Ashleigh vs Ashley
Ashleigh and Ashleycompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2005, Ashleigh was ranked #87 and Ashley #45 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Ashleigh was ranked #72 and Ashley #49 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2009, Ashleigh was ranked #3227 and Ashley #154 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Ashleigh was ranked #363 and Ashley #363 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Ashleigh was ranked #764 and Ashley #661 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ashleigh was ranked #1819 and Ashley #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashleigh and Ashley over time
Ashleigh and Ashley appear together in 6 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Ashleigh held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ashley in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ashley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ashleigh in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Ashley moved ahead of Ashleigh in New Zealand · Girls — #51 and #59 the year before became #89 and #44.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ashleigh and Ashley changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1985 and 2005, ending at #87 and #45.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ashleigh and Ashley averaged 13.2 places apart, ending at #87 and #45.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashleigh and Ashley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 37 years, from 1971 to 2021, ending at #764 and #661.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Ashley #152 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls37 shared years, 1971–2021
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Ashley in 34.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #162 in 1995, Ashley #128 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Ashleigh #764, Ashley #661.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Ashley in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #58 in 1996, Ashley #152 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Ashley moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #796 and #1063; by 2020 that had become #1100 and #749.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ashleigh #1819, Ashley #1406.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1985–2005
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Ashley in 5.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #13 in 1993, Ashley #17 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Ashleigh #87, Ashley #45.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1986–2005
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Ashley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #8 in 1992, Ashley #23 in 1991.
The order changed in 2004: Ashley moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #51 and #59; by 2004 that had become #89 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Ashleigh #72, Ashley #49.
England and Wales · Boys12 shared years, 1996–2009
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Ashley in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #402 in 1996, Ashley #40 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Ashleigh #3227, Ashley #154.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2011
Ashleigh held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Ashley in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ashleigh #87 in 1997, Ashley #127 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ashleigh #363, Ashley #363.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Ashleigh | Ashley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | Used for both boys and girls |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1819 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 53/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ashleigh and Ashley both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashleigh
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #417 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2005
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2005).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1819 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Ashley
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2011
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1985–2011).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls