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Ashley

♂ Boy

Pronounced ASH-lee /ˈæʃ.li/High

Meaning: Old English aesc-leah, 'ash-tree meadow' — Gone with the Wind's gentleman, originally maleHigh

In 30 seconds: Wilkes, not Judd: Ashley began male — Scarlett pined for one — and British boys never surrendered the meadow. Ash-grove gentry restored.
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Origin HighEnglish
MeaningOld English aesc-leah, 'ash-tree meadow' — Gone with the Wind's gentleman, originally male
U.S. rank (2024)#3886 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births28 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1980
Total births (all-time)≈ 15,837

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198018802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Ashley is Old English aesc-leah, 'ash-tree meadow' — long male (Lord Ashley the reformer; Wilkes the fictional gentleman) before the American girls' boom; this page covers sons.

It registers thinly for boys stateside, steadily in Britain. Rare for sons, meadow at the root, and reclaimed.

Did you know? Ashley Wilkes embodied Southern gentlemanhood in 1939 — the name ran male for centuries before American girls borrowed it wholesale.
Overall data confidence 88%
Behind the Name — Ashley — etymology

Variations

AshleighAshleeAsh

Nicknames

Ash

Famous Bearers

  • ★Ashley Cole (1980–present)
    English footballer, Premier League great.

If you like Ashley…

Ashton— the ash-town brother
Ainsley— a fellow meadow crossover
Wesley— the companion -ley gent
Aubrey— the same unisex feel
Arley— a fellow English choice

Browse the whole category: All English names →  ·  All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Ashley mean?

Ashley is Old English for 'ash-tree meadow', originally a male name.

How do you pronounce Ashley?

It's said ASH-lee /ˈæʃ.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ashley a boy or girl name?

Ashley is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Ashley?

Ashley is a rare name for boys in the U.S., steadier in Britain.