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Ailis

Girl name · 37 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ailis: 37 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 7 births in 1997.

First heard in Scotland, Ailis is a Gaelic form of Alice, ultimately descending from the Old French *Aalis*, itself a diminutive of the Germanic name *Adalheidis*, meaning “noble” or “of noble kind.” A well-known bearer from Scottish history was Ailis (or Alice) Comyn, a 13th-century noblewoman connected to the powerful Comyn family who played a key role in the Wars of Scottish Independence. The name also shares etymological roots with the German place name Adelheid, though no major Scottish location takes its name directly from Ailis. Its Irish variant, Ailish, remains popular in both Ireland and Scotland, while the English form Alice has been a royal favourite for centuries. Ailis offers a lyrical, distinctly Celtic twist on a classic.