Ashley
Ashley: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈæʃli/ · [ˈæʃlɪi̯]
Meaning and origin of Ashley
Root meaning: “ash tree”
- A male given name transferred from the surname.
- A female given name transferred from the surname.
Etymology
From Old English *Æsċlēah, composed of æsċ (“ash tree”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to Ash + -ley.
How popular is Ashley?
Since 1880, 859,857 girls and 15,865 boys in the U.S. have been named Ashley (98% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1 in 1991. Its highest rank for boys was #282 in 1980. In 2025 it ranked #164 for girls, with 1,856 babies given the name.
Names similar to Ashley
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More English girl names
Sibling name ideas for Ashley
Sister and brother names that share Ashley's English roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Ashley FAQ
What does the name Ashley mean?
Ashley traces back to a root meaning "ash tree". A male given name transferred from the surname. A female given name transferred from the surname. From Old English *Æsċlēah, composed of æsċ (“ash tree”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to Ash + -ley.
What is the origin of the name Ashley?
Ashley is listed as a name of English origin.
How popular is the name Ashley?
Since 1880, 859,857 girls and 15,865 boys in the U.S. have been named Ashley (98% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1 in 1991. Its highest rank for boys was #282 in 1980. In 2025 it ranked #164 for girls, with 1,856 babies given the name.
Is Ashley a boy or girl name?
Ashley is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 859,857 girls and 15,865 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.