A 1940s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Asenath since 1896
Babies named Asenath per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 19 |
| 1920s | 7 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 164 |
| 1950s | 30 |
| 1960s | 6 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 25 |
| 1990s | 20 |
| 2000s | 29 |
| 2010s | 99 |
| 2020s | 65 |
Meaning & origin
Asenath is a biblical name of Egyptian origin, borne by the wife of Joseph in Genesis. Extremely rare in modern times, it ranked 8,860 in 2025, with approximately 1 in 146,115 girls receiving the name. Its peak popularity came in 1941, and since 2009 it has been on a gradual upward trend, though still uncommon. Historically used in the 1940s, Asenath has seen a modest revival but remains a distinctive choice. With no top states of concentration, its appeal is likely among parents seeking a deeply historical name with biblical ties.
Asenath appears in the Hebrew Bible as the Egyptian wife of Joseph (Genesis 41:45). Her name likely originates from ancient Egyptian, possibly meaning 'she belongs to Neith,' after the goddess of weaving and wisdom. The Hebrew form אָסְנַת (Osnat) is a transcription of the Egyptian. It has been used occasionally among English-speaking Christians and Jews, especially in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Asen, Senny, Nath
Variants: Osnat, Osnath, Aseneth
Sibling names for Asenath
Names that share Asenath's style, for a brother or sister.
