Ascension

Meaning & origin

Ascension is an extremely rare given name, first recorded in U.S. data around 1914. Its peak usage occurred in 1924, and the name has remained on the periphery of American naming practice ever since. The trajectory over recent decades has been stable, with very few births per year. Ascension belongs to a category of English virtue names that emerged from Puritan tradition, though it was never as common as names like Grace or Faith. The name's religious resonance directly ties to the Christian festival of the Ascension, celebrated 40 days after Easter. Despite its strong symbolic meaning, the name has not seen widespread adoption in any U.S. state, and it does not appear in the top states list. For families seeking a deeply religious yet distinctive name, Ascension offers a rare option with historical depth.

The name Ascension is derived from the Latin 'ascensio', meaning 'a rising' or 'ascending'. In Christian tradition, it refers to the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven, celebrated on Ascension Day (the 40th day after Easter). The name was adopted by English Puritans in the 17th century as a virtue name, and saw occasional use in the United States, particularly among religious families. Its use as a given name has always been rare.