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Ashton

♂ Boy

Pronounced ASH-tun /ˈæʃ.tən/High

Meaning: Ash tree settlement — from Old English æsc (ash tree) + tūn (settlement, farmstead)High

In 30 seconds: An Old English place-name meaning 'ash tree settlement,' Ashton is a polished surname-name that crossed into first-name use with notable help from actor Ashton Kutcher in the 2000s.

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Origin HighOld English

MeaningAsh tree settlement — from Old English æsc (ash tree) + tūn (settlement, farmstead)

U.S. rank (2025)#197 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births1,801 boys (0.11% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2004

Total births (all-time)≈ 88,248

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Ashton is an Old English habitational name from any of the many English places called Ashton, derived from æsc (ash tree) and tūn (settlement, farmstead, enclosure). It became an English surname when families were identified by their home villages. The surname is recorded in England from the medieval period onward.

Ashton gained significant traction as a boys' given name in the United States from the late 1990s and early 2000s, boosted by the high profile of actor Ashton Kutcher. It has also been used as a girls' name, though the boys' use is more established. It fits into the broad category of -ton surname-names alongside Peyton, Colton, and Dalton.

Did you know? There are at least fifteen villages named Ashton across England — a testament to how common ash tree groves were in the Anglo-Saxon landscape and how widely this place-name spread as a surname.

Variations

Ashtyn

Nicknames

Ash

Famous Bearers

★Ashton Kutcher (b. 1978)
American actor and entrepreneur who helped popularize the name in the early 2000s.

If you like Ashton…

Colton— two-syllable Old English -ton surname-name with the same sturdy American feel

Peyton— popular -ton surname-name sharing Ashton's modern appeal

Easton— another two-syllable -ton place-name surname popular with the same audience

Stetson— a fellow Old English choice

Greyson— lands in the same popularity range

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ashton mean?

Ashton is an Old English place-name meaning 'settlement by the ash trees,' from æsc (ash tree) and tūn (settlement).

How do you pronounce Ashton?

Ashton is pronounced ASH-tun /ˈæʃ.tən/ — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Ashton a boy or girl name?

Ashton is used for both boys and girls, but is more common for boys in the U.S.

How popular is Ashton?

Ashton has been in the U.S. top 100 boys' names since the early 2000s and remains popular today.