
That’s right – just like Taylah! ‘Round here, Taylah is just a spin on Kayla. I heard a mom calling Jaylie ydy … ah, the Name Blob.
I completely agree with Sebastiane & I get what Bewildertrix means exactly, being South African.Some parts of the accents are confused at times, so name pronunciation is similar to the Australians & New Zealanders at SOME times.
I really like this name.It’s Biblical without being over the top or preachy. It feels current without being trendy or pretentious. I much prefer it to names like Brody which aren’t trendy, but have an air of trendiness about them
I mentioned this name yesterday, and someone said that even though they know it’s a Biblical name, it’s utterly modern to them.
I have it as Asher West or Asher Nathaniel
I named my baby son Asher Alexander in September last year. We really wanted a boys name that wasn’t in the top 100 but was still a solid, “real” name.
I love that it means “happy” & “fortunate”. He’s a very happy little chappy, and we feel very fortunate to have him after six years of trying. I love the “Ash” sound, but Ashley, Sasha, etc etc all sound too feminine for me. I love that it sounds so modern & cool, but is actually a very old name. My husband liked it because, teamed with our surname he says it sounds like a star football player. My Asher is a star!