Find out how popular the first name Ainsley has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ainsley by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Ainsley is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 98% of people named Ainsley being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 496 female babies and 9 male babies born with the name Ainsley.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby boys were named Ainsley in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ainsley

The name Ainsley originated from an English surname that derived from a place name, Annesley, in Nottinghamshire, England. The name Annesley comes from the Old English words "anne" meaning "solitary" and "ley" meaning "meadow" or "clearing." The name Ainsley likely emerged as a variant spelling of the surname during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ainsley dates back to the 13th century, when a person named Ainsley de Annesley was mentioned in the Testa de Nevill, a record of land holdings in England. The name continued to be used primarily as a surname throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era.

The first recorded use of Ainsley as a given name appears to be in the late 19th century. One of the earliest known individuals with the first name Ainsley was Ainsley Armstrong (1886-1962), a Canadian politician who served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada.

Other notable individuals named Ainsley throughout history include:

1. Ainsley Harriott (born 1957), a British chef, television presenter, and author.
2. Ainsley Maitland-Niles (born 1997), an English professional football player.
3. Ainsley Earhardt (born 1976), an American television personality and author.
4. Ainsley Candrich (1898-1983), an American film director and screenwriter.
5. Ainsley Gommon (born 1972), a Canadian actress and singer.

While the name Ainsley has its roots in England, it has gained popularity as a given name in various English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia. The name has been used for both males and females, although it is more commonly given to girls in recent decades.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ainsley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ainsley, please contact us.

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