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Ayla-Mae

Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ayla-Mae: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2025.

Originally from the Hebrew "elah" meaning "oak tree" or "terebinth," Ayla also draws from the Turkish “ayla” for “halo of light” or “moonlight,” while Mae is a Scottish and English short form of Mary or simply the month of May, symbolising spring and renewal. The name gained modern recognition through the prehistoric heroine Ayla in Jean M. Auel’s Earth’s Children novels, though no real historical bearer of the compound Ayla-Mae stands out. The first element shares its root with the ancient city of Ayla (modern Aqaba) on the Red Sea. In Scotland, hyphenated names like Ayla-Mae have become increasingly common since the 1990s, blending nature-inspired softness with the timeless charm of Mae, often used as a family honour name.