Unisex name · Old English
Ash
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: ash treeAsh is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old English and means "ash tree". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Ash tree
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #6572 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ash
As a gender-neutral name, Ash comes from Old English and means "ash tree". It is used in English.
Ash is also a surname: the 1,716th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 20,463 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Ash on our nature names list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Ash on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ash on 7 lists.
“A strong hardwood tree”
From Redneck names for boys, outdoorsy country boy names
“English, for someone living beside the tree of the same name”
From Gothic surnames, short and sharp dark last names
“Short, soft gray and calm after the call”
From Firefighter dog names, classic firefighter dog names
“Short and soft, the color of cooled embers”
From Gray cat names, classic gray cat names
“Soft gray and quietly strong”
From Horse names, horse names by coat color and markings
“Short, simple and straight from the fireground”
From Names for firefighters, cool firefighter names
“Word name for a tall hardwood tree; also short for Ashley”
From Nature names, unisex nature names
How popular is Ash?
In 2025, 17 girls and 175 boys in the US were named Ash.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #6,572
- 17 babies, 11 per million girls
- Best rank
- #5,815 in 2024
- 21 babies that year
- Babies since 1990
- At least 145
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 1 per million |
| 2000s | 0 per million |
| 2010s | 3 per million |
| 2020s | 9 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #10,979 | #12,874 | #15,976 | #9,191 | #12,308 | #8,083 | #6,261 | #11,300 | #5,815 | #6,572 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #1,177
- 175 babies, 102 per million boys
- Best rank
- #1,064 in 2023
- 204 babies that year
- Babies since 1975
- At least 2,535
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 1 per million |
| 1980s | 1 per million |
| 1990s | 3 per million |
| 2000s | 18 per million |
| 2010s | 50 per million |
| 2020s | 110 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,295 | #1,335 | #1,375 | #1,284 | #1,084 | #1,076 | #1,078 | #1,064 | #1,151 | #1,177 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Ash
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- OliviaOlive tree (Latin, girl)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- DaphneLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
- HadassahMyrtle tree (Hebrew, girl)
- IlanTree (Hebrew, boy)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
- OliveTree of peace (Latin, girl)
- OlivierOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- YvonneYew tree (Germanic, girl)
Middle names for Ash
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
Ash: common questions
What does the name Ash mean?
Ash comes from Old English and means "ash tree".
Is Ash a boy or girl name?
Ash is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 17 girls and 175 boys in the US were named Ash, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Ash come from?
Ash comes from Old English and means "ash tree". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Ash?
Ash ranked #6,572 in the US in 2025, with 17 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Ash?
Names spelled like Ash include Åsa, Asha, Ask, Ada and Ali.
What middle names go with Ash?
Middle names that flow well with Ash include Benjamin, Burton, Jeremiah, Joseph and Magnus. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.