Fun Facts About the Name Ashley
- An established favorite: Ashley held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 38 consecutive years, from 1978 through 2015.
- More than 875 thousand babies named Ashley: U.S. records list 875,700 babies given the name Ashley from 1880 through 2025. Even 15,864 boys received the name Ashley - about 1 boy for every 54 girls.
What Does the Name Ashley Mean?
Ashley is an English name meaning "ash tree clearing" or "ash wood meadow." It comes from an Old English place name formed from æsc (ash tree) and lēah (wood, clearing, or meadow). The second element can refer to a clearing in woodland, a meadow, or the wood itself, so translations vary slightly. It began as a surname taken from one or more places in England called Ashley.
Ashley Name History & Origins
Ashley began as an English surname taken from one or more places named Ashley in England. Those place names come from Old English æsc (ash tree) and lēah (wood, clearing, or meadow), so the original sense was a landscape description: an ash-tree clearing or meadow. Like other English place-name surnames, it became hereditary in the later Middle Ages and could arise independently in different counties where a place called Ashley existed.
As a first name, Ashley followed the English custom of using surnames as given names. It was used as a masculine name before it became common for girls. In the United States it was an established boys' name in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and later in the 20th century it became much more frequent for girls, while remaining in use for boys. The name also appears in literature as Ashley Wilkes, a male character in Margaret Mitchell's 1936 novel Gone with the Wind; that is a modern literary association, not the name's earliest documented use.
How Popular is the Name Ashley?
Ashley recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1987. Its best rank was #1 in 1991.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #164 | 1,829 | 0.1138% |
| 2024 | #124 | 2,231 | 0.1383% |
| 2023 | #126 | 2,182 | 0.1361% |
| 2022 | #154 | 1,863 | 0.1137% |
| 2021 | #172 | 1,700 | 0.1037% |
| 2020 | #153 | 1,807 | 0.1119% |
| 2019 | #137 | 2,030 | 0.1210% |
| 2018 | #129 | 2,280 | 0.1341% |
| 2017 | #122 | 2,528 | 0.1465% |
| 2016 | #101 | 3,044 | 0.1718% |
| 2015 | #86 | 3,427 | 0.1920% |
| 2014 | #87 | 3,559 | 0.1993% |
| 2013 | #67 | 3,942 | 0.2247% |
| 2012 | #50 | 4,700 | 0.2669% |
| 2011 | #42 | 5,403 | 0.3072% |
| 2010 | #29 | 6,317 | 0.3554% |
| 2009 | #20 | 7,815 | 0.4255% |
| 2008 | #18 | 9,408 | 0.4976% |
| 2007 | #13 | 11,428 | 0.5945% |
| 2006 | #12 | 12,353 | 0.6498% |
| 2005 | #10 | 13,275 | 0.7185% |
| 2004 | #8 | 14,377 | 0.7830% |
| 2003 | #8 | 14,519 | 0.7947% |
| 2002 | #6 | 15,344 | 0.8540% |
| 2001 | #4 | 16,531 | 0.9181% |
| 2000 | #4 | 18,000 | 0.9912% |
| 1999 | #6 | 18,136 | 1.0224% |
| 1998 | #5 | 19,874 | 1.1248% |
| 1997 | #3 | 20,896 | 1.2005% |
| 1996 | #3 | 23,678 | 1.3507% |
| 1995 | #2 | 26,606 | 1.5130% |
| 1994 | #2 | 30,283 | 1.6958% |
| 1993 | #2 | 34,849 | 1.9264% |
| 1992 | #1 | 38,461 | 2.0858% |
| 1991 | #1 | 43,477 | 2.3188% |
| 1990 | #2 | 45,560 | 2.3998% |
| 1989 | #2 | 47,588 | 2.5813% |
| 1988 | #2 | 49,975 | 2.8063% |
| 1987 | #2 | 54,853 | 3.1550% |
| 1986 | #2 | 49,672 | 2.8954% |
| 1985 | #2 | 47,008 | 2.7317% |
| 1984 | #3 | 38,774 | 2.3027% |
| 1983 | #4 | 33,291 | 1.9927% |
| 1982 | #17 | 14,854 | 0.8772% |
| 1981 | #34 | 8,874 | 0.5320% |
| 1980 | #40 | 7,296 | 0.4394% |
| 1979 | #67 | 4,448 | 0.2771% |
| 1978 | #87 | 3,482 | 0.2273% |
| 1977 | #106 | 2,706 | 0.1765% |
