Ashley

Ashley derives from the Old English elements æsc, meaning ash tree, and lēah, meaning woodland clearing or meadow, giving the overall sense of one who dwells near the ash-tree grove. It originated as an English surname and place name before transitioning to use as a given name, initially more common for males. The name surged in popularity as a feminine given name in the late twentieth century, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom. Related forms include Ashleigh, Ashlee, and the masculine Ashton, which shares the ash-tree root.