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Ailie

Girl name · 407 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ailie: 407 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 17 births in 1985.

For a name that feels both vintage and fresh, Ailie is a Scottish diminutive of Alice or Alison, ultimately from the Old French *Aalis* and Germanic *Adalheidis*, meaning “noble” or “of noble kind.” Though there are no globally famous Ailies in history, the name shares its roots with Princess Alice, Queen Victoria’s scholarly daughter, and with Alison, a classic Scottish favourite. You’ll also find the root in the place name Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, named after a queen consort. A lovely note: Ailie is often considered the Scottish equivalent of the English Ellie, yet it retains a distinctly Highland charm through its soft, two-syllable lilt.