Ashton Overview
- Meaning: Ashton means “ash tree town.”
- Gender: The name Ashton is traditionally masculine, though it’s developed more of a gender-neutral association within the last decade.
- Origin: Ashton is of Old English origin.
- Pronunciation: “ASH-tun”
- Popularity: Ashton is a popular name in the United States, typically ranking within the top 200 boys’ names.
- Nicknames: Ash, Asher, Ashie, Ashlie, Ashy.
- Variations: Ashten, Ashtin, Ashtun, Ashtyn.
- Namesakes: Ashton Agar, Ashton Dulin, Ashton Kutcher.
What Does Ashton Mean?
Ashton’s name means “ash tree town” and is similar to its pronunciation.
Once known as a surname, it is now a popular first name for babies. Many cities also have the name Ashton worldwide throughout the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
What Is the Origin of the Name Ashton?
Ashton is of Old English origin, where it was originally a surname. The Old English term “aesc” means “ash” while “tun” translates as “settlement.”
Lancashire was the birthplace of Ashton as a surname because people lived in a village named Ashton. It was prominent as a surname in other locations such as Devon, Northamptonshire, Somerset, and Wiltshire.
During the late 1800s in Lancashire, the United Kingdom, almost 7,000 families’ last name was Ashton. This statistic contributed to about 45% of the total families surnamed Ashton throughout the United Kingdom during that time (1).
How Popular Is the Name Ashton?
According to the Social Security Administration, Ashton is a popular name at #147 on the top 1,000 baby boy names. The highest ranking happened in 2004 when Ashton hit #76 on the list (2).
Ashton has risen and fallen in American popularity over the 20th century. It first arrived on the list in 1902 at #867. It fell off the list from 1903 to 1908 until it returned in 1909 at #955. After falling off again in 1910, it did not return until 72 years later at #899.
Ashton steadily rose in popularity ever since returning to the list in 1982. Since 2005, the name has remained steadily in the 100s and consistently ranks within the top baby boy names list.
How Do I Pronounce Ashton?
The more popular pronunciation for Ashton is “ASH-tun.” Some parents prefer to say Ashton by pronouncing it as “ASH-tin.”
Is Ashton a Boy or Girl Name?
Ashton is historically a male-given name. However, it has become gender-neutral that suits girls as well.
From 1986 to 2004, Ashton maintained popularity on the Social Security Administration’s top baby girl names list in the 200s and 400s ranking. It plummeted to the 600s and 700s two years after before completely falling off the chart in 2006.
Variations of Ashton
There are many unique variations for Ashton if you want to have a more creative spelling on your child’s birth certificate. Here are some name variations of Ashton that you may like:
- Ashten
- Ashtin
- Ashtun
- Ashtyn
Nicknames for Ashton
This two-syllable, six-letter has many quippy nickname possibilities. Here is some nickname inspiration for you below:
- Ash
- Asher
- Ashie
- Ashlie
- Ashy
Similar Names to Ashton
If Ashton is still on your list of possible baby names, you may still want to explore more options. Here are similar names to Ashton we think you will love:
- Allan
- Ashe
- Ashford
- Ashian
- Ashlan
- Ashley
- Ashli
- Ashly
- Ashlyn
- Ashlynn
- Ashwyn
- Dalton
- Layton
- Keaton
Middle Names for Ashton
If Ashton is the chosen given name for your baby, now you must pick a matching middle name. We love these middle names for Ashton:
- Arrow
- Cameron
- Drew
- Hunter
- Jude
- Rae
- Raylin
- Ryde
Sibling Names for Ashton
If you already have a little one named Ashton, it’s time to pick a synergistic sibling name. These are the sibling names we think go perfect with Ashton:
For a Brother
- Adrian
- Angel
- Anthony
- Austin
- Grayson
- Isaac
- James
- Jayden
- Levi
- Lucas
For a Sister
- Adalynn
- Ariana
- Autumn
- Farrah
- Gina
- Journey
- Kayleigh
- Norah
- Oakley
- Selena
Famous People Named Ashton
There are surprisingly more celebrities named Ashton than you may believe. Here are some famous people with the name Ashton who play professional sports or act for a living:
- Ashton Agar: Australian cricketer.
- Ashton Carter: American physicist and the United States Secretary of Defense.
- Ashton Dulin: American professional football player.
- Ashton Eaton: American decathlete for the Olympics.
- Ashton Fijan: Fijan former rugby league footballer.
- Ashton Kutcher: American actor.
Ashton in Popular Culture
Ashton in popular culture encompasses songs and characters in books, movies, video games, and television. Pop culture references to Ashton and its main nickname, Ash includes:
- Ash: Teenage porcupine in the “Sing” film franchise.
- Ash Ketchum: Lead protagonist in the “Pokemon” anime and manga franchise.
- “Ashton”: Song by Michael W. Smith.
- Ashton Anchors: Playable character in the video game “Star Ocean: The Second Story.”
- Ashton Greymoore: Earth Genasi barbarian in the web series “Critical Role.”
- Ashton Main: Southern Belle in the 1985 television show, “North and South” based on the John Jakes trilogy of novels.
- Ashton Vargas: College professor at Night Raven College in mobile game “Twisted-Wonderland.”
Ashton FAQs
As you contemplate whether Ashton is the right name for your newborn or not, let’s take a look at some answers to frequently asked questions about the name.
Is Ashton a Viking Name?
Ashton is a Viking name because of folklore from Norse, Celtic, and Viking cultures. The ash tree symbolizes protection in these cultures while the Celts thought ash trees were mightily powerful because of their large size.
How Old Is the Surname Ashton?
The surname Ashton goes back to the Middle Ages even before its prominence in the late 1800s in the United Kingdom. Ashton was first recorded as a surname in a book called “Estun” which was the Domesday Book of 1086 (3).
What Is the Personality of the Name Ashton?
The personality of Ashton is free-spirited. People named Ashton love to live life with freedom without any boundaries. You can name your little one Ashton with this hope in mind.
