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I prefer Ashley. I think it has a lovely sound. I like it more on a boy than a girl, but I would still prefer a female Ashley to a Stephanie.

Both names are pretty, but I choose Stephanie because I am tired of hearing/seeing Ashley and Stephanie is prettier IMO. I don't see them as mom names because I've seen them on people around my age or younger. I never thought they were out of place.

This message was edited 3/12/2024, 6:07 PM

I love the name Stephanie! I think it is so pretty and soft! Ashley is harsher to me, so I'm not as much of a fan. One of my closest friends is named Stephanie, though, so I may be biased!

This message was edited 3/11/2024, 5:59 PM

I never liked Ashley but Ash is cute, and Stephanie is my given name but I go by Stevie cause I’m not a fan of Stephanie, much less being called Steph. :(

Stephanie seems like the name of someone born in the 70s. So potentially a grandma or auntie name. Ashley seems like a mom name. I don’t like either.

I'd use Stephanie just to get to use Stevie, which I like on a girl. I'd rather use Estefania "Stevie" though.

This message was edited 3/11/2024, 9:02 AM

Ashley. Unpopular opinion, but I dislike Stephanie, because I find it sounds too nasally, and I don't like the 'anie' ending, because I find it whiny. The feminization of this name also feels a little forced, and I'm not a huge fan of Stephen to begin with. Ashley is better in my book, because although overused, it has a softer sound to it which I prefer.
I see some people prefer Stephanie because of its longer history as a given name, but although Ashley became a feminine given name recently, it has a long history as a surname, so it's not just something that was invented a few decades ago.

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As for the thing about them being mom names, I usually picture them on a maybe late 20s-30s woman, so in that sense kind of, but I don't see them only as mom names, more just on grown women, early middle aged at most, though I see Stephanie as older than Ashley.

This message was edited 3/11/2024, 9:04 AM

I hate both but prefer Stephanie, which has more history than Ashley.

I am an older member of Gen Z, and I know 3 women named Ashley, who are my age (with an addition of one Ashlee). My cousin Stephanie is also turning 24 this year. I tend to think that these names as "mom names," nowadays; most are old enough to be mothers. Not like that's a bad thing, because they're perfectly acceptable names. I rather like both Ashley and Stephanie, with preference for Ashley (I also like the spelling Ashleigh).

My first impression is definitely elder millenial or gen x, but Stephanie seems like it could be younger. Ashley would be more surprising on a young kid.
I like them just based on sound if I imagine they've never been popular.

Stephanie is more appealing to me than Ashley.

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It's not only about sound and look of the name but also the history behind it. Stephanie is the feminine form of the ancient saint name of Stephen. Ashley is a surname that became a male first name and then a female first name and that path of usage isn't as attractive to me.

This message was edited 3/11/2024, 6:10 AM

Stephanie has a longer history as a fn than Ashley, which had a brief spell of popularity and then faded. I far prefer Stephanie, though I'd never use it because I'd rather use Stephen for a boy.
I taught a Taiwanese girl whose father was an international businessman; he wanted his son and daughter to be fluent in English and sent them to South Africa where his business had a branch. His employees looked after them, and he and his wife came out on business occasionally. In Taipei their English teachers had given them both English names: the boy was happy with his but his sister didn't enjoy Susannah. She told one of her Dad's employees, who suggested Ashley. She asked me what it meant, I told her, and she was very happy!

This message was edited 3/11/2024, 6:03 AM

I pick Stephanie and don't see them as mum names

It's so hard to decide because I love both names so much. ...If I had to choose, it would be Ashley.