Asen
A Bulgarian masculine name derived from the Thracian tribe name Asen.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Asen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Asen today is around 4 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Asen births was 2022 (11 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Asen. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Asen with official rankings and popularity over time.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Asen. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2022
11 babies that year
Average age
4
years old
2022 SSA rank
#7,305
Tracked since 2022
Popularity
Asen: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Asen by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Asen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Asen
The name Asen finds its origins in the Proto-Bulgarian language, spoken by the nomadic Bulgar tribes that settled in the Balkan region during the 7th century AD. It is derived from the Turkic word "asena," meaning "noble" or "royal." This name held great significance in the early Bulgarian kingdom, as it was often bestowed upon members of the ruling dynasty.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Asen dates back to the 13th century, when Asen I (reigned 1187-1196) and Asen II (reigned 1218-1241) were prominent rulers of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Their reign marked a period of territorial expansion and cultural renaissance, solidifying the name's association with leadership and strength.
In the realm of literature, the name Asen appears in the Bulgarian epic "The Singing of Asens," which recounts the heroic deeds of the Asen brothers in their struggle against Byzantine rule. This epic played a crucial role in preserving the legacy of these historical figures and the name's significance in Bulgarian folklore.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Asen. Among them was Asen Stoyanov (1886-1956), a renowned Bulgarian architect who left an indelible mark on the country's architectural landscape. His designs, including the National Assembly building in Sofia, exemplify the fusion of traditional Bulgarian elements with modern aesthetics.
Another prominent figure was Asen Diamandiev (1899-1976), a celebrated Bulgarian film director and screenwriter. He is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of Bulgarian cinema, known for his masterpieces such as "Tobacco" (1962) and "The Last Wagon" (1965), which explored the complexities of rural life and social injustice.
In the realm of sports, Asen Zlatev (1888-1936) was a pioneering Bulgarian wrestler and Olympic medalist. He won a silver medal in the lightweight category at the 1908 London Olympics, becoming the first Bulgarian athlete to earn an Olympic medal and paving the way for future generations of wrestlers.
Lastly, Asen Khristov (1928-2007) was a prominent Bulgarian sculptor and artist whose works adorned public spaces across Bulgaria. His monumental sculptures, often depicting historical figures or allegorical scenes, left an indelible mark on the country's artistic landscape and served as a testament to his creative vision.
People
Asen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Asen as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Asen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Asen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Asen going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Asen a common name?
We classify Asen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Asen most popular?
The single biggest year for Asen was 2022, when 11 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Asen is about 4 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Asen in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Asen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Asen in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Asen still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Asen in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Asen can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people share the name Asen?
Want to know how many people have the name Asen? HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, puts the living-bearer count front and centre.