Ashley Name Meaning
Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Ashley.
Ashley is a gender-neutral name derived from the Old English words ?sc (ash) and lēah (forest glade). Most often seen as a surname in earlier centuries, Ashley became a popular first name in the 1970s and 1980s.
Origin: At first a place name, Ashley was used as an English surname and then as a given name.
Gender: Ashley is used as a first name for both girls and boys.
Pronunciation: ASH-lee
Editor's Note
Although baby names are often separated by gender, Parents believes that sex need not play any role in your name selection process. It’s important to select the name that you feel best suits your new baby.
JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty Images
How Popular Is the Name Ashley?
Ashley was among the top 10 names for girls in America for over 20 years, from 1983 until 2005, peaking at No. 1 in 1991 and 1992.
In the first half of the 20th century, Ashley was more commonly used as a name for boys. This shifted in the 1960s when it started gaining popularity as a name for girls. By the mid-1990s, Ashley was used almost exclusively as a girl name; since 1994, it has not ranked among the top 1,000 names for boys in the US.
Ashley remains a fairly popular name for girls. In 2022, Ashley ranked as the No. 154 name for girls in America. Keep in mind that while the name Ashley is now more commonly used for girls, it can be used any way you see fit, as sex does not have to be a part of your name selection process.
Name Variations
When Ashley was mainly used as a masculine name, Ashleigh was sometimes used as a feminine variation. Now it is merely an alternate spelling, along with Ashlea, Ashlee, Ashli, Ashlie, and Ashly.
Similar Names
If you’re looking for an alternative to Ashley, there is the Hebrew name Asher, meaning “happy” or “blessing.” Traditionally a name for boys, Asher can be used for boys or girls.
The name Ashlyn (also spelled Ashlin or Ashlynn) bears a resemblance to Ashley but it is actually derived from the Irish name Aisling which means “dream” or “vision.”
If you like names ending in -ley, there are several options used commonly for girls, including:
Ainsley
Brinley
Finley
Hadley
Hailey
Kinsley
Paisley
Riley
All of these can also be spelled with the -lee, -leigh, -lie, or -ly ending.
More girl names starting with "A" include:
Abigail
Addison
Alyssa
Amanda
Amelia
Anna
Aria
Aubrey
Autumn
Ava
Avery
Suggested Sibling Names
Possible names to go along with Ashley are:
Adam
Andrew
Danielle
Kayla
Lauren
Matthew
Nicholas
Nicole
Ryan
Famous People Named Ashley
Although Ashley is more popular among girls now, there are many famous female and male Ashleys.
Female Ashleys
Ashleigh Banfield, Canadian-American journalist
Ashley Benson, American actress
Ashley Biden, American social worker and activist, President Biden's daughter
Ashley Bouder, American ballet dancer, principal dancer at the New York City Ballet
Ashley Eckstein, American voice actress known for her roles in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Sofia the First
Ashley Frangipane, known professionally as Halsey, American singer and songwriter
Ashley Greene, American actress
Ashley Jensen, Scottish actress
Ashley Johnson, American actress
Ashley Judd, American actress
Ashley Nicole Black, American comedian and writer
Ashley Olsen, American actress
Ashley Roberts, American pop singer with the band Pussycat Dolls
Ashley Tisdale, American singer and actress
Ashlee Simpson, American pop/rock singer and actress, younger sister of Jessica Simpson
Male Ashleys
Ashley Cole, English footballer
Ashley Cooper, Australian tennis player
Ashley Giles, English cricketer
Ashley Hutchings, British folk musician
Ashley MacIsaac, Canadian professional fiddler
Ashley Montagu, British-American anthropologist and author
Ashley Walters, British actor
Ashley Young, English footballer
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
For more Parents news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Parents.
