Fun Facts About the Name Asenat
- 113 babies named Asenat: U.S. records list 113 babies given the name Asenat from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Asenat Mean?
Asenat (Hebrew אָסְנַת; usually spelled Asenath in English Bibles) is a biblical name whose origin is disputed. Most explanations treat it as Egyptian rather than Hebrew, which fits the story in which it appears. The proposal cited most often links the name to the Egyptian goddess Neith, with the sense "she belongs to Neith"; the ending of the name is commonly connected with that divine name. A second proposal connects it to the Canaanite goddess Anat, giving "belonging to Anat." Both readings understand the name as theophoric, that is, as invoking a deity. Older attempts to read the name from Hebrew roots have not been generally accepted, since the biblical setting is explicitly Egyptian. Because no single derivation is settled, the meaning is best described as uncertain, with "belongs to Neith" the leading but unproven suggestion.
Asenat Name History & Origins
Asenat appears in the book of Genesis as the wife of Joseph. Genesis 41:45 states that Pharaoh gave her to Joseph in marriage and identifies her as the daughter of Potiphera, priest of On (Heliopolis). Genesis 41:50 - 52 and 46:20 name her as the mother of Joseph's sons Manasseh and Ephraim. She is one of the few women in the patriarchal narratives identified as Egyptian, which is the main reason her name is thought to be Egyptian in origin.
The Hebrew text spells the name אָסְנַת. The Septuagint, the early Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, renders it Ἀσεννέθ (Asenneth), and the Latin Vulgate has Asenath. English translations have traditionally used Asenath, while Asenat follows the Hebrew more directly.
Later Jewish literature expanded her story. The Greek work known as Joseph and Aseneth, written in the Hellenistic or early Roman period, describes how Aseneth, the daughter of an Egyptian priest, turns to the God of Israel and marries Joseph. This is a literary expansion of the biblical account, not evidence about the name's origin.
The spelling varies across languages and Bible translations - Asenat, Asenath, Asenneth - reflecting different transliterations of the same Hebrew name.
How Popular is the Name Asenat?
Asenat has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #6,253 in 2022.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #9,521 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #8,475 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2023 | #11,285 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2022 | #6,253 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2021 | #9,033 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2020 | #13,633 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #9,225 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #9,401 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2016 | #11,916 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2015 | #9,547 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #14,800 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Asenat Shapes Your Personality and Life?
Powerful and complete. You are good intellectually and require several outlets for your energies. You are not a builder but a planner, and you want others to carry out your plans. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Asenat's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Asenat's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.