Asher Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

Asher is a Hebrew-origin boy’s name meaning “happy” or “blessed,” and the name of one of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Hebrew Bible.
Meaning happy, blessed
Origin Hebrew
Pronunciation ASH-er
Gender Boy
Related forms none widely used; the name has stayed close to its original form

Origin and history

Asher comes from a Hebrew root associated with happiness and blessing, and it names one of Jacob’s twelve sons in the Book of Genesis, whose descendants formed the tribe of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Despite this long Biblical history, Asher only became widely popular as a given name in English-speaking countries within the past two decades.

Is Asher a boy or girl name?

Asher is used almost exclusively as a boy’s name.

Frequently asked questions

Is Asher a new name or an old one?

Both, in a sense. Its Biblical root goes back thousands of years, but it only became a widely chosen given name in English-speaking countries recently, part of a broader trend toward classic Hebrew Biblical names.

What is the tribe of Asher?

One of the twelve tribes of Israel in the Hebrew Bible, descended from Asher, one of Jacob’s twelve sons.

Related reading

Related culture pages: Biblical boy names, Hebrew and Jewish names.