ashley
n. countablen. a common name for a person. It is used for both men and women, though it is more common for women in many places today.
n. a given name of English origin, derived from a surname meaning 'ash tree clearing'. Historically used as a masculine name, it became predominantly feminine in the late 20th century in several English-speaking regions.
Ashley is my best friend from school.
The manager introduced Ashley as the new head of the marketing department during the morning meeting.
While the name Ashley was traditionally associated with male figures in nineteenth-century literature, contemporary usage has shifted its perception to be a quintessentially feminine identifier in North American contexts.
From Old English *Æsċlēah, composed of æsċ (“ash tree”) + lēah (“wood, clearing”). Equivalent to Ash + -ley.
As a proper noun, it is typically capitalized and used without an article unless referring to a specific person among others of the same name.