UK girl's name
Ashante
West African name meaning "gratitude".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2010. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ashante is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ashante popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2010 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5707, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 20 births.
This profile covers 44 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 1996 to 2010. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 15% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 44 living people in the UK are called Ashante. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2011 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ashante ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales in 2010, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 20 girls were registered as Ashante.
- • About 44 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ashante as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5707
2010
Births in 2010
3
Latest year
Peak year
2002
20 births
Estimated living
44
2026
Meaning
What does Ashante mean?
The name Ashante has its origins in the Akan language, spoken by the Ashanti people of Ghana in West Africa. It is derived from the word "Asha" which means "traveler" or "to wander". The name first gained prominence in the region during the 14th century with the rise of the powerful Ashanti Empire.
The earliest known record of the name appears in the oral histories and folklore of the Ashanti people, which were later transcribed by European explorers and missionaries. One of the most famous tales is the legend of Nana Ashante, a revered queen who united the Ashanti kingdoms and led her people to victory against their rivals.
Throughout the centuries, the name Ashante has been associated with strength, resilience, and a spirit of adventure. In the 17th century, an Ashanti warrior named Ashante Kwame is said to have led a successful rebellion against the oppressive rule of the Akwamu Empire, paving the way for the Golden Age of the Ashanti Kingdom.
In the realm of literature, the name Ashante gained popularity in the 20th century with the publication of the novel "The Ashante" by Alfred Lewis in 1933. The book, which explored the culture and traditions of the Ashanti people, brought the name to the attention of a wider audience.
Notable individuals named Ashante throughout history include:
1. Ashante Sampong (1897-1978), a Ghanaian educator and activist who played a pivotal role in the country's independence movement. 2. Ashante Dickerson (1976-present), an American professional basketball player and coach. 3. Ashante Renee (1979-present), an American actress and model known for her roles in films such as "Coach Carter" and "Stomp the Yard". 4. Ashante Philips (1985-present), a British sprinter and Olympic medalist. 5. Ashante Bradford (1990-present), an American singer and songwriter known for her work in the R&B genre.
The name Ashante has endured as a powerful symbol of the rich cultural heritage of the Ashanti people, and its meaning has transcended borders, inspiring individuals around the world with its spirit of exploration and resilience.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ashante over time
The chart below shows babies named Ashante registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2010. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ashante, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2010, compared with 20 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ashante by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ashante was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5707 | 3 | 1 |
| 2000s | #3617 | 35 | 5 |
| 1990s | #3822 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Ashante
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Ashante: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ashante in the UK right now?
In 2010, Ashante was ranked #5707 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ashante most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 20 babies registered as Ashante in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ashante?
West African name meaning "gratitude".
How many people are called Ashante in the UK?
A total of 44 babies have been registered as Ashante across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.