Declining since 2003, #2,099 for girls today.
Popularity of Ashanti since 1970
Babies named Ashanti per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 448 | 220 |
| 1980s | 984 | 150 |
| 1990s | 2,173 | 281 |
| 2000s | 6,483 | 101 |
| 2010s | 1,846 | 15 |
| 2020s | 642 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ashanti first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1970, but its real surge began in the 1990s. The name reached its peak in 2002, ranking among the top 300 names for girls that year, coinciding with the debut of singer Ashanti. Since 2003, its popularity has declined, and by 2025 it ranked 2,099th, given to roughly 1 in every 18,059 newborns. The name has been most popular in Michigan (MI), Virginia (VA), and Georgia (GA). Its trajectory shows falling usage for over two decades, suggesting it may become less common. The etymology is debated: it may honor the Ashanti people of West Africa, or it may be a modern invented name. Given the strong cultural association with the Ashanti kingdom, many families choose it for its regal sound and African connection.
The name Ashanti has two possible derivations. It may be taken from the Ashanti (or Asante) people of Ghana, an Akan ethnic group, whose name means 'because of war' in the Twi language. Alternatively, it may be a modern invented name created from the fashionable suffix -anti, perhaps inspired by similar-sounding names. The name gained popularity in the United States in the 1990s and 2000s, likely influenced by the singer Ashanti, who rose to fame in 2002.
Where Ashanti is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ashanti” around the world
Where Ashanti lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ash, Shanti, Tia
Sibling names for Ashanti
Names that share Ashanti's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Ashanti
Names whose popularity has moved with Ashanti's over the last 50 years.
