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Name Lineage

    The first name Ashby

    A unisex name from English meaning “ashtree”, “farm”, “town”.

    2 syllables Unisex Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    English origin

    Ashby means “ashtree”, “farm”, “town” in English.

    From Old English æsċ (“ashtree”) + Old Norse býr (“farm, town”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    Ashby last appeared in the official list in 2017, given to 5 boys. It peaked in 2010, with 5 births (#3,332).

    0510 1996200020052010201520202025
    19
    babies named Ashby, 1996–2025
    #3,449
    rank in 2017
    2010
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ashby with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Ashby at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 13 boys born in the United States were named Ashby, the 6,481st most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2011, when 34 were.

    02040 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    2,398
    babies named Ashby since 1880
    #6,481
    rank in 2025
    2011
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Ashbee
    • Ashbey

    Famous people named Ashby

    2 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Chalmers Johnson
      American political scientist (1931–2010)
    • Maxwell Armfield
      English artist (1881-1972)

    More English unisex names

    All 216 names of English origin

    Questions

    What does the name Ashby mean?
    Ashby means “ashtree”, “farm”, “town” in English.
    What is the origin of the name Ashby?
    From Old English æsċ (“ashtree”) + Old Norse býr (“farm, town”).
    How popular is the name Ashby?
    In 2017, 5 boys born in England and Wales were named Ashby, ranking 3,449th. Its peak was 2010, with 5 births.
    Is Ashby a boy's or a girl's name?
    Both. Of the 2,398 US babies named Ashby since 1880, 31% were girls and 69% boys.
    When was Ashby most popular?
    2011 in the United States, when 34 babies were named Ashby, its highest rank at 4,258th.
    What are other spellings of Ashby?
    Ashbee and Ashbey.
    Is Ashby also a surname?
    Yes. Ashby is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.