Ashley
Ashley is a boy's name of English origin.
Meaning
Ash tree clearing or meadow.
Origin and history
Ashley originated as an Old English surname derived from a place name meaning ash tree clearing. Historically used as a masculine name in England, it evolved into a popular unisex name in the U.S., where it gained immense popularity for females in the late 20th century. It continues to see steady, low-frequency usage for males in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
15,865 babies in the United States have been named Ashley since 1880. It ranks #941 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1754.
States where it is most popular
- GA (11.5 %)
- NC (10.7 %)
- CA (7.7 %)
- TX (7.5 %)
- FL (6.4 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 80 |
| 1890-1900 | 108 |
| 1900-1910 | 96 |
| 1910-1920 | 360 |
| 1920-1930 | 464 |
| 1930-1940 | 298 |
| 1940-1950 | 603 |
| 1950-1960 | 659 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,299 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,219 |
| 1980-1990 | 5,214 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,324 |
| 2000-2010 | 655 |
| 2010-2019 | 313 |
| 2020-2029 | 173 |
Famous people named Ashley
- Ashley Cole: Athlete, Footballer
- Ashley Young: Athlete, Footballer
Nicknames
Ash
Fun facts
- The name originally described someone residing near a grove of ash trees in medieval England.
- Though predominantly female in late 20th-century American popularity, Ashley was traditionally an exclusively male name in Britain for centuries.