Given name & surname
Ailey
“light-bearer”·“from the green meadow”
Ailey is a variant of Aileen. Interpretations include “light-bearer” and “from the green meadow”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Ailey is a variant of Aileen. Interpretations include “light-bearer” and “from the green meadow”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Ailey is a variant of Aileen. Aileen has been associated with Irish and Scottish naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1992. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Ailey through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 969
- 0 boys · 969 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 71 babies
- 2025
- 25
- #5,104 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −41%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 25 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,104 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 40.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 71 in 2008. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 800 as a first name in 2020; 899 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Ailey, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Aylena
“from the oak tree”
>99% girls
Dayana
“resembling a bird of prey”
>99% girls
Brinley
“from the burnt meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Yasmeen
“resembling the jasmine flower”
>99% girls
Galilea
“from the sacred sea”
>99% girls
Brinli
“from the burnt meadow”
>99% girls
Laryn
“crowned with laurel; from the laurel tree”
>99% girls
Butterfly
Butterfly is used as a given name and a surname. One American interpretation is “resembling a beautiful and colorful winged insect.”
>99% girls