Girl
Old English
2 syllables
Ashley
ASH-lee
/ˈæʃli/
"From the ash grove" — nature-rooted, breezy, and quintessentially 1990s
Ashley began as an Old English surname meaning 'ash tree meadow' and was historically male — most famously belonging to Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind. Its crossover to girls' names happened gradually in the 1960s and exploded in the 1980s, when it became one of the most popular girl names in American history. Though its peak has passed, Ashley remains a recognisable staple of a particular generation.
Quick Facts
Letters6
SyllablesAsh · ley
GenderGirl
OriginOld English
Root WordÆsc + Lēah
MeaningAsh tree meadow
PopularityCommon
Peak Year1991
Trend
→ Stable
Nicknames
AshLeeAsh-AshAshie
About the Name Ashley
Ashley comes from the Old English elements 'æsc' (ash tree) and 'lēah' (meadow or woodland clearing), meaning 'ash tree meadow.' It was originally a surname and place name before becoming a given name.
Yes — Ashley was traditionally a male name in English-speaking countries, most famously borne by Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind. Its transition to a predominantly female name happened gradually from the 1960s onwards.
Ashley was the #1 girl name in the US in 1991 and remained in the top 10 for over a decade. It has declined significantly since and now ranks outside the top 100, though it remains widely recognized.
Ashley Marie, Ashley Nicole, Ashley Grace, Ashley Brooke, and Ashley Renee are among the most popular and harmonious combinations.
Ash is the most common nickname. Lee is also sometimes used. Some people use Ashie informally.
Ashley originated as an Old English topographic surname for someone who lived near an ash tree grove. It transitioned to a given name in the early 20th century, first for boys and then overwhelmingly for girls from the 1970s onward.
Personality of Ashley
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Ashley
Creativity
68%
Elegance
70%
Independence
74%
Intelligence
72%
Strength
68%
Warmth
80%
Famous People Named Ashley
A
Ashley Judd
American actress and political activist, known for films like Kiss the Girls and Double Jeopardy
A
Ashley Graham
American model and body positivity advocate, one of the most influential plus-size models in fashion history
A
Ashley Olsen
American actress turned fashion designer, one half of the Olsen twins, co-founder of The Row
A
Ashley Wilkes
The romantic, conflicted Southern gentleman in Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind — one of the first male Ashleys in popular culture
Middle Names for Ashley
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Ashley
Ashley Marie
Ashley Nicole
Ashley Brooke
Ashley Jade
Ashley Renee
Ashley Paige
Ashley Lynn
Ashley Grace
Ashley Rose
Ashley Kate
Ashley Ann
Ashley Elizabeth
Names Similar to Ashley
Similar Sound
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Ashley
1936
Gone with the Wind is published with Ashley Wilkes as a prominent male character — one of the most famous Ashleys in American literature
1964
Ashley begins appearing on the US girls' top 1000 for the first time, beginning a slow climb
1983
Ashley enters the US top 10 for girls, crossing the threshold that makes it one of the decade's defining names
1991
Ashley reaches #1 in the United States for girls, the peak of its extraordinary two-decade dominance
2000s
Usage begins a steady decline as the name becomes strongly associated with a specific generation born in the 1980s and 1990s
Numerology & Symbolism of Ashley
7
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Virgo
4
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Forest Green
💎
Lucky Stone
Peridot
🌸
Lucky Flower
Ash Blossom
Ashley Around the World
How Ashley is written in different languages and scripts
آشلي
Arabic
アシュリー
Japanese
Эшли
Russian
애슐리
Korean
艾什利
Chinese
Άσλεϊ
Greek
एश्ली
Hindi
אשלי
Hebrew
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