Aster
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "star".
Name Census estimates that about 843 living Americans carry the first name Aster. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 69.0% of registrations being female. The average person named Aster today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Aster births was 2022 (113 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Aster. 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.
People living today
843
~ 1 in 406,589 Americans
Peak year
2022
113 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,745
Tracked since 1912
Gender
Gender distribution for Aster
Aster is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 1,005 total registrations, 312 (31.0%) were male and 693 (69.0%) were female.
Aster as a male name
- Ranked #2,786 in 2024
- 46 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (46 births)
Aster as a female name
- Ranked #2,745 in 2024
- 62 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (72 births)
Popularity
Aster: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Aster from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 11 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 456 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aster 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 Aster during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Asters live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Aster, while Wisconsin, Kentucky, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 16 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Aster
The given name Aster has its roots in the Ancient Greek language, originating from the word "aster," which means "star." This floral name is thought to have been derived from the star-shaped petals of the aster flower, a vibrant bloom that was once associated with love and daintiness.
In Greek mythology, Aster was the name of a beautiful maiden who was transformed into a starflower after being inadvertently struck by an arrow from the goddess Artemis. This tale of transformation solidified the connection between the name and the celestial symbolism of stars.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aster can be found in the works of the Ancient Greek writer Callimachus, who lived in the third century BC. He wrote about a character named Aster in his poetry, further cementing the name's place in Greek literature.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Aster. One of the earliest examples is Aster of Amasia, a Christian martyr who lived in the third century AD and was executed during the Roman persecution of Christians under the rule of Emperor Diocletian.
In the 16th century, Aster Bunting was a prominent English theologian and scholar who lived from 1567 to 1619. He was known for his contributions to the study of ancient languages and his work on biblical translations.
Moving forward in time, Aster Prichett was a British artist and engraver who lived from 1794 to 1867. Her intricate etchings and engravings were highly regarded during the Victorian era.
In the 20th century, Aster Avebury was a respected British archaeologist and author who lived from 1904 to 1988. He made significant contributions to the study of ancient monuments and prehistoric sites in Britain.
Another notable figure was Aster Ganobicz, a Polish-American architect who lived from 1912 to 1995. He was renowned for his modernist designs and his innovative approach to urban planning and residential architecture.
While the name Aster may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and symbolism continue to captivate those who appreciate the beauty and celestial connections of this floral moniker.
People
Aster + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Aster 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
Aster: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Aster?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 843 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Aster 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 406,589 US residents.
Is Aster a common name?
We classify Aster as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,005 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Aster most popular?
The single biggest year for Aster was 2022, when 113 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Aster is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Aster a female name?
Yes, 69.0% of people registered as Aster in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.