Asaf - Name Meaning and Popularity -

Meaning of Asaf

Asaf, rooted in biblical Hebrew as a third-person singular qal form meaning “he gathered,” bears the semantic connotation of a collector and is historically affixed to the Levitical psalmist credited with several canonical Psalms. Its phonetic rendering in both Hebrew and Arabic—AH-saf (/ˈɑ.sɑf/)—reflects minimal phonological variation across those Semitic languages, underscoring the name’s cross-cultural viability. Within Anglo-American naming registers, Asaf remains comparatively infrequent; analysis of United States Social Security Administration data from 1978 through 2024 reveals that it has consistently occupied rankings between 674 and 927, with a modest upward trajectory culminating in 26 recorded births in 2024 (rank 898). Such metrics position Asaf as a distinctive yet accessible choice for parents seeking a theologically resonant and historically rich appellation. In onomastic terms, Asaf exemplifies a balance between rare usage and enduring heritage, underscoring its appeal within both scholarly and familial naming discourses.