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Aela

Girl name · 73 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Aela: 73 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 10 births in 2015.

The name Aela is of Old English and Norman origin, ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "of noble kind" or "noble one," sharing lineage with the name Alice. In modern times, it is best known through the fierce and skilled archer Aela the Huntress from the video game *The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim*, whose Norse-inspired character has given the name a strong, independent association. While no direct Scottish places share the name, its sound echoes the Gaelic *Aileas*, a Scottish form of Alice. Aela is also a variant of the Scandinavian name Aila, meaning "from the strong place." Notably, while rare on birth registers until recently, its appearance has steadily risen in Scotland since 2015, reflecting a broader trend toward short, vowel-rich names with a mythical, outdoorsy feel.