Ashanti first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Ashanti has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Ashanti

From the Akan people of Ghana, meaning "because of war".

Popularity of Ashanti by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ashanti is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 95% of people named Ashanti being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 121 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Ashanti.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 121
2022 0 116
2021 0 103
2020 0 109
2019 5 161
2018 0 164
2017 0 140
2016 0 161
2015 5 157
2014 0 184
2013 0 208
2012 0 200
2011 5 235
2010 0 233
2009 9 264
2008 0 292
2007 9 298
2006 0 303
2005 0 398
2004 10 532
2003 6 962
2002 23 2,946
2001 24 281
2000 20 206
1999 27 243
1998 28 256
1997 22 267
1996 35 313
1995 37 242
1994 34 225
1993 38 219
1992 23 172
1991 20 123
1990 17 113
1989 22 206
1988 15 68
1987 14 60
1986 9 56
1985 7 59
1984 18 63
1983 12 91
1982 16 101
1981 16 89
1980 21 191
1979 40 175
1978 26 53
1977 25 44
1976 18 31
1975 20 29
1974 32 30

The history of the first name Ashanti

The name Ashanti originates from the Akan people of present-day Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. It is derived from the Ashanti Empire, a prominent pre-colonial kingdom that existed in the region from the late 17th century until the early 20th century.

The name Ashanti is believed to be a variation of the word "Asante," which means "because of war" or "from war" in the Akan language. This likely refers to the Ashanti Empire's military prowess and their battles to establish control over the area.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ashanti can be found in the writings of European explorers and traders who visited the region during the 17th and 18th centuries. These accounts describe the Ashanti Empire and its people, often referring to them as the "Ashantee" or "Ashantis."

In the 19th century, the name Ashanti gained wider recognition due to the Ashanti-British War of 1823-1831, in which the Ashanti Empire fought against the British Empire's attempts to expand its influence in the region. This conflict brought the Ashanti people and their name to the attention of a broader audience.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ashanti. One of the earliest recorded examples is Osei Tutu (c. 1660-1717), the founder and first ruler of the Ashanti Empire. Another prominent figure was Nana Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840-1923), a queen mother who led the Ashanti rebellion against British colonizers in the late 19th century.

In the realm of entertainment, Ashanti Douglas (born 1980) is a Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the early 2000s. Additionally, Ashanti Bromfield (born 1984) is a British actress known for her roles in television series such as EastEnders and Desmond's.

In the world of sports, Ashanti Ellison (born 1996) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). There is also Ashanti Fortson (born 1997), an American sprinter who competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ashanti was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ashanti, please contact us.

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"Ashanti first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/ashanti-meaning-and-history/.

"Ashanti first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/ashanti-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Ashanti first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/ashanti-meaning-and-history/.

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