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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Surely this is more of a girls name, no?

31 replies

redandchecker · 06/05/2014 11:43

I like Ashleigh for a girl. Really like it, really pretty.
Everyone asks me if I've thought of any names and I say that I really like Ashleigh and they respond with 'yeah that's nice, for a boy?' No! A girl! And then I get, oh no, definitely a boys name Confused

I don't know what I'm having yet, but if i was to be having a girl, I would have chosen this one. I'm put off now! grr.

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AllDirections · 06/05/2014 11:45

Ashley for a boy and Ashleigh for a girl. DD1 was Ashleigh for a day Smile

ramonaquimby · 06/05/2014 11:46

I only knew Ashley/Ashleigh as a girls name until I moved to the UK. Am from Canada. I now think of it as an effeminate boys name. (Rightly or wrongly.........!)

Original poster
redandchecker · 06/05/2014 11:52

I think it's because I only know girls as Ashleighs, it sounds very girly to me!

Think I'll have to scrap this one Sad

OP posts:
MerryMarigold · 06/05/2014 11:55

Personally I'd say it's a bit 1994, but...it is a girl's name in my book. I used to know a boy called Leigh who thought he was a cut above the boys called Lee. (He was very pretentious).

EhricLovesTheBhrothers · 06/05/2014 11:57

I think it's a girl's name, a version of Ashley (m). However, it's also fugly and as Merry says, very dated.

meditrina · 06/05/2014 11:59

Out loud it's unisex.

It was the name of a male character in Corrie, spelt Ashley (Peacock) and I've known a male Ashley in RL.

Spelt Ashleigh, I'd assume a girl.

meditrina · 06/05/2014 12:00

Oh, and the most famous/enduring male with the name is Ashley Wilkes in Gone With The Wind.

TheScience · 06/05/2014 12:06

I think of Ashley as a boy's name, and don't really like the Leigh spelling.

How about Aisling or Aislinn for a similar sound?

Blueberrybaby · 06/05/2014 12:12

Traditionally it's Ashley for a boy and Ashleigh for a girl. Having said that I'm in Canada also and know a female Ashley so the rules aren't set in stone. That said I don't think you would find many male Ashleigh's - that particular spelling seems to be reserved for females. If you like it I would go for it.

SanityClause · 06/05/2014 12:12

Ashley was very much a boys name when I was growing up in Australia.

But I know it's quite popular as a girls' name in North America, so I suppose it's actually quite unisex now.

Names like Evelyn, Jocelyn, Leslie and Shirley used to be considered male names, but are now considered to be female names, so maybe the same will happen with Ashley.

Titsalinabumsquash · 06/05/2014 12:15

I know quite a few female and males with that name, all spelt various ways.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 06/05/2014 12:23

Ashley or Ash is a boy I know. The only girl I ever met of that name spelled her name Ashleigh. That was in the late 1970's so even earlier than MerryMarigold*'s recollection so maybe it's coming round again in 20 year cycles Smile

Anyway it's nice not to have a top ten name if none especially appeals.

I was used to Jordan being a boy's name long before I met a female Jordan but adapted pretty fast. And don't even mention the whole Darcy/Darcey thing. I'm sure people will accept your baby's name when s/he is introduced.

Original poster
redandchecker · 06/05/2014 12:24

I think I will leave it even if I like it as it's confused enough people already so wouldn't want a child to have to put up with that forever!
Unfortunately don't like Aisling or Aislinn

The baby naming malarky is bloody hard work, my DN wasn't named until he was 6 weeks old!

OP posts:
MrsTaraPlumbing · 06/05/2014 12:27

If I heard someone using that name I would think they were speaking about a boy.
But I think it is OK as a girls name.

mammaof4girls · 06/05/2014 12:35

I know of one little girl who is 6 called ashleigh rose. my DH is called ashley which his mum told me was going to be his name if he was a girl or a boy. my dd has the middle name ashley which I chose as we have all girls and wanted one of them to have dhs name, but most girls I have seen have the leigh spelling. I think if you love it use it dont let people put you off! x

manicinsomniac · 06/05/2014 16:25

In the UK it's unisex but, imo, slightly more used for boys.

In the US/Canada it is a girl's name only.

I currently know a baby girl Ashley but her mum is Canadian.

All the Ashleys I knew growing up were boys.

I quite like it for either gender

Bowlersarm · 06/05/2014 16:26

It's a boys name for me.

weatherall · 06/05/2014 17:28

I think of it as a girls name.

Never seen it spelt other than Ashley before.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 06/05/2014 17:59

I like Ashley for a boy.

Only know Aisling as girls' name.

TheScience · 06/05/2014 18:30

Aisling is definitely a girls' name Remus.

chocchips · 07/05/2014 10:48

I know a few Ashleys, two male four female. Three are Ashleigh, one is Ashley. Based on the spelling I would assume a girl :)

WhereHas1999DissappearedToo · 07/05/2014 12:04

I'm from NZ and my niece is called Ashlee and she's mid twenties and a friend of DD's was called Ashlie who would be about 14. I've always thought of Ashleigh as a girls name and never known any boys called Ashley or any variations.

I really like the spelling Ashlee best as it seems very pretty, but that maybe due to my niece being very pretty! and less 90s/80s compared to Ashleigh.

NigellasDealer · 07/05/2014 12:10

Ashley = boy's name really tbh
how about Aisling?

Thurlow · 07/05/2014 12:15

I'd always see an Ashleigh as a girl. I like it. Sod 'em for not working it out. DD has a unisex name, it's not actually a problem.

SpawningSalmon · 08/05/2014 13:37

I also grew up in Australia and had only heard of female Ashleys until emigrating to England. To me it will always be a girls name.