Ashley - Name Meaning and Origin

The boy's and girl's name Ashley \a-sh-ley\ is pronounced ASH-lee. It is of Old English origin, and its meaning is "ash meadow". Surname and place name. As a given name, Ashley is now used mostly for girls. First recorded as a given name in the 16th century, but its wider use was probably inspired by the Earl of Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley Cooper in the early 19th century, who was a noted humanitarian who inspired much of the legislation designed to improve conditions among working classes. Literary: Ashley Wilkes is the man long loved by Scarlett O'Hara in Margaret Mitchell's novel "Gone With the Wind". Ashley is also an English saint's name (17th century).

Ashley has 16 variant forms: Ash, Ashely, Asheley, Ashelie, Ashlan, Ashleigh, Ashlen, Ashli, Ashlie, Ashlin, Ashling, Ashlinn, Ashly, Ashlyn, Ashlynn and Lee.

For more information, see also the related name Ashton.

Baby names that sound like Ashley are Achilleo, Achillea, Achille and Achill.

Ashley is a popular male first name and a very popular surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the boy's name Ashley. Click here to compare Ashley with related baby names.