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How popular is the name Ashley in usage today? It was very popular in the 80's and 90's but seems to have fallen out of fashion - still a great sounding name, what do you think?
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Where I live, Ashley was never common for either sex. It's still relatively unheard of. I know a few Brazilian Jennifers, Jessicas, and Vanessas, but no Ashleys. Then again, my country is not an English-speaking country.
It's an okay name for a boy. For a girl, it's so tired, played-out, and a bit vapid.
It's an okay name for a boy. For a girl, it's so tired, played-out, and a bit vapid.
This message was edited 10/26/2013, 8:53 AM
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It's easy to find how popular Ashley is now. All you have to do is look it up here on this site and then look at its popularity statistics. Anyway, I don't think it matters. There are still tons and tons of Ashleys around and the name has no chance of sounding fresh and new and quaintly old-fashioned until they're all dead.
Example: I know a couple who named their daughter Heather in 2006. In 2006, Heather ranked 339. Okay, so no problem with it being overly popular, right? Wrong. Heather ranked in the top one hundred from 1967 through 1998 and for sixteen of those years, 1972 to 1987, it ranked in the top ten. That means that most of us have known multiple adult Heathers who are alive and kicking and in the prime of life. I know that I have. So meeting another Heather, even if she is an infant and toddler, means she's still just another Heather. You've heard it all before.
Anyway, I've never been able to decide whether or not I like Ashley. It's not ugly or anything, but it seems to me insubstantial and too androgynous. At any rate, really sick of it at this point, as I've known quite a few. It's my son's girlfriend's name.
Example: I know a couple who named their daughter Heather in 2006. In 2006, Heather ranked 339. Okay, so no problem with it being overly popular, right? Wrong. Heather ranked in the top one hundred from 1967 through 1998 and for sixteen of those years, 1972 to 1987, it ranked in the top ten. That means that most of us have known multiple adult Heathers who are alive and kicking and in the prime of life. I know that I have. So meeting another Heather, even if she is an infant and toddler, means she's still just another Heather. You've heard it all before.
Anyway, I've never been able to decide whether or not I like Ashley. It's not ugly or anything, but it seems to me insubstantial and too androgynous. At any rate, really sick of it at this point, as I've known quite a few. It's my son's girlfriend's name.
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The youngest Ashley I know is about 6, he is a boy, but I also know a girl Ashleigh whose around the same age, possibly 7.
I know two male Ashleys who are 17 and 19, and a female Ashleigh who is 20.
In England Ashley for a boy is ranking just outside the top 200. It doesn't rank for girls.
Ashleigh for a girl ranks 342 and doesn't rank for boys.
I know two male Ashleys who are 17 and 19, and a female Ashleigh who is 20.
In England Ashley for a boy is ranking just outside the top 200. It doesn't rank for girls.
Ashleigh for a girl ranks 342 and doesn't rank for boys.
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It's not all the way out of fashion. I still run across children named Ashley now and then. It's not my style but it's an okay name.
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Here's the popularity chart for the US over time:
http://www.behindthename.com/top/name/ashley/us?viewing=graph
I'm not a huge fan of Ashley on a girl. It's not a bad name. I just personally like it better on a boy and I wish I saw it more there. I definitely like it more than a lot of what's on trend lately though.
http://www.behindthename.com/top/name/ashley/us?viewing=graph
I'm not a huge fan of Ashley on a girl. It's not a bad name. I just personally like it better on a boy and I wish I saw it more there. I definitely like it more than a lot of what's on trend lately though.
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This, entirely!
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