What Does the Name Ashley Mean?
Ashley is a girl's name of Old English origin meaning “ash tree clearing or meadow.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Ashley |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Old English |
| Meaning | ash tree clearing or meadow |
| Variants | Ashleigh, Ashlee, Ashly, Ashlyn, Ashleen |
| Popularity | A top 5 US girls' name through much of the 1980s and 1990s |
The meaning and origin of Ashley
The name Ashley means “ash tree clearing or meadow” and has Old English origins. From an Old English surname and place name combining aesc ('ash tree') and leah ('clearing, meadow, wood'). Originally a masculine name, it became overwhelmingly feminine in late-20th-century America.
Variants and related names
Ashley is related to several other names you may recognize: Ashleigh, Ashlee, Ashly, Ashlyn, Ashleen. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Ashley?
A top 5 US girls' name through much of the 1980s and 1990s
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ashley mean?+
The name Ashley means “ash tree clearing or meadow” and is of Old English origin.
What is the origin of the name Ashley?+
Ashley originates from Old English.
Is Ashley a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Ashley has trended in the US over time.
Ashley by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press