The nameAshley

Meaning

Ashley comes from the Old English æsc, "ash tree", and leah, "wood, clearing": "ash tree clearing".

Origin

English. Ashley was a place name and surname before becoming a first name.

History

Ashley was first a boy's name, like Ashley Wilkes of Gone with the Wind. From the 1960s it became a girl's name in the United States, ranking first in 1991 and 1992. It is still used for boys in Britain.

Famous people named Ashley

• Ashley Judd, actress
• Ashley Cole, footballer
• Ashley Young, footballer
• Ashley Wilkes, Gone with the Wind character

Popularity of the name Ashley

Ashley in the United States

Ashley was most popular in the United States in the 1980s, with 357,399 births over the decade, 41% of all recorded babies named Ashley. Its rise began around 1980, and it peaked in 1987. Half of all babies named Ashley in the United States were born before 1991. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,986 births a year on average, against 2,692 in the five years before.

Ashley in the United Kingdom

Ashley was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 6,326 births over the decade, 46% of all recorded babies named Ashley. Half of all babies named Ashley in the United Kingdom were born before 2003. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 87 births a year on average, against 147 in the five years before.

Ashley in Ireland

Ashley in France

Ashley in Belgium