Why do people think Ashley is a girls name?

Question

I have a cousin named Ashley and he's a boy, and I knew several boys in my graduating class named Ashley. But some people were listing best names for girls, and they listed Ashley.

What gives? To me Ashley sounds too masculine to be a girls name. Especially when its shortened to "Ash".

By the way, I am from the South, so it might be more common for Ashley to be used as a boy's name.

But to me, Ashley on a girl sounds kinda stupid. On a boy it sounds really neat.

Answer 1

Because they have not seen the movie or read the book "Gone With the Wind."

Answer 2

Ashley was originally a boy's name, but it fell out of fashion for them and into fashion for girls a long time ago. When I hear the name Ashley, I think of it as feminine. Even Ashley Wilkes, probably the most famous literary male to ever bear that name, could act sort of prissy or girly sometimes.

Answer 3

Because Ashley is usually always a girl name, and its the most common girl name. I have too many girl friends that names are Ashley.

It can be both a girls name or a boys name....but its mostly more common as a girls name...its wierd I know.

Answer 4

Because in the late 70s and 80s, it was a typical girl name. Also consider: Ashley Olsen is a girl, and she is very famous (for having a stupid git of a twin sister, but whatever).

Answer 5

Here in the UK Ashley is mostly used as a girls name .. never heard of a boy called that here but i have heard of a Stacey for a boy !!

Answer 6

Both genders can use that name. I've known a lot of girly girls with their name Ashley. The ley part really makes it seem like a girls name.

Answer 7

Sounds kinda preepy and feminine i noe guys with the name ashley like ashley parker angel, whats ur first thought when u rea his ame without noeing the person or seeing a picture u automatically believe there a grl cause its very common among grls,

Answer 8

because generally Ashley is used as a girls nam but Ash is more of a boys

Answer 9

I think "Ash" is actually short for Ashton, like Ashton Kutcher, or Kucher, or whatever. Ashley, I'm sorry to say, is much, MUCH more common as a girl's name, but it doesn't mean it can't be a guy's name. If you want to know WHY, you should probably wikipedia it.

Answer 10

I think of it as a girls name, because all the Ashleys that I knew were girls, except for one and he was teased mercilessly about it.

Answer 11

What country are you from? I've never met a boy named Ashley, but have known a girl by that name. Asher is a boy's name.