Ashley Name Meaning

The meaning of the name Ashley is “lives in the ash tree meadow” or “ash tree meadow.” The ash tree is known for its strength and resilience, making Ashley a name that connotes independence and strength. Additionally, the meadow aspect of the meaning suggests a sense of peace and serenity.

History of the Name Ashley

The name Ashley is of English origin and has a rich history dating back to the 12th century. It was originally a surname, derived from the Old English words “æsc” meaning ash tree, and “lēah” meaning meadow or clearing.

The Ashley family, who took their name from the small village of Ashleigh in Devon, England, were an influential and wealthy land-owning family in medieval times. The family’s coat of arms bears the image of three ash leaves, further solidifying the connection to the ash tree.

Popularity of the Name Ashley

In the 20th century, Ashley saw a surge in popularity as a girl’s name, reaching its peak in the 1990s. It was the 3rd most popular name in the United States for girls between 1991 and 1996.

The name Ashley became popular for girls in America in the early 60s and it was a favorite name for girls for several decades, including the 90s where it was in the top 3 most popular names in the US, before it began to decline in popularity.

Final Thoughts on the Name Ashley

Those with the name Ashley are known for their quick wit and charming personalities. They can charm their way out of any situation and always know just the right thing to say. They’re also not afraid to speak their minds and stand up for what they believe in.

In conclusion, Ashley is a name with a rich history, strong meaning, and a charming personality. It’s no wonder it was so popular in the 90s and continues to be a favorite today. So, if you’re expecting a baby girl and looking for a name that encapsulates strength, independence, and a witty personality, Ashley might just be the perfect name for her.

Infographic of Ashley name meaning, which is From a surname meaning ash tree meadow, Ashley is an English name.
Ask your friends & family about Ashley…

Ashley Name Popularity

How popular is the name Ashley? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 0 0%
1911 0 0%
1912 0 0%
1913 0 0%
1914 0 0%
1915 0 0%
1916 0 0%
1917 0 0%
1918 0 0%
1919 0 0%
1920 0 0%
1921 0 0%
1922 0 0%
1923 0 0%
1924 0 0%
1925 0 0%
1926 0 0%
1927 0 0%
1928 0 0%
1929 0 0%
1930 0 0%
1931 0 0%
1932 0 0%
1933 0 0%
1934 0 0%
1935 0 0%
1936 0 0%
1937 0 0%
1938 0 0%
1939 0 0%
1940 0 0%
1941 0 0%
1942 0 0%
1943 0 0%
1944 0 0%
1945 0 0%
1946 0 0%
1947 0 0%
1948 0 0%
1949 0 0%
1950 1,662 6 0.0004%
1951 0 0%
1952 0 0%
1953 0 0%
1954 0 0%
1955 0 0%
1956 0 0%
1957 2,221 5 0.0003%
1958 1,963 6 0.0003%
1959 0 0%
1960 1,730 12 0.0006%
1961 1,200 42 0.0022%
1962 1,117 49 0.0027%
1963 1,027 61 0.0034%
1964 754 140 0.008%
1965 660 173 0.0106%
1966 583 215 0.0138%
1967 482 347 0.0229%
1968 402 492 0.0328%
1969 361 603 0.0391%
1970 308 884 0.0555%
1971 255 1,136 0.0756%
1972 236 1,133 0.0832%
1973 205 1,217 0.0939%
1974 165 1,610 0.1239%
1975 138 1,957 0.1523%
1976 115 2,276 0.1766%
1977 107 2,692 0.1997%
1978 86 3,476 0.2585%
1979 67 4,451 0.3157%
1980 40 7,296 0.499%
1981 34 8,878 0.604%
1982 17 14,853 0.9939%
1983 4 33,293 2.2561%
1984 3 38,770 2.6062%
1985 2 47,007 3.097%
1986 2 49,675 3.2909%
1987 2 54,851 3.5944%
1988 2 49,961 3.206%
1989 2 47,587 2.9489%
1990 2 45,558 2.7487%
1991 1 43,479 2.6675%
1992 1 38,452 2.409%
1993 2 34,850 2.2354%
1994 2 30,278 1.9729%
1995 2 26,602 1.7651%
1996 3 23,677 1.5813%
1997 3 20,895 1.4128%
1998 5 19,874 1.3278%
1999 6 18,136 1.211%
2000 4 17,997 1.1781%
2001 4 16,526 1.0968%
2002 6 15,342 1.0238%
2003 8 14,513 0.954%
2004 8 14,372 0.943%
2005 10 13,274 0.8682%
2006 12 12,345 0.7884%
2007 13 11,425 0.7241%
2008 18 9,403 0.6084%
2009 20 7,803 0.5221%
2010 29 6,312 0.438%
2011 42 5,388 0.3782%
2012 50 4,693 0.3293%
2013 67 3,929 0.276%
2014 87 3,540 0.243%
2015 85 3,412 0.2345%
2016 103 3,018 0.2093%
2017 120 2,496 0.1788%
2018 127 2,252 0.1639%
2019 134 2,006 0.1482%
2020 153 1,739 0.1366%
2021 174 1,535 0.1256%
2022 156 1,824 0.1383%

