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If you want a soft, modern, and gender-neutral name, Ashley is a beautiful choice. The name comes from Old English, where:

• “æsc” = ash tree
  
• “lēah” = forest clearing or meadow
  

So Ashley means “ash tree meadow” or “forest glade.”
It was first a place name, then a surname, and finally a popular baby name in the 1970s and 1980s.

Pronunciation: ASH-lee
Gender: Works for both boys and girls

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Origin of the Name Ashley

• Started as an English place name
  
• Later used as a surname
  
• Became a first name in English-speaking countries
  
• Today, it’s loved as a gender-neutral baby name
  

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How Popular Is the Name Ashley?

Ashley has had a very strong popularity history:

• It was in the Top 10 girl names in the USA for over 20 years (1983–2005)
  
• Reached #1 in 1991 and 1992
  
• Earlier, in the early 1900s, it was more common as a boy name
  

From the 1960s, it became a favorite girl name, and by the mid-1990s, it was used almost entirely for girls.

Today:

• In 2024, Ashley ranked #124 for girls in the USA
  
• It is still gender-neutral—you can use it however you like
  

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Name Variations

Here are popular alternate spellings of Ashley:

• Ashleigh
  
• Ashlea
  
• Ashlee
  
• Ashli
  
• Ashlie
  
• Ashly
  

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Similar Names to Ashley

Names with similar sound or style

• Ashlyn / Ashlynn
  
• Asher
  
• Ainsley
  
• Hailey
  
• Finley
  
• Hadley
  
• Paisley
  
• Kinsley
  
• Riley
  

Many of these can be spelled with –lee, –leigh, –ly, or –lie.

More girl names starting with A

• Abigail
  
• Addison
  
• Amanda
  
• Amelia
  
• Alyssa
  
• Aria
  
• Aubrey
  
• Autumn
  
• Avery
  
• Ava
  

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Suggested Sibling Names

Ashley sounds great with these names:

For Sisters

• Kayla
  
• Lauren
  
• Danielle
  
• Nicole
  

For Brothers

• Adam
  
• Matthew
  
• Ryan
  
• Andrew
  
• Nicholas
  

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Famous People Named Ashley

Famous Female Ashleys

• Ashleigh Banfield – Journalist
  
• Ashley Benson – Actress
  
• Ashley Biden – Activist, daughter of President Biden
  
• Ashley Bouder – Ballet dancer
  
• Ashley Eckstein – Voice actress (Star Wars: The Clone Wars)
  
• Halsey (Ashley Frangipane) – Singer
  
• Ashley Greene – Actress
  
• Ashley Jensen – Actress
  
• Ashley Johnson – Actress
  
• Ashley Judd – Actress
  
• Ashley Nicole Black – Comedian & writer
  
• Ashley Olsen – Actress & entrepreneur
  
• Ashley Roberts – Singer (Pussycat Dolls)
  
• Ashley Tisdale – Actress & singer
  
• Ashlee Simpson – Singer
  

Famous Male Ashleys

• Ashley Cole – English footballer
  
• Ashley Cooper – Australian tennis player
  
• Ashley Giles – English cricketer
  
• Ashley Hutchings – Folk musician
  
• Ashley MacIsaac – Canadian fiddler
  
• Ashley Montagu – Anthropologist & author
  
• Ashley Walters – Actor
  
• Ashley Young – Footballer
  

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Conclusion

Ashley is a timeless, gentle, and beautiful name with the meaning “ash tree meadow.”
Whether you want a classic girl name, a modern boy name, or a completely gender-neutral choice, Ashley fits perfectly.