Ashby is an English surname and given name of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words 'æsc' meaning 'ash tree', and 'bī' which means 'settlement'. This name was likely originally given to a person who lived in or near an ash tree grove or settled by an ash tree. It is often associated with places named Ashby, such as Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, England. In the Middle Ages, Ashby was typically used as a surname, but it has also been used as a given name for both boys and girls since the 19th century.
The name Ashby experienced fluctuating popularity over the years, with significant spikes occurring periodically. The peak years for the name were during World War I and immediately after, with 31 births in 1918 and 24 births in 1926. However, since the 1950s, the number of births with the name Ashby has consistently been low, rarely exceeding double digits. In recent years, it appears that the name is less commonly chosen for newborns, with only 9 births recorded in 2022 and 12 births in 2023. Overall, from 1880 to 2023, there were a total of 1626 babies named Ashby.