Unisex name · Old English
Ashley
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: ash tree clearingAshley is a gender-neutral name that comes from Old English and means "ash tree clearing". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Ash tree clearing
- Origin
- Old English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #164 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ashley
As a gender-neutral name, Ashley comes from Old English and means "ash tree clearing". It is used in English.
Ashley is also a surname: the 941st most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 36,420 people. See the most common last names.
Its meaning puts Ashley on our nature names list.
Meaning checked against Behind the Name. How we research names
Ashley on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Ashley on 4 lists.
“Old English for ash tree clearing; Ashley Wilkes of Gone with the Wind made it a Southern gentleman's name”
From Redneck names for boys, southern gentleman names for boys
“A sweet full name for a gray puppy”
From Firefighter dog names, cute firefighter puppy names
“Ash tree clearing; Old English, a boy's name in Gone with the Wind”
From Gender neutral names, classic and vintage unisex names
“Ash tree clearing; an Old English place name”
From Nature names, unisex nature names
How popular is Ashley?
In 2025, 1,829 girls and 27 boys in the US were named Ashley.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #164
- 1,829 babies, 1,138 per million girls
- Best rank
- #1 in 1991
- Most babies: 54,856 in 1987
- Babies since 1917
- At least 859,857
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 1 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 1 per million |
| 1940s | 6 per million |
| 1950s | 11 per million |
| 1960s | 140 per million |
| 1970s | 1,362 per million |
| 1980s | 20,505 per million |
| 1990s | 16,763 per million |
| 2000s | 7,201 per million |
| 2010s | 2,128 per million |
| 2020s | 1,195 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #101 | #122 | #130 | #137 | #153 | #172 | #154 | #126 | #124 | #164 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #3,957
- 27 babies, 16 per million boys
- Best rank
- #282 in 1980
- 746 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 15,865
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 73 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 95 per million |
| 1900s | 71 per million |
| 1910s | 54 per million |
| 1920s | 42 per million |
| 1930s | 28 per million |
| 1940s | 41 per million |
| 1950s | 33 per million |
| 1960s | 67 per million |
| 1970s | 255 per million |
| 1980s | 282 per million |
| 1990s | 68 per million |
| 2000s | 33 per million |
| 2010s | 17 per million |
| 2020s | 17 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,300 | #3,445 | #3,305 | #4,235 | #3,656 | #3,588 | #3,778 | #3,806 | #3,899 | #3,957 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Ashley
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- AsherHappy, blessed (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- OliviaOlive tree (Latin, girl)
- OliverOlive tree (Latin, boy)
- AinsleyFrom a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing (English, unisex)
- DaphneLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
- HadassahMyrtle tree (Hebrew, girl)
- IlanTree (Hebrew, boy)
- LindenLime tree (Old English, unisex)
- OliveTree of peace (Latin, girl)
- OlivierOlive tree (Latin, boy)
Middle names for Ashley
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
- DavidBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
- DawnDaybreak (English, girl)
- DeanFrom a surname meaning valley (Old English, boy)
- FaithFaith, trust (English, girl)
- FernLeafy woodland plant (Old English, girl)
- JeanGod is gracious (Hebrew, girl)
- JuneSixth month, named for Juno (Latin, girl)
- LouisFamous warrior (Germanic, boy)
More names from Old English
- EdgarWealthy spear (Old English, boy)
- EdithRich in war (Old English, girl)
- AlfredElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- EduardRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- StormTempest (Old English, unisex)
- AlfredoElf counsel (Old English, boy)
- AudreyNoble strength (Old English, girl)
- EduardoRich guardian (Old English, boy)
- GrahamFrom a surname from the place name Grantham, probably gravelly homestead (Old English, boy)
- HarperHarp player (Old English, unisex)
Ashley: common questions
What does the name Ashley mean?
Ashley comes from Old English and means "ash tree clearing". Checked against Behind the Name.
Is Ashley a boy or girl name?
Ashley is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 1,829 girls and 27 boys in the US were named Ashley, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Ashley come from?
Ashley comes from Old English and means "ash tree clearing". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Ashley?
Ashley ranked #164 in the US in 2025, with 1,829 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Ashley?
Names spelled like Ashley include Asher.
What middle names go with Ashley?
Middle names that flow well with Ashley include David, Dawn, Dean, Faith and Fern. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.