Ashton

Ashton is a given name of English origin, derived from the English surname Ashton, which itself comes from a place name meaning "ash tree town" in Old English. The name combines the elements æsc (ash tree) and tūn (enclosure, settlement).

Etymology and History

The surname Ashton originated from various places in England named Ashton, such as Ashton-under-Lyne in Lancashire and Ashton in Northamptonshire. As a given name, Ashton was rare for males until the late 20th century. Its usage for females spiked after the 1985 television miniseries North and South, which featured the character Ashton Main, played by Terri Garber. From 1986 to 1997, the name was given more frequently to girls than boys in the United States. However, since the late 1990s, the name has become predominantly masculine again, partly due to the fame of actor Ashton Kutcher (born 1978).

Notable Bearers

Notable individuals named Ashton include actor Ashton Kutcher, known for his roles in That '70s Show and Two and a Half Men, and musician Ashton Irwin, drummer for the pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer. In sports, Ashton Eaton is a retired American decathlete and world record holder. The name has also been used for fictional characters, such as Ashton Main from North and South.

Popularity and Distribution

Ashton has been a popular name in English-speaking countries. In 2007, it ranked 124th for boys in the United States and was in the top 100 for boys in England and Wales, as well as in British Columbia, Canada, and New South Wales, Australia. For girls, it last ranked among the top 1,000 names in the US in 2005. Variants include Ashtyn.

• Meaning: Ash tree town
• Origin: English
• Type: Unisex (predominantly masculine since late 1990s)
• Usage Regions: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia