How to say it
ASH · er
ˈæʃ.ɚ
Masculine
Asher
Happy, blessed
What it means
From the Hebrew Asher (אָשֵׁר), meaning 'happy' or 'blessed.'
Asher in Genesis is the eighth son of Jacob, named by Leah with the phrase 'happy am I.' From him the tribe of Asher took both its name and its territory along the Mediterranean coast. The name stayed largely within Jewish naming traditions for nearly three millennia. It crossed into mainstream English usage in the 2000s, entered the US top hundred for boys in 2014, and has been climbing since. It often shows up in sibling sets next to other quietly biblical names like Ezra, Levi, and Isaac.
How to spell Asher
The standard spelling is Asher. Common variants include Ascher, Osher, but Asher is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #20 in 2022, currently #28 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
ASH-er, like the wood or the residue, with a clear short A. Not AY-sher.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Asher (Bible) Eighth son of Jacob, ancestor of one of the twelve tribes
- Asher Lev Title character of Chaim Potok's My Name Is Asher Lev, 1972
Spelling variants
- Ascher
- Osher
Names with the same feeling
See Asher from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Asher mean?
- From the Hebrew Asher (אָשֵׁר), meaning 'happy' or 'blessed.'
- What does Asher mean in Hebrew?
- In Hebrew, Asher means "Happy, blessed." Asher in Genesis is the eighth son of Jacob, named by Leah with the phrase 'happy am I.' From him the tribe of Asher took both its name and its territory along the Mediterranean coast. The name stayed largely within Jewish naming traditions for nearly three millennia. It crossed into mainstream English usage in the 2000s, entered the US top hundred for boys in 2014, and has been climbing since. It often shows up in sibling sets next to other quietly biblical names like Ezra, Levi, and Isaac.
- How do you pronounce Asher?
- Asher is pronounced ˈæʃ.ɚ. Say it as ASH-er, with the stress on the "ash" syllable.
- How do you spell Asher?
- The standard spelling is Asher. Common spelling variants include Ascher, Osher.
- Is Asher a boy or girl name?
- Asher is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Asher?
- Asher ranked #28 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.