Declining since 2009, #5,099 for girls today.
Popularity of Ailey since 1992
Babies named Ailey per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 30 |
| 2000s | 302 |
| 2010s | 499 |
| 2020s | 138 |
Meaning & origin
Ailey is a modern American coinage that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1992. Despite its relatively recent origin, it saw a notable rise in popularity, reaching its peak rank of 5,099 in 2009. Since then, its usage has been on a steady decline. In 2025, the name had a frequency of about 1 in 64,291, with the highest concentration in California. The name's appeal lies in its soft, melodic sound and its similarity to more established names like Ayla and Hailey. Ailey remains a distinctive choice, though it has yet to achieve widespread recognition outside the United States.
Ailey is a 20th-century coinage, emerging in the United States in the early 1990s. It likely derives from the name Ayla or as a respelling of similar-sounding names like Eileen or Hailey. Its rise in usage reflects a broader trend of creating novel, phonetic spellings of established names. The name may also be influenced by the surname Ailey, notably associated with choreographer Alvin Ailey.
Where Ailey is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ailey” around the world
Where Ailey lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
15
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Sibling names for Ailey
Names that share Ailey's style, for a brother or sister.
