Ashley Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Ashley is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Ashley?
Ashley is spelled A-S-H-L-E-Y. The name has 6 letters.
Ashley at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Ashley may derive from Old English words meaning “ash tree clearing” or “dwelling near ash trees.”
- Origin
- Ashley is commonly associated with Old English origins as a place name that later became used as a personal name.
- Pronunciation
- ASH-lee · 2 syllables
Ashley Popularity in 2025
Rank#164
Recorded Births1,829
Rank#3,949
Recorded Births27
- Girls usage fell 40 places to #164 and recorded 411 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage fell 53 places to #3,949 and recorded 1 fewer birth compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Ashley Mean?
Ashley may derive from Old English words meaning “ash tree clearing” or “dwelling near ash trees.”
Origin: Ashley is commonly associated with Old English origins as a place name that later became used as a personal name.
How Do You Pronounce Ashley?
PronunciationASH-lee
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Ashley?
- History
- The name Ashley was historically used as a surname before it became adopted as a given name; it has been recorded in English-speaking contexts for several centuries.
Ashley Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,829 | #164 |
| 2025 | Boys | 27 | #3,949 |
| 2024 | Girls | 2,240 | #124 |
| 2024 | Boys | 28 | #3,896 |
| 2023 | Girls | 2,184 | #126 |
| 2023 | Boys | 29 | #3,802 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,865 | #154 |
| 2022 | Boys | 29 | #3,774 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,700 | #172 |
| 2021 | Boys | 31 | #3,582 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,808 | #153 |
| 2020 | Boys | 29 | #3,653 |
| 2019 | Girls | 2,031 | #137 |
| 2019 | Boys | 24 | #4,230 |
| 2018 | Girls | 2,280 | #129 |
| 2018 | Boys | 34 | #3,301 |
| 2017 | Girls | 2,528 | #122 |
| 2017 | Boys | 32 | #3,440 |
| 2016 | Girls | 3,045 | #101 |
| 2016 | Boys | 34 | #3,293 |
| 2015 | Girls | 3,429 | #86 |
| 2015 | Boys | 26 | #3,982 |
| 2014 | Girls | 3,560 | #87 |
| 2014 | Boys | 40 | #2,885 |
When Was Ashley Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1987 · Girls
54,856 recorded births
National rank #2
1988 · Girls
49,977 recorded births
National rank #2
1986 · Girls
49,671 recorded births
National rank #2
1989 · Girls
47,588 recorded births
National rank #2
Where Ashley Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| FL | #47 | 284 |
| MD | #69 | 54 |
| TX | #86 | 307 |
| RI | #91 | 9 |
| NV | #92 | 22 |
| DC | #93 | 8 |
| KY | #95 | 43 |
| DE | #140 | 6 |