The name Ashley has its origins in the Old English language, derived from the combination of two words: "æsc" meaning ash tree, and "leah" meaning meadow or clearing. It was initially used as a surname, referring to someone who lived near an ash tree meadow or a place where ash trees grew abundantly.

During the Middle Ages, the name Ashley gained popularity as a masculine given name in England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions an individual named Ashley de Loges.

The name Ashley has a long history, and various notable figures have borne this name throughout the centuries. One of the earliest recorded examples is Sir Ashley Oldbear, a 13th-century English knight who fought in the Crusades.

In the 16th century, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621-1683), was a prominent English politician and philosopher who played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Another notable Ashley was Lord Ashley (later known as the 7th Earl of Shaftesbury), a 19th-century social reformer and philanthropist who worked to improve the lives of children and factory workers in England. He was born in 1801 and died in 1885.

In the literary world, Ashley Wilkes was a fictional character in Margaret Mitchell's classic novel "Gone with the Wind," published in 1936. He was the unrequited love interest of the main character, Scarlett O'Hara.

Sir Ashley Clarke (1903-1994) was a British engineer and inventor who made significant contributions to the development of radar technology during World War II.

While traditionally a masculine name, Ashley has gained popularity as a feminine name in the 20th century, particularly in the United States and other English-speaking countries. However, its historical roots trace back to its Old English origins as a surname and later as a masculine given name.