The story behind Ashley
From Old English *Æsċlēah, composed of æsċ (“ash tree”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to Ash + -ley.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Tagalog entry
Borrowed from English Ashley.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈæʃli/
Regional pronunciation variants
- English; dialect unspecified: [ˈæʃlɪi̯]
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: /ˈʔaʃli/
- Tagalog; Standard-Tagalog: [ˈʔaʃ.lɪ]
- Tagalog: /ˈʔasli/
- Tagalog: [ˈʔas.lɪ]
Popularity
Ashley ranked #164 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ashley
Abby
Borrowed from English Abby in the 20th century. Borrowed from English Abby.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ansley
From Old English ānsetl (“hermitage”) + lēah (“woodland clearing, glade”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ashby
From Old English æsċ (“ashtree”) + Old Norse býr (“farm, town”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Audrey
From Middle English Aldreda, Etheldreda, from Old English Æþelþrȳþ (from æþele (“noble”) + þrȳþ (“strength”)). Borrowed from English Audrey. Borrowed from English Audrey.
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Barney
From either the Old English personal name Bera (genitive singular Beran) or from Old English beren (“growing with barley”) + īeġ (“island”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Berry
From berry; also a pet form of Beryl, Berenice, or Berinthia.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ashley
Abigail
From Hebrew אֲבִיגַיִל (avigáyil, “Abigail”, literally “my Father's joy” or “fountain of joy”). a female given name from Hebrew, equivalent to English Abigail Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adamu
Borrowed from English Adam.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends U
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aethelred
Learned borrowing from Old English Æþelræd, Æðelred, from æþele (“noble”) + rǣd (“counsel, advice”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ashley
Barton
From Old English bere (“barley”) + Old English tūn (“enclosure”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Baxter
From Middle English bakster, bakestre, from Old English bæcestre (“baker”), equivalent to bake + -ster.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Belle
From French belle (“beauty, beautiful”), from Latin bella. Diminutive of Isabelle and Annabelle.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length