I prefer it as a ln. As a fn, the first
Ashley I knew was male, so I prefer that. I dislike the sound and especially the look of
Aisling.
I taught a Chinese girl once whose Chinese name I forget; before she left Taiwan her English teacher there had given her
Susannah as her English name, but she'd never liked it. Someone - not me - suggested
Ashley and she liked it but was hesitant about the presence of ash! So I told her about ash trees and the meaning of -ley, and she cheered up and became a serene and confident
Ashley for ever after. Which was fine by me.