A short but strong biblical name with multicultural appeal, Asa is enjoying new visibility thanks to hot young actor Asa Butterfield of "Hugo" fame.

Asa was the name of an important biblical king of Judah, who reigned for more than forty years. In modern times, the name was long associated with the strong patriarch Asa Buchanan on the soap opera "One Life to Live," but since the character "died" in 2007, this gives the name plenty of room to rejuvenate. Popular with the Puritans, Asa can be found in the novels of James Fenimore Cooper and Theodore Dreiser. A notable real-life namesake is the highly influential botanist Asa Gray, and Asa was the birth name of Al Jolson.

Radiohead's Colin Greenwood has a son named Asa.

Asa could also be a path to the hip nickname Ace or an alternative to the rapidly rising Asher.