Ashli is a unique and distinctive female given name of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the Hebrew word "ash" which means "happiness". The name Ashli is believed to have been popularized by American author J.D. Salinger, who used it in his novel "The Catcher in the Rye". In the book, Ashli is portrayed as a character who is both intelligent and independent, characteristics that may contribute to the name's appeal. While not extensively used, the name Ashli has gained some recognition over time due to its association with the famous literary work. It is also notable for being a unisex name, as it can be given to either boys or girls. Overall, Ashli is an uncommon yet meaningful name that carries a hint of happiness and intellectualism.
The name Ashli has seen varied popularity over the past five decades in the United States. With only six births recorded in 1970, it began as a relatively uncommon name. However, its usage grew significantly in the following years, reaching a peak of 356 births in 1989.
This trend continued into the 1990s, with Ashli remaining quite popular throughout the decade, although there was some fluctuation in its popularity. The highest point during this period was in 1995, with 252 births recorded that year.
However, from the late 1990s onwards, there has been a noticeable decline in the usage of the name Ashli. By 2007, it had decreased to just 44 births, and this downward trend continued until 2012 when only 11 births were recorded.
Since then, the popularity of Ashli has stabilized at a consistently low level. Between 2012 and 2023, the number of births with the name Ashli has hovered between six and nine annually, indicating that it is now quite rare.
In total, there have been 5708 babies named Ashli in the United States over these years, showing a clear trend of increasing popularity during its peak periods and decreasing usage in recent decades.