How Ashley, Leslie, And Dana Shifted Between Boys And Girls

While some names seem timeless, others are evocative of a specific era. Gender associations can also shift as naming trends change. Some of the best-known examples are Ashley, Leslie, and Dana, all of which have crossed traditional gender lines over the years. 

Originally a last name, Ashley means "ash tree meadow." In the early 20th century, the name was more popular among boys, consistently landing on the U.S. Social Security Administration's top 1,000 baby names list – that is, until 1994, when it dropped off. On the other hand, as a girl's name, Ashley didn't make the list until 1964. By 1991, Ashley was the most popular female baby name in the country and remained in the top 10 for another 14 years. Today, despite its early roots as a boy's name, it remains popular as a girl's name, ranking No. 164 in 2025.

Leslie also started as a last name with Scottish origins, with diverse references to holly, the color gray, and forts. Although Leslie was used for early 20th-century girl names, it was more commonly a boy's moniker. During the baby boom, Leslie's popularity as a girls' name took off, and it hovered around the top 100 for decades, while the number of male Leslies steadily dwindled.

In contrast, the name Dana has been a unisex choice over the last 120-plus years, and has multiple meanings across cultures. Back in the 1940s, it was neck and neck, slightly more popular for girls one year, then boys another year. From 1963 to 1988, Dana made the top 100 for most popular girls' names — a level of success never reached as a boys' name. However, the name hasn't been a particularly common choice for 21st century kids of either gender.

Over the last 100 years, only about 3% of names made a notable gender shift, according to an analysis performed by data scientist Nathan Yau. In some cases, pop culture may be the catalyst. Ashley's '80s and '90s popularity coincides with the appearance of the female character Ashley Abbott on "The Young and the Restless." Fashion might have also played a role, since Laura Ashley clothing was everywhere during that same era.

During the baby boom era, when Ashley began to grow in popularity as a girl's name, Leslie Howard played Ashley in "Gone With the Wind," as well as starred in many other 1930s and 1940s films. Although his popularity didn't increase Leslie's appeal as a boys' name, he did inspire one female Leslie: Leslie Howard Bogart, daughter of Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall.

Similarly, there doesn't appear to be a clear cultural reason for the 20-plus years when female Danas were more numerous than male Danas. It's possible Dana Plato's popularity on "Diff'rent Strokes" could have been an influence for female Danas in the '70s and '80s. However, Dana Carvey's stardom on "Saturday Night Live" and "Wayne's World" didn't necessarily make Dana a more popular boys' name. Some people believe that once a name becomes predominantly associated as a girls' name, it appears less likely to be associated as a male name, which seems to be the case with Ashley and Leslie, as well as Dana.