Names › Girls' names › A › Ashley
Ashley
Meaning: ash tree clearing · Origin: English · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
From an English surname taken from place names meaning 'ash tree clearing' (Old English æsc + leah). Once mainly a boys' name in the US, it became one of the top American girls' names around 1990.
Famous people named Ashley
- Ashley Judd (actor)
Nicknames
Ash
Variants & related names
Ashleigh, Ashlee, Ashlie
Ashley name art
A free preview of a printable “Ashley” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.
FAQ
What does the name Ashley mean?
Ashley means “ash tree clearing”. It comes from English.
Is Ashley a popular name?
Yes — Ashley has been one of the most popular girls' names in the United States in the 2020s, according to US Social Security Administration baby-name data.
What are nicknames for Ashley?
Ash.
What are other forms of Ashley?
Ashleigh, Ashlee, Ashlie.
Similar names
Hailey · Hope · Molly · Piper · Summer · Taylor
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Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.