name
Ashley
ASH-lee
name
1
A given name, used for both men and women, originally taken from an English surname and place name.
"Ashley started a new job in marketing this spring."
"Her grandfather, also named Ashley, grew up in Yorkshire."
2
A surname, and the name of several English villages and towns.
"The Ashley family has owned the estate for generations."
How to Use Ashley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA common English first name and surname, originally the name of a place (a clearing full of ash trees).
Memory tip
In the US it usually reads as a girl's name; in the UK it's used for both boys and girls.
Trace the full origin ↓Word Forms
Ashleys plural
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_____ started a new job in marketing this spring.
Etymology
From Old English elements meaning "ash tree" and "clearing" — literally a clearing among ash trees.