Ashleigh is a unique and beautiful female given name of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "æsc" which means "ash tree," and "leah," which refers to a wood or clearing. Therefore, Ashleigh can be interpreted as "from the ash tree meadow."
The name Ashleigh has been used for centuries in England, but it gained significant popularity during the late 20th century. It is often seen as a unisex name, although it is more commonly associated with females. Some variations of this name include Ashley, Aishling (Irish), and Ashlie.
Ashleigh was popularized by several notable figures throughout history. One famous bearer of the name was Ashleigh Ginsberg, an American ballet dancer who achieved great success in the mid-20th century. Her talent and dedication to her craft helped bring attention to this unique name.
In literature, Ashleigh has been used as a character name in various works. One example is in D.H. Lawrence's novel "The Virgin and the Gipsy," where Ashleigh is one of the main characters. This further contributed to the popularity and recognition of this name.
While Ashleigh may not be as common as some other names, it remains an appealing choice for parents looking for a distinctive yet meaningful name for their daughter. Its English origin and nature-inspired meaning make it a charming option that has stood the test of time.
The statistics you've provided show the annual number of births with the name Ashleigh in the United States over a span of nearly six decades, from 1966 to 2023.
From 1966 to 1975, the popularity of the name Ashleigh was relatively low, with fewer than 80 births each year. However, starting in 1976, there was a significant increase in its usage, reaching 131 births that year. This upward trend continued throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, peaking at 1276 births in 1985.
The name Ashleigh remained quite popular throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, with over a thousand births each year from 1983 to 1994. However, after 1994, its popularity began to decline steadily. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, fewer than a thousand babies were named Ashleigh each year.
In recent years, the name has continued to decrease in usage. From 2015 onwards, there have been less than 100 births each year with the name Ashleigh in the United States. In 2023, only 20 babies were given this name at birth.
In total, from 1966 to 2023, there were 31814 babies born in the United States named Ashleigh. This data provides insight into how the popularity of this name has changed over time and its current usage in the country.