UK name, mostly girls
Ashanti
From the Akan people of Ghana, meaning "because of war".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ashanti is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Ashanti popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 71 births.
This profile covers 589 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 586 living people in the UK are called Ashanti. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ashanti ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 71 girls were registered as Ashanti.
- • About 586 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ashanti as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 99.5% of Ashanti registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2411
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2002
71 births
Estimated living
586
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Ashanti
In England and Wales birth records, Ashanti has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 0.5% of registrations are for boys and 99.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Ashanti registered for boys
- Ranked #2,859 in 1997
- 3 boys registered in 1997
- Peak: 1997 (3 births)
Ashanti registered for girls
- Ranked #2,411 in 2024
- 11 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2002 (71 births)
Meaning
What does Ashanti mean?
The name Ashanti originates from the Akan people of present-day Ghana and Ivory Coast in West Africa. It is derived from the Ashanti Empire, a prominent pre-colonial kingdom that existed in the region from the late 17th century until the early 20th century.
The name Ashanti is believed to be a variation of the word "Asante," which means "because of war" or "from war" in the Akan language. This likely refers to the Ashanti Empire's military prowess and their battles to establish control over the area.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ashanti can be found in the writings of European explorers and traders who visited the region during the 17th and 18th centuries. These accounts describe the Ashanti Empire and its people, often referring to them as the "Ashantee" or "Ashantis."
In the 19th century, the name Ashanti gained wider recognition due to the Ashanti-British War of 1823-1831, in which the Ashanti Empire fought against the British Empire's attempts to expand its influence in the region. This conflict brought the Ashanti people and their name to the attention of a broader audience.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ashanti. One of the earliest recorded examples is Osei Tutu (c. 1660-1717), the founder and first ruler of the Ashanti Empire. Another prominent figure was Nana Yaa Asantewaa (c. 1840-1923), a queen mother who led the Ashanti rebellion against British colonizers in the late 19th century.
In the realm of entertainment, Ashanti Douglas (born 1980) is a Grammy Award-winning American singer and songwriter who rose to fame in the early 2000s. Additionally, Ashanti Bromfield (born 1984) is a British actress known for her roles in television series such as EastEnders and Desmond's.
In the world of sports, Ashanti Ellison (born 1996) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). There is also Ashanti Fortson (born 1997), an American sprinter who competed in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ashanti over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Ashanti in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ashanti, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 71 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ashanti by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ashanti 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2123 | 64 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1927 | 164 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1300 | 343 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2414 | 18 | 3 |
Notable bearers
Famous people named Ashanti
-
Ashanti Akpan
association football player
English footballer
2004-
-
Ashanti Reid
association football player
Caymanian footballer
2001-
Related
Names similar to Ashanti
- 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
Ashanti: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ashanti in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ashanti was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Ashanti most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 71 babies registered as Ashanti in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ashanti?
From the Akan people of Ghana, meaning "because of war".
How many people are called Ashanti in the UK?
A total of 589 babies have been registered as Ashanti across the 28 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.