Ash

Spellings & scripts●

Locally spelled Úh in JM Jamaica.

Meaning & origin●

Attested across 4 languages in the etymology graph.

Languages●

Language is read off each record's context, not declared by the bearer; a share is of all records for this spelling.

Other names spelled this way◐

Ash is also recorded as 5 other names, grouped separately because the records behind them do not connect to the one described above.

• Spanish name17K records spelled Ash4 spellings in the group

  Most recorded in Mexico, France, Dominican Republic

  Languages: Spanish, French, Portuguese

  Also written A'Sh

• a separate name13K records spelled Ash3 spellings in the group

  Also written Ăšh, ĀSh

• Arabic given name5.3K records spelled Ash12 spellings in the group

  Most recorded in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria

  Also written A-Sh, Ãsh, Àsh, Âsh, Äsh

• Malay given name3.4K records spelled Ash4 spellings in the group

  Most recorded in Malaysia, Indonesia

  Languages: Malay, Indonesian

• Bangla surname1.7K records spelled Ash19 spellings in the group

  Most recorded in India, Bangladesh

  Languages: Bangla, Assamese

  Also written Esh, এশ, Eshu, Äśh, Âsh

74 further groups record this spelling and are not listed here.

Grouping is the name graph's, not a register's: two spellings join a group when the evidence links them, so a group is a claim about the records rather than about the people.

Other recorded senses●

Ash is also recorded in 5 other lexicons, as a different name or as an ordinary word. These are senses of the spelling, not of the name above.

• In English, from a place called Ash or Nash, or 'dweller by the ash-tree' (OE æsc); first attested Richard del Eshe 1221 AssWo

  as a name·A Dictionary of English Surnames

• In English, Solid remains of a fire.

  as a word·kaikki.org Wiktionary extract (IPA + transliterations)

• Bosco di frassini

  as a name·Il grande libro dei nomi per bebè. Significato, origini, curiosità. Oltre 7000 nomi per bambine e bambini Significato,…

• In Akan, adv. then, again; else, besides; hut; ed^n Ask? what then? (John 1,21.); eden na wofwefwe asa? asa wofwefwc den? what dse do you seek? asa ahe na worekp na woboaboa woho? hut where wiU you go seeing (or since) you are preparing yourself?

  as a word·Dictionary of the Asante and Fante Language called Tshi (Chwee, Twi)

• In enm, alternative form of asshe (“burnt matter”)

  as a word·kaikki.org Wiktionary extract (IPA + transliterations)

Ordered by how much of this spelling's record each language holds, so a sense from a language the name is barely used in sits last rather than first.

Over time●

US SSA — National Baby Names (1880–present) — 35 years between 1975–2025. One register's own figures, never a sum across registers: two registers counting the same people would double them.

Notable people with this name●

• Sam Ashb. 1884USAmerican musician and actor (1884-1951)
• Eric Ashb. 1928DEDistinguished German-born British electrical engineer and past Rector of Imperial College (1928–2021)
• Timothy Garton Ashb. 1955GBBritish historian and author
• Leslie Ashb. 1960GBBritish actress
• Ash Baron-Cohenb. 1967USEnglish filmmaker
• Ash Brannonb. 1969USAmerican film director and animator
• Erica Ashb. 1977USAmerican actress and comedian (1977–2024)
• William Ashb. 1977GBEnglish actor
• Lauren Ashb. 1983CACanadian actress and comedian (born 1983)
• Ash Christianb. 1985USAmerican actor (1985–2020)

The ten people covered by the most Wikipedia language editions — a proxy for cross-cultural notability, which favours historical and Western figures over equally prominent contemporary ones — shown by birth year. Source: Wikidata (CC0).

Evidence●

Register rows as of the 2026-09-12 data build · 270 rows in the corpus for this spelling.

Frequently asked questions

How common is the name Ash?

We estimate roughly 2.7 thousand people bear Ash (counting its spellings and scripts) across 6 countries in our records.

In which country does Ash have the most bearers?

Ash is most frequently recorded in the United Kingdom, where it is most often spelled ash.

What does the name Ash mean?

Recorded meaning: (i) Person who lives by an ash tree; also see Asher (i).