Find out how popular the first name Asherah has been for the last 29 years (from 1995 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Asherah by gender

Based on the last 29 years of data, Asherah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 10 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Asherah.

The history of the first name Asherah

The name Asherah has its origins in ancient Semitic cultures and can be traced back to the Ugaritic and Phoenician civilizations of the Near East, dating back to around the 14th century BCE. It is believed to be derived from the Semitic root word "sh-r-h," which translates to "grove" or "sacred tree."

Asherah was the name of a prominent Semitic mother goddess, associated with fertility, sexuality, and sacred groves. She was widely worshipped throughout ancient Canaan, Syria, and parts of Mesopotamia. References to Asherah can be found in various ancient texts, including the Hebrew Bible, where she is mentioned as a consort of the god El and as a rival deity to Yahweh.

One of the earliest known mentions of the name Asherah comes from the Ugaritic texts, a collection of religious literature from the ancient Syrian city of Ugarit, dating back to the 14th century BCE. In these texts, Asherah is depicted as a mother goddess, often associated with the sea and the moon.

Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the name Asherah, though its use as a personal name was relatively rare. One of the earliest recorded instances was Asherah, a Phoenician princess who lived in the 9th century BCE and was known for her beauty and intelligence.

Another notable figure was Asherah of Judah, a Jewish woman from the 7th century BCE, who is mentioned in the Biblical book of 1 Kings as having constructed a shrine to the goddess Asherah, which was later destroyed by King Josiah during his religious reforms.

In more recent times, Asherah has been used as a given name in various cultures, though its popularity has been limited. One notable bearer of the name was Asherah Weizmann (1884-1952), the wife of Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel. Another was Asherah Rivka Gonen (1928-2022), an Israeli author and activist.

Other historical figures with the name Asherah include Asherah of Sidon, a Phoenician queen from the 6th century BCE, and Asherah bint Talha, a 7th-century Arab woman who was one of the early converts to Islam and a companion of the Prophet Muhammad.

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 Asherah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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