Asher

Asher is a gender-neutral name of Hebrew origin. Although it's primarily given to boys, the name has climbed in popularity for girls in more recent years too. If you plan on sharing your faith with baby, Asher can be a rich yet subtle choice. In the Hebrew Bible, Asher is the eighth son of Jacob and founder of the Tribe of Asher, one of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. On his deathbed, Jacob blesses Asher, and Moses says of him, “May Asher be blessed above other sons.” Perhaps for this reason, the Torah states that Asher means “blessed” and “happy”—making it a fortuitous choice for baby. Asher is particularly popular among Jewish parents and in Jewish literature. It's featured as the main character's name in Chaim Potok’s book My Name is Asher Lev. For a more earthy tone, Asher can also come from the Old English word asche, meaning "ash tree." Whether you want to help baby connect to your faith or their earthy roots, Asher will make for a memorable start.