Aelyn
A feminine name of English origin meaning "sun ray" or "halo of light".
Name Census estimates that about 226 living Americans carry the first name Aelyn. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Aelyn today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Aelyn births was 2024 (24 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Aelyn. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
For a British comparison, Name Census UK has a UK baby-name profile for Aelyn with official rankings and popularity over time.
People living today
226
~ 1 in 1,516,612 Americans
Peak year
2024
24 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#5,287
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Aelyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Aelyn from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 98 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aelyn by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Aelyn during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Aelyn
The name Aelyn is of Welsh origin, derived from the Welsh word "aelen," meaning "halo" or "bright light." This name gained popularity in the late 20th century, although its roots can be traced back to ancient Welsh culture and mythology.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aelyn can be found in the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh tales and legends. In these stories, Aelyn was often used as a name for characters associated with the sun, light, or celestial beings. The name's connection to brightness and radiance made it a popular choice for parents seeking a meaningful and symbolic name for their child.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Aelyn. One of the earliest recorded examples is Aelyn ap Rhys (c. 1170-1220), a Welsh prince and military leader who played a significant role in the Welsh resistance against Norman rule in the 12th century. His bravery and leadership during this tumultuous period earned him a place in Welsh folklore and history.
Another notable figure was Aelyn Pencarreg (c. 1380-1450), a renowned Welsh poet and bard who lived during the late Middle Ages. Her poetry celebrated the beauty of nature and the Welsh language, and her works remain influential in the preservation of Welsh literary traditions.
In the 16th century, Aelyn Gwynedd (c. 1520-1580) was a prominent figure in the Welsh Renaissance. As a scholar and translator, she played a crucial role in the promotion and preservation of Welsh literature and culture during a time of English dominance.
Fast-forwarding to the 19th century, Aelyn Roberts (1812-1888) was a Welsh philanthropist and social reformer who dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the working class in Wales. Her contributions to education and public health initiatives left a lasting impact on Welsh society.
More recently, Aelyn Culhane (1931-2018) was a renowned American actress and playwright. Born in New York City, she gained critical acclaim for her performances on Broadway and in numerous television and film productions, cementing her place as a respected figure in the world of American theater.
People
Aelyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Aelyn as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Aelyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Aelyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 226 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Aelyn going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 1,516,612 US residents.
Is Aelyn a common name?
We classify Aelyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 228 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Aelyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Aelyn was 2024, when 24 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Aelyn is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Aelyn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Aelyn a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Aelyn in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Aelyn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Aelyn in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Aelyn can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many Americans are named Aelyn?
See how many people share the name Aelyn on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.