Ashley

Meaning & Origin

Meaning: Ash Tree Clearing; Meadow

Background: The name Ashley originates from the Old English word 'æsc' meaning 'ash tree' and 'lēah' meaning 'clearing' or 'meadow.' This name was traditionally used to denote someone who came from a clearing near an ash tree, reflecting its geographical significance.

At a glance

Quick stats based on the history of this name.

Lifetime rank
#20
Total births
873,844
Most popular decade
1980s (1,072,197 births)
10-year trend
↓ Falling (-37 ranks)
Years in Top 100
38
First recorded year
1880

Gender usage

1.8% male 98.2% female

Stats by gender

Male

First year
1880
First year births
8
First year rank
#682
Peak year
1980
Peak year births
746
Peak rank
#281
Most recent year
2024
Recent year births
28
Recent rank
#3,882

Female

First year
1917
First year births
5
First year rank
#4,594
Peak year
1987
Peak year births
54,853
Peak rank
#2
Most recent year
2024
Recent year births
2,231
Recent rank
#124

Births over time

Number of babies given this name each year.

Rank over time

Popularity rank by year (1 = most popular).

Related links