Ailis
A feminine Irish name meaning "noble" or "from the noble one".
Name Census estimates that about 225 living Americans carry the first name Ailis. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ailis today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ailis births was 2017 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ailis. 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.
People living today
225
~ 1 in 1,523,353 Americans
Peak year
2017
22 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2022 SSA rank
#12,278
Tracked since 1990
Popularity
Ailis: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ailis from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 97 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2010s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ailis 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 Ailis during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Ailis' live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ailis
The name Ailis originates from the Gaelic language, derived from the Old Irish name Ailís, which is the Irish form of the French name Alice. The name Ailís itself is believed to have roots in the Germanic name Adalhaidis, composed of the elements "adal" meaning "noble" and "haid" meaning "kind, sort, or type."
Ailis was a popular name in medieval Ireland, particularly among the Gaelic nobility. It was a common practice for Irish families to adopt and Gaelicize names of European origin, often adjusting the spelling and pronunciation to suit the Irish language. The name Ailis became a part of this tradition, gradually gaining prominence in Irish culture.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ailis can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In these annals, an entry from the year 1032 mentions an "Ailis ingen Amlaim" (Ailis, daughter of Amhalghaidh), who was the wife of the King of Uí Fiachrach.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Ailis. One such figure was AilisNí Dhalaigh (c. 1200-1275), an Irish noblewoman and poet from County Meath. She was renowned for her contributions to the Irish literary tradition and is considered one of the earliest known female poets in Ireland.
Another prominent figure was Ailis Ní Bhriain (c. 1350-1420), a member of the powerful Ó Briain dynasty in County Clare. She played a significant role in the political affairs of the region and was known for her diplomatic skills and leadership.
In the 16th century, Ailis Ní Chonchubhair (c. 1520-1590) was a notable figure from County Sligo. She was the wife of Tadhg Ó Ruairc, a prominent chieftain, and was known for her patronage of the arts and literature.
The name Ailis also found its way into religious circles. Ailis Ní Dhónaill (c. 1620-1680) was a nun and writer from County Donegal, who is remembered for her spiritual works and poetry.
In more recent times, Ailis Ní Ríordáin (1906-1940) was an Irish language scholar and educator from County Kerry. She made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of the Irish language and its literature.
While the name Ailis has its roots in ancient Irish history, it has maintained a presence throughout the centuries, carried by individuals from various walks of life, including poets, nobility, religious figures, and scholars. The name's enduring legacy reflects its deep connections to the rich cultural tapestry of Ireland.
People
Ailis + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ailis 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
Ailis: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ailis?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 225 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ailis 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 1,523,353 US residents.
Is Ailis a common name?
We classify Ailis as "Very Rare". It ranks above 75.7% 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 Ailis most popular?
The single biggest year for Ailis was 2017, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ailis is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ailis a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ailis 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.
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.