| 1976 | #115 | 2,288 | 0.1562% |
| 1975 | #138 | 1,989 | 0.1364% |
| 1974 | #165 | 1,625 | 0.1107% |
| 1973 | #206 | 1,250 | 0.0857% |
| 1972 | #234 | 1,176 | 0.0773% |
| 1971 | #255 | 1,163 | 0.0699% |
| 1970 | #305 | 927 | 0.0530% |
| 1969 | #361 | 641 | 0.0380% |
| 1968 | #399 | 542 | 0.0330% |
| 1967 | #485 | 385 | 0.0233% |
| 1966 | #583 | 262 | 0.0155% |
| 1965 | #669 | 216 | 0.0122% |
| 1964 | #771 | 181 | 0.0096% |
| 1963 | #1,027 | 108 | 0.0056% |
| 1962 | #1,113 | 95 | 0.0048% |
| 1961 | #1,224 | 81 | 0.0040% |
| 1960 | #1,488 | 55 | 0.0027% |
| 1959 | #1,822 | 37 | 0.0018% |
| 1958 | #1,764 | 38 | 0.0019% |
| 1957 | #2,123 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 1956 | #2,323 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1955 | #4,392 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #2,382 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1953 | #2,931 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #2,129 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1951 | #2,700 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,660 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1949 | #3,191 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #2,841 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1947 | #3,259 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1946 | #4,015 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1945 | #2,927 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #2,957 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1943 | #3,051 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #3,464 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1941 | #3,988 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #3,472 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #4,650 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #3,957 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 2024 | #3,886 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2023 | #3,887 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 2022 | #3,778 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2021 | #3,586 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2020 | #3,653 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 2019 | #4,234 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #3,303 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2017 | #3,443 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2016 | #3,300 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2015 | #3,992 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2014 | #2,893 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 2013 | #2,961 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 2012 | #5,269 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #3,052 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2010 | #3,460 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 2009 | #3,110 | 37 | 0.0019% |
| 2008 | #2,405 | 53 | 0.0026% |
| 2007 | #2,339 | 55 | 0.0027% |
| 2006 | #2,180 | 59 | 0.0029% |
| 2005 | #1,854 | 69 | 0.0035% |
| 2004 | #1,517 | 88 | 0.0044% |
| 2003 | #1,613 | 78 | 0.0039% |
| 2002 | #1,870 | 60 | 0.0031% |
| 2001 | #1,600 | 74 | 0.0038% |
| 2000 | #1,487 | 82 | 0.0042% |
| 1999 | #1,477 | 77 | 0.0040% |
| 1998 | #1,450 | 78 | 0.0041% |
| 1997 | #1,227 | 95 | 0.0050% |
| 1996 | #1,107 | 108 | 0.0057% |
| 1995 | #1,062 | 112 | 0.0059% |
| 1994 | #958 | 132 | 0.0068% |
| 1993 | #924 | 135 | 0.0069% |
| 1992 | #808 | 168 | 0.0084% |
| 1991 | #762 | 180 | 0.0089% |
| 1990 | #652 | 239 | 0.0116% |
| 1989 | #491 | 376 | 0.0188% |
| 1988 | #523 | 303 | 0.0158% |
| 1987 | #436 | 409 | 0.0219% |
| 1986 | #417 | 420 | 0.0228% |
| 1985 | #368 | 501 | 0.0271% |
| 1984 | #344 | 541 | 0.0300% |
| 1983 | #321 | 595 | 0.0332% |
| 1982 | #305 | 649 | 0.0358% |
| 1981 | #294 | 674 | 0.0376% |
| 1980 | #282 | 746 | 0.0418% |
| 1979 | #320 | 586 | 0.0340% |
| 1978 | #328 | 533 | 0.0325% |
| 1977 | #320 | 582 | 0.0354% |
| 1976 | #350 | 475 | 0.0303% |
| 1975 | #378 | 418 | 0.0268% |
| 1974 | #383 | 409 | 0.0260% |
| 1973 | #371 | 426 | 0.0273% |
| 1972 | #475 | 273 | 0.0168% |
| 1971 | #500 | 264 | 0.0149% |
| 1970 | #507 | 253 | 0.0136% |
| 1969 | #562 | 194 | 0.0108% |
| 1968 | #582 | 169 | 0.0097% |
| 1967 | #638 | 137 | 0.0079% |
| 1966 | #703 | 111 | 0.0062% |
| 1965 | #676 | 121 | 0.0065% |
| 1964 | #735 | 110 | 0.0055% |
| 1963 | #685 | 128 | 0.0063% |
| 1962 | #718 | 114 | 0.0055% |
| 1961 | #682 | 126 | 0.0059% |
| 1960 | #808 | 89 | 0.0042% |
| 1959 | #844 | 80 | 0.0037% |
| 1958 | #871 | 75 | 0.0035% |
| 1957 | #937 | 65 | 0.0030% |
| 1956 | #935 | 64 | 0.0030% |
| 1955 | #812 | 81 | 0.0039% |
| 1954 | #852 | 73 | 0.0036% |
| 1953 | #967 | 55 | 0.0028% |
| 1952 | #928 | 59 | 0.0030% |
| 1951 | #993 | 50 | 0.0027% |
| 1950 | #904 | 57 | 0.0032% |
| 1949 | #935 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 1948 | #839 | 66 | 0.0038% |
| 1947 | #844 | 67 | 0.0037% |
| 1946 | #786 | 71 | 0.0044% |
| 1945 | #830 | 57 | 0.0042% |
| 1944 | #853 | 55 | 0.0040% |
| 1943 | #875 | 58 | 0.0041% |
| 1942 | #762 | 71 | 0.0051% |
| 1941 | #857 | 54 | 0.0044% |
| 1940 | #905 | 49 | 0.0042% |
| 1939 | #1,273 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1938 | #1,338 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1937 | #1,182 | 31 | 0.0029% |
| 1936 | #1,071 | 36 | 0.0035% |
| 1935 | #1,125 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1934 | #1,175 | 32 | 0.0031% |
| 1933 | #1,457 | 22 | 0.0022% |
| 1932 | #1,237 | 30 | 0.0029% |
| 1931 | #1,146 | 35 | 0.0034% |
| 1930 | #1,430 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1929 | #1,111 | 39 | 0.0036% |
| 1928 | #1,169 | 37 | 0.0033% |
| 1927 | #990 | 50 | 0.0044% |
| 1926 | #1,034 | 45 | 0.0041% |
| 1925 | #890 | 57 | 0.0051% |
| 1924 | #1,045 | 46 | 0.0041% |
| 1923 | #1,027 | 47 | 0.0043% |
| 1922 | #959 | 53 | 0.0049% |
| 1921 | #1,019 | 47 | 0.0043% |
| 1920 | #1,073 | 43 | 0.0040% |
| 1919 | #860 | 59 | 0.0060% |
| 1918 | #1,039 | 42 | 0.0041% |
| 1917 | #965 | 45 | 0.0049% |
| 1916 | #917 | 48 | 0.0054% |
| 1915 | #906 | 47 | 0.0055% |
| 1914 | #821 | 42 | 0.0064% |
| 1913 | #875 | 31 | 0.0060% |
| 1912 | #938 | 23 | 0.0053% |
| 1911 | #827 | 16 | 0.0071% |
| 1910 | #1,323 | 7 | 0.0036% |
| 1909 | #954 | 10 | 0.0061% |
| 1908 | #952 | 9 | 0.0058% |
| 1907 | #1,104 | 7 | 0.0048% |
| 1906 | #677 | 13 | 0.0098% |
| 1905 | #791 | 10 | 0.0076% |
| 1904 | #726 | 11 | 0.0086% |
| 1903 | #914 | 7 | 0.0059% |
| 1902 | #586 | 14 | 0.0114% |
| 1901 | #685 | 10 | 0.0094% |
| 1900 | #1,324 | 5 | 0.0033% |
| 1899 | #862 | 7 | 0.0066% |
| 1898 | #1,130 | 5 | 0.0041% |
| 1897 | #476 | 17 | 0.0151% |
| 1896 | #728 | 10 | 0.0084% |
| 1895 | #689 | 10 | 0.0085% |
| 1894 | #481 | 17 | 0.0147% |
| 1893 | #654 | 10 | 0.0089% |
| 1892 | #601 | 12 | 0.0098% |
| 1891 | #705 | 8 | 0.0079% |
| 1890 | #569 | 12 | 0.0108% |
| 1888 | #823 | 7 | 0.0058% |
| 1887 | #589 | 10 | 0.0099% |
| 1886 | #491 | 14 | 0.0126% |
| 1885 | #521 | 13 | 0.0121% |
| 1884 | #858 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1883 | #649 | 9 | 0.0086% |
| 1882 | #761 | 7 | 0.0062% |
| 1881 | #789 | 6 | 0.0060% |
| 1880 | #684 | 8 | 0.0072% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
