Ashlee

Meaning of Ashlee

Ashlee, a feminine given name rooted in Old English, derives from the elements æsc, meaning “ash tree,” and lēah, meaning “clearing.” Initially attested as a unisex toponym in medieval England, the Ashlee spelling emerged in the late 20th century as an orthographic adaptation reflecting contemporary naming conventions. Within Anglo-American cultural contexts, the name conveys associations of natural resilience—evoking the sturdy ash timber long prized for its strength—and the pastoral calm of a forest glade. United States birth records chart its rise to prominence in the late 1980s, peaking at rank 112 in 1987, before a gradual descent to rank 915 in 2024, while its pronunciation (/æʃˈli/) has remained remarkably consistent throughout its usage.