US Popularity Rank: 15582

Origin: Bulgarian

Meaning: King; Safe and sound and healthy; Wise; Descent; Unit of measurement; West African artefact

Asen is a boy’s name that’s often traced back to medieval Bulgaria. Story goes that three brothers from the Asen family rose as leaders against the Byzantine Empire, and founded a dynasty that ruled Bulgaria between the years 1185 and 1280. The assumption therefore is that the Asen means “king” by default, but etymologically speaking, it may have been derived from an Old Turkic word esen meaning “safe, sound, and healthy,” or “wise.” Some others say it’s derived from the word anish meaning “descent.”  There are also sources to indicate that during the Dutch Golden Age, Asen served as an archaic unit of measurement to value tulips. If you thought that’s all, you couldn’t be more wrong! In West Africa, Asen is a metal object that seemingly attracts spirits from the afterlife and is essential to the practice of voodoo. As you can see, it’s a well-traveled moniker that’s got more than its fair share of color and personality. So by naming your little one Asen, they will feel inspired to live lives as interesting and exciting and make it all the more richer.