Ashley (given name)

For other uses, see Ashley (disambiguation).
Ashley
Pronunciation/ˈæʃli/
GenderUnisex
Language(s)English
Origin
Language(s)Old English
Word/nameCombination of æsċ and lēah
Meaning"Ash tree meadow"
Region of originEngland
Other names
Variant form(s)Ashlee, Ashlie, Ashleigh
Short form(s)Ash
Related namesAshton, Asher

Ashley is a given name which was originally an Old English surname. It is derived from the Old English (Anglo-Saxon) words æsċ (ash) and lēah (clearing, meadow) and translates to "Dweller near the ash tree meadow".[1]

Regional variations

England and Wales

The use of Ashley as a first name began in England after 1860, likely in honour of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury, a social reformer styled Lord Ashley. It was used more intensely starting in the 1970s.[2] Appearances of the boys' name in popular culture include Ashley Wilkes in 1939's Gone with the Wind and Ash Williams (Ashley Williams) in the 1981 film The Evil Dead.

Ashley in England and Wales was used predominately for boys, ranking at #33 in 1994 for boys and staying within the top 100–300 male names given each year. Ashley was used for English girls but the Ashleigh spelling was preferred, reaching a rank of #55 in 1994.[3]

Scotland

Ashley was popular for girls from the 1970s and peaked in popularity in 1987 ranking #10 for girls.[4]

Ireland

Ashley is generally more common for Irish born girls than boys, with the Ashleigh spelling being almost as popular and only ranking for girls.[5]

Australia

Ashley entered the top 100 names for boys in New South Wales in 1971 but became more popular for girls in 1986. It reached a ranking of #17 for girls in 1987, and left the top 100 in 2011. It reached a ranking of #56 in 1985 for boys. For women, the Ashleigh spelling is as common as Ashley and reached a ranking of #13 in 1990.[6]

United States of America

In the 1940s, Americans started using the Ashley for girls and was more common for girls starting in 1964.[7] Ashley was considered a surname style name at the time.[8] In the 1980s the name had a rise in popularity attributed to the female soap opera character Ashley Abbott who emerged on the still-running TV series The Young and the Restless in 1982.[9] Spelling variants of the name such as Ashlee, Ashleigh, and Ashlie are also in use.[10][11]

Notable men with this given name

Notable women with this given name

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ashley: Name Meaning, Popularity, and Similar Names". Nameberry. Retrieved 2021-06-04.
  2. ^ Dunkling, Leslie (1991). Everyman's Dictionary of First Names (3rd ed.). London: J.M. Dent & Sons. p. 22. ISBN 9780460870818.
  3. ^ Campbell, Mike. "Popular Names in England and Wales". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  4. ^ "Baby Names How Popular is Your Name in Scotland". National Records of Scotland. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  5. ^ "Baby Names of Ireland interactive tool". CSO Ireland. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  6. ^ Campbell, Mike. "Popularity of the name Ashley". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  7. ^ "What does the name Ashley Mean". Names.org. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
  8. ^ Nurnberg, Maxwell (1978). What to Name Your Baby (17th ed.). New York: Collier Books. p. 43. ISBN 0020810202.
  9. ^ "Ashley as a first name or baby name".
  10. ^ "Popular Baby Names". Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  11. ^ Rauwerda, Anne (10 November 2021). "Haileigh and Beighleigh and Paisleigh, oh my!". michigandaily.com. Michigan Daily. Retrieved 10 January 2022.