UK girl's name
Ailise
An English feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Alice.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1996. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ailise is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ailise popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1996 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3795, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 1996 to 1996. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Ailise is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 9 living people in the UK are called Ailise. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 1997 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ailise ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales in 1996, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 girls were registered as Ailise.
- • Ailise ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #343 in 2001.
- • About 9 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ailise as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3795
1996
Births in 1996
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
9
2026
Meaning
What does Ailise mean?
The name Ailise traces its origins to the ancient Irish Gaelic language, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 5th century CE. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "ail," meaning "rock" or "stone," and the suffix "-is," which denotes a diminutive form. Thus, the name Ailise can be interpreted as "little rock" or "little stone."
In the early medieval period, the name Ailise gained popularity among the Celtic inhabitants of Ireland and parts of Scotland. It was often associated with strength, resilience, and a steadfast character, traits that were valued in the rugged landscapes and challenging conditions of the time.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Ailise can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of Irish history compiled by medieval monks. The entry from the year 536 CE mentions an Ailise, daughter of Ainmire, who was a member of the Uí Néill dynasty, one of the most powerful ruling families in ancient Ireland.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Ailise. In the 7th century, Ailise of Kildare was a renowned Irish princess and abbess who founded several monasteries and was renowned for her piety and charitable works. Ailise Nic Cormaic (c. 1090-1163) was a celebrated Irish poet and scholar who composed intricate verse in both Gaelic and Latin.
During the 12th century, Ailise de Lusignan (1182-1233) was a noblewoman from the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the second wife of King Hugh I of Cyprus. Her marriage played a crucial role in strengthening the political ties between the Crusader states and the island of Cyprus.
In more recent times, Ailise Rowan (1882-1964) was an Irish-American educator and activist who fought for women's rights and the preservation of Irish culture in the United States. Ailise Bulfin (1923-2008) was a renowned Irish harpist and composer who helped revive the tradition of Irish harp music in the 20th century.
While the name Ailise has seen a decline in popularity in recent decades, it remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Celtic nations and a reminder of the enduring legacy of ancient Gaelic language and traditions.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Ailise by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ailise was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3795 | 3 | 1 |
Geography
Where Ailise is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ailise. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Ailise ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #343 in 2001.
Across the UK
Ailise in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#343 in 2001
2 years of NISRA records, 6 total registered
Related
Names similar to Ailise
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Ailise: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ailise in the UK right now?
In 1996, Ailise was ranked #3795 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Ailise most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Ailise in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ailise?
An English feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly a variant of Alice.
How many people are called Ailise in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Ailise across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 6 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Ailise most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Ailise ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #343 in 2001. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.