Ashton is a moderately popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #232 in 2018 with 221 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2009 with 1,005 births ranking #69. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 198.6%. In 2018, approximately 1 in every 1,414 boys born was named Ashton. FALLING Recent data shows the name is currently falling.
Ashton began as an English place name and surname meaning "ash tree town". As a first name, it blends a natural meaning with the polished sound of a modern surname-style choice.
The name became more visible as a given name in the late twentieth century, when many English surnames crossed into first-name use. Its rise fits that broader modern naming pattern.