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I can’t really fathom why this name was so common in the 80’s because it seems like such a mid name, but it has a soft and pretty sound to it. I agree it’s youthful but personally I haven’t heard of many good Ashley’s.

I don't mind it, though it's still considered fairly dated in the US. I agree that it comes off as youthful and sounds a bit comical on an older person (no offense, older Ashleys!) I prefer Aisling (and most of its variant spellings) and Audrey.

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I don't like it for a boy, I think it's been pretty long since it had that usage and I don't see it coming back. I'd go with Asher, Ashton, Alistair, or Avery (still holding at unisex) instead for a boy.

This message was edited 7/25/2022, 10:37 PM

Oh gosh, Ashley. This is one of "the names" of my generation. If I were to make a list of "the names," it would probably be this:

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Amanda
Angela (and I only knew one my age who went by Angie)
Ashley (any spelling)
Brianna (any spelling)
Brittany (any spelling)
Cassandra "Cassie"
Courtney
Hannah
Jasmine
Jessica "Jessie" / "Jess"
Kayla
Lauren
Megan
Nicole "Nikki"
Rachel
Samantha
Sarah (with the occasional Sara)
Stephanie
Taylor
Tiffany (with the occasional Tiffani)
&
Alexander "Alex" (Xander did not catch on yet)
Andrew "Andy" ("Drew" did not catch on yet)
Benjamin "Ben"
Brandon (especially in the Midwest)
Brian
Christopher "Chris"
Daniel "Danny"
David "Dave"
Matthew "Matt"
Michael "Mike"
Ryan
Timothy "Tim"
Tyler
William "Will"

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Aside from the fact that I've grown up around way too many people with this name (who would probably all be between 25 and 35 years old), I've just never liked the name - or any "Ash" name at all. Makes me think of ash trays and barren wastelands.

It's pretty but very 80s/90s. It was incredibly popular.

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I prefer Ashley too. I strongly dislike Ashli and Ashlee. I don't like Ashleigh and Ashlie but they are better.

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I think Aisling is nicer and more interesting (unless you are in Ireland where it was very common).

Tbh? I don’t get why so many people here think this is for boys. It was originally a last name and barely gained popularity with them, but then skyrocketed for girls. The sound is pretty feminine too.

It's pretty average, far as 80's-90's names go. I prefer it for girls, (More accustomed to it, although I did have a male relative named this once. An uncle on my mother's side (Born maybe during the 1930's, so well before it became trendy), and although I never met him, I've heard countless stories about him, and how he was referred to by "Uncle Ashy"
I'm partial to the original spelling of Ashley as well. The others are made-up and seem really phony. Just an overall fail. If I see variants such as Ashlee, Ashli, Ashlie or Ashleigh, I'm gonna assume that the parents tried way too hard to seem unique. And the ironic thing is, it's still gonna be the same popular name (Maybe not so much now), regardless of spelling. All they're doing is creating unnecesary confusion for the person with the name who will have to go through their whole life correcting people.

This message was edited 7/24/2022, 11:34 AM

I like it, especially on men, but it's fine on women too.

You know, now that I don't hear it as often, I'm actually starting to think it's sort of pretty. I can see why it got popular. Aisling is definitely pretty.

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But it has that tacky 90s patina still sticking to it. It's not appealing.

I think Ashley sounds masculine so I prefer it on a boy. For a girl, I think I would use Aisling.

The longer I encounter this name in the world, the more I think I actually prefer it on a boy.

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I was born in '93 and and I grew up toward the end of the era of Ashley, I think, but even then it was ubiquitous. I always the the "sh" and "l" sounds together sounded harsh and rather ugly.

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I have a hard time envisioning it on anyone approaching middle-age. I also know a young girl, maybe 5 or 6, with the name, and it seems out of place on her, too.

I actually much prefer it on a boy if it’s going to be used at all. For a girl, I find Ashlyn a lot more appealing.

It’s young but getting dated fast. Seems like a very 80s/90s name, I struggle to imagine it on a 60 -yo but also on a small child or even a teenager.

I knew three brothers who must be in their 70s by now: they were Dorian, Ashley and Mark. English-speaking South Africans.

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Probably because of them, I assume that Ashley is masculine, though I remember making up stories in bed, when I couldn't sleep as a child, which featured two sisters called Ashley and Rachael. I don't think I'd ever met anyone with either name, so it must have come from something I read.

It’s okay. I like it better for a girl than a boy but it seems dated to the 80s.

I prefer Ashley on a boy, which was more common when & where I grew up. It’s okay on a girl I guess but I see it as old-fashioned for girls at least in the US. Very 80s.

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I’m actually quite partial to Ashleigh on a girl, and Ashlee doesn’t upset me.

I always liked it. It was a toss-up between Ashley and Valerie when our daughter was born.
I've cooled on it a bit over time, it's no longer in my top ... whatever, but I still like it and think it is youthful even though it isn't as wildly popular as it used to be. It makes a nice mn too.