Alaska (AK)

Alabama (AL)

Arkansas (AR)

Arizona (AZ)

California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.


Names Like Ashley

If you like Ashley, you’ll love these other names like Ashley.


What names are variants of Ashley?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Ashley.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ainslaeigh

Ash meadow

English

Ashalee

Ash meadow

English

Ashalei

Ash meadow

English

Ashelei

Ash meadow

English

Asheleigh

Ash meadow

English

Asheley

Ash meadow

English

Ashely

Ash meadow

English

Ashla

Ash meadow

English

Ashlan

Ash meadow

English

Ashlay

Ash meadow

English

Ashle

Ash meadow

English

Ashlea

Ash meadow

English

Ashleah

Ash meadow

English

Ashlee

Ash meadow

English

Ashlei

Ash meadow

English

Ashleigh

Ash meadow

English

Ashlen

Ash meadow; dream

Irish

Ashli

Ash meadow

English

Ashlie

Ash meadow

English

Ashly

Ash meadow

English

Ashlye

Ash meadow

English

Lee

Meadow or pasture

English


What names are similar to Ashley?

Find a name that’s like Ashley, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Ashlynn

Dream

Irish

Ashton

Ash tree town

English

Chesleigh

Camp on the meadow

English

Raleigh

Roe deer's meadow

English

Whitley

White meadow

English


Lists With Ashley

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Ashley.


Siblings of Ashley

Mamas with kids named Ashley also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Angel

Messenger of God

Greek

Jamie

He who supplants

Hebrew

7 Comments

  1. I love my personality

  2. She is doing exactly what you always update on her weekly updates. It is really helpful me to know more new things about her. Your guidance will always appreciated.

  3. Ashley Rayne
    We had always loved the name Rayne and had planned to use it as a middle name. My husband’s sister passed away the year before Ashley Rayne was born, to the day. So there was no question, Ashley Rayne would have her aunt’s name as her own. It is too hard to call her by Ashley. So we use Rayne to call her by.

    • Ashley was my grandfather’s name. I am male, and I was named for him. I’m from the 1950’s and I’ve known quite a few men named Ashley over the years. Sometimes, when I meet a new Ashley (nowadays invariably a female), I break the news to her that she’s been saddled with a very masculine man’s name. ?

  4. She is our first one and i Like ashley because a Friends was name ashley.and also there is a store name ashley funeture.

  5. She is such a strong, smart baby! Even in utero, I felt she was very smart. A very happy girl, named after her daddy whose name is also Ashley ?

  6. She was born at 35 weeks gestation. She is exclusively breastfed.


Share your thoughts on the name Ashley

Your email address will not be published. All fields are required *

*