How many baby Asher's do you know?

[MinisterforCheekyFuckery]

Baby boy is due in a few weeks and after really struggling to find a name DH and I both like we thought we were finally settled on Asher (middle name will be Jack) but we've now found out Asher was apparently the most popular boys name of 2017

We had no idea the name had become so popular. DH thinks we should use it anyway but I was one of five girls in my class at school with the same name and hated it so I'm having a wobble.

So what do you think? Is it too popular? Should we go back to the drawing board?

The official name data for 2017 hasn’t been released by the office of national statistics yet.

But as Asher was ranked at no. 288 in England and Wales in 2016, I very much doubt that it’ll be anywhere near the most popular boys name in 2017.

The darkgreener website linked below shows name trends in England and Wales (since 1996) based on office of national statistics data.

names.darkgreener.com/#asher

Thank you all. That will teach me to skim read articles!

I’ve never met any Ashers BTW.

I only know one in the states here, he’s about 6, he is from a Jewish family. I really like the name

I like it, but i know a woman in her mid 20s called asher, never known any others with that name

DH is now worrying we're going to be accused of "cultural misappropriation" because we're neither Jewish or Hindu. This name thing is a bloody minefield!

What about Ashley or Ashton?

I'm also in NI and Ashers bakery is the first thing I think of. If you were here I'd say steer well clear.

I don't know any and I know a lot of babies!

What about Ashley or Ashton?

Really don't like either of these I'm afraid.

I'm also in NI and Ashers bakery is the first thing I think of. If you were here I'd say steer well clear

We're nowhere near NI. I do vaguely remember the case being in the news but had no recollection of the name of the bakery itself so not sure others outside of NI would either.

I know one-in North London. He's four. Had never heard of it before him

I don't like any names with Ash in, it makes me think of soot.

I had a relative called Asher. He was an old man in the 70s. That's what I think of when I hear that name. Bit specific, I know

From that article seems like it's nameberry's most popular name. I don't know any but I know a few Ezras and that was no 1 wih nameberry last year so could be an indication of increasing popularity.

I only know a 5 year old with that name.

I’ve never met one and love the name. Those “most popular “ articles are almost all BS, based on page views or births announced on a specific website. I imagine it will have increased in popularity somewhat but nowhere near #1. Go for it!

Nowhere near #1. I've never met any!

Asha is a girl's name in India, not sure about Asher.

Asher is Biblical - not appropriation at all! Or, only if you think Jacob and Benjamin are...

I don't know any and I work with kids too!
Lovely name by the way

I know a 12yo Asha - girl. Most people spell it wrong. And there was the character in 'Shetland'.

I think Asher is a great name 😊

None. But a couple of Ashleys whose nn are Asher.

1 toddler Asher.

1 - he’s about 3 months old but not in the UK. His middle name is Luke.

I’d love to use it but DH’s surname begins with an “Er” sound so it wouldn’t go!

Nameberry rates by most searches names. A few years ago their top girls name was Katniss but ONS stats and US stats told a very different story...

We have an Asher (DH Jewish). It means happy/blessed in Hebrew and comes from the book of Genesis, so a super old name. Asher was one of the sons of Jacob and the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel. If you're familiar with the story of Joseph (him with the Technicolor dreamcoat) he was the brother who persuaded the other brothers not to kill Joseph and Jospeh blessed him on his deathbed. Bit of trivia!

1 in real life + Asher D from the so solid crew