Baby Name Popularity Profile

Ashley

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Ashley.

✦ Ash tree meadow 🌍 English nature traditional
National Rank (2025) #164
All-Time Peak Rank #1 Achieved 1991
Total U.S. Births 859,857 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.7% Boy / 99.3% Girl Overwhelmingly Female
First Recorded 1917 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1980s 54,856 births in 1987
πŸ’‘ The Ashley Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Ash tree meadow
Language Origin English
Origin Type single
Derived from Old English elements Γ¦sc 'ash tree' and lΔ“ah 'wood, clearing, meadow'.
Common Nicknames
Ash
Alternative Spellings
Ashleigh Ashlie
Pronunciation: ASH-lee
Themes & Categories
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Ashley

According to SSA data, Ashley achieved its highest historical rank of #1 in 1991. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1987 with 54,856 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 46.7%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 85 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Ashley across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Stable
10-Year Shift -46.7% Decline
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 54,856 births in 1987
Years in Top 100 38 yrs
Years in Top 500 59 yrs
Registry Streak 85 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 5
1920s: 0
1930s: 7
1940s: 86
1950s: 221
1960s: 2,566
1970s: 21,053
1980s: 352,185
1990s: 301,820
2000s: 133,051
2010s: 37,237
2020s: 11,626

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Ash-ley
Letter Count 6 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 25.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: It is an isogram, meaning no two letters are repeated. Longer than 25.7% of SSA names. Starts with A, a letter used by only 10.8% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

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πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, Florida, Alaska, Delaware, Arizona
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #93 5,134 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Florida #47 46,736 1987 +27.4% Growth
Alaska Unranked 1,677 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware #143 2,408 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #238 14,074 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #86 79,157 1987 +28.5% Growth
Wyoming Unranked 1,387 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #190 28,289 1987 +22.2% Growth
Maryland #69 15,127 1987 18.2% Decline
Virginia #141 22,714 1987 33.3% Decline
Utah #224 8,171 1983 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 3,107 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Tennessee #149 20,998 1987 +47.1% Growth
Louisiana #300 17,769 1985 48.3% Decline
California #172 98,011 1987 38.4% Decline
North Carolina #196 27,960 1987 20.3% Decline
Colorado #172 11,364 1987 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #200 13,533 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #208 8,414 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 1,596 1985 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #184 4,851 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Hawaii Unranked 2,728 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #95 15,123 1987 +65.4% Growth
Indiana #203 20,445 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #92 3,141 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 3,387 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #290 13,844 1987 13.8% Decline
Alabama #201 15,723 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Arkansas #213 9,141 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #217 11,392 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Kansas #328 8,774 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #443 18,263 1986 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #194 8,965 1988 Insufficient historical volume
New Jersey #148 22,274 1989 20.9% Decline
Ohio #487 36,905 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 3,418 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #150 5,646 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #558 28,823 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #357 13,984 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Wisconsin #630 14,703 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #183 9,189 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Illinois #171 35,259 1987 +23.4% Growth
Iowa #202 9,236 1987 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota #165 2,350 1987 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 2,360 1985 Insufficient historical volume
West Virginia Unranked 6,402 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #174 16,643 1987 27.3% Decline
Montana Unranked 2,032 1987 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia #95 2,904 1988 Insufficient historical volume
New York #176 49,318 1991 33.8% Decline
Pennsylvania #304 33,776 1987 2.7% Decline

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘§ Sister Suggestions

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