Ashton
Boy name · #197 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Ashton? In official American birth records, Ashton has been tracked continuously since 1881, giving it 144 years of documented American history.
Ashton is currently the #197 boy name in the United States — 1,801 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #141, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 999 boys born in 2025 was named Ashton.
The 144-year story
Ashton first appears in the Social Security records in 1881, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 2004, when 5,436 boys were named Ashton — good for #76 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ashton per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ashton against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ashton in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ashton is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ashton is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ashton is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Ashton is most common in MS (2.9 per 1,000), WV (2.4 per 1,000), GA (2.4 per 1,000), SC (2.1 per 1,000), LA (2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 1.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ashton is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ashton
Statistically, parents drawn to Ashton tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Preston, Braxton, Colton, Peyton, and Kolton.
PrestonBraxtonColtonPeytonKoltonKeatonLandonHayden
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ashton | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,801 | #197 |
| 2024 | 1,978 | #188 |
| 2023 | 2,344 | #156 |
| 2022 | 2,613 | #145 |
| 2021 | 2,545 | #148 |
| 2020 | 2,712 | #136 |
| 2019 | 3,048 | #125 |
| 2018 | 3,056 | #128 |
| 2017 | 2,955 | #138 |
| 2016 | 3,102 | #133 |
| 2015 | 3,024 | #141 |
| 2014 | 2,819 | #143 |
| 2013 | 2,620 | #152 |
| 2012 | 2,814 | #142 |
| 2011 | 3,548 | #109 |
| 2010 | 3,234 | #127 |
| 2009 | 3,569 | #115 |
| 2008 | 3,518 | #122 |
| 2007 | 3,381 | #124 |
| 2006 | 3,496 | #121 |
| 2005 | 4,069 | #107 |
| 2004 | 5,436 | #76 |
| 2003 | 4,215 | #101 |
| 2002 | 1,853 | #200 |
| 2001 | 1,598 | #216 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ashton?
In official American birth records, the name Ashton first appeared in 1881 (over 144 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ashton a popular boy name?
Ashton ranked #197 among boys in 2025 with 1,801 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #141.
When was the name Ashton most popular?
Ashton peaked in 2004, when 5,436 American boys received the name (ranked #76 that year). Since 2004 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ashton?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 999 newborn American boys was named Ashton. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.