UK girl's name
Aine
Feminine Irish Gaelic name meaning "radiant" or "splendid".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Aine is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aine popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1491, with 21 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 43 births.
This profile covers 843 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland 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.
The latest count is about 49% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,957 living people in the UK are called Aine. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Aine ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 21 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 43 girls were registered as Aine.
- • Aine ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #169 in 2024.
- • About 1,957 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aine as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1491
2024
Births in 2024
21
Latest year
Peak year
2000
43 births
Estimated living
1,957
2026
Meaning
What does Aine mean?
The name Aine originates from Irish Gaelic culture and is derived from the Old Irish word "aon", meaning "radiant" or "joyous". It is the name of the ancient Celtic goddess of summer, wealth, and sovereignty, who was associated with the sun, fair weather, and fertility.
Aine was a prominent figure in Irish mythology, appearing in various ancient tales and legends. One of the most well-known references is in the medieval Irish text "The Wooing of Emer", where she is portrayed as a beautiful and powerful deity who grants prosperity and abundance to those who honor her.
The earliest recorded use of the name Aine dates back to the 9th century, as evidenced by inscriptions and medieval Irish manuscripts. Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne this name.
One of the most famous was Aine Ní Dhonnabháin (1907-1988), an Irish language writer and teacher who played a crucial role in preserving and promoting Irish culture and literature. Her works, including novels, short stories, and poetry, were widely acclaimed and influential.
Another notable figure was Aine Ní Ghallchobhair (1940-2022), an Irish singer and folk musician who helped revive and popularize traditional Irish music. She was renowned for her rich voice and her ability to captivate audiences with her renditions of ancient ballads and songs.
In the realm of politics, Aine Brady (born 1959) is a prominent Irish politician who served as a member of the European Parliament and has been a strong advocate for human rights and environmental issues.
Aine Ni Mhuiri (1922-2011) was a renowned Irish artist and sculptor, known for her intricate and expressive works that often depicted scenes from Irish mythology and folklore.
Aine Ní Ghlinn (1942-2018) was a respected Irish academic and linguist who made significant contributions to the study and preservation of the Irish language and its dialects.
These individuals, spanning various fields and eras, have all played a role in carrying forward the legacy and cultural significance of the name Aine, which continues to be cherished and celebrated in Irish culture today.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aine over time
The chart below shows babies named Aine registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Aine, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 21 births in 2024, compared with 43 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aine by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1290 | 128 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1338 | 264 | 10 |
| 2000s | #888 | 325 | 10 |
| 1990s | #743 | 126 | 4 |
Geography
Where Aine is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Aine. 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.
Aine ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #169 in 2024.
Across the UK
Aine in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#790 in 2024
28 years of NRS records, 149 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#169 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 976 total registered
Related
Names similar to Aine
- 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
Aine: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aine in the UK right now?
In 2024, Aine was ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales, with 21 births registered.
When was Aine most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 43 babies registered as Aine in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aine?
Feminine Irish Gaelic name meaning "radiant" or "splendid".
How many people are called Aine in the UK?
A total of 843 babies have been registered as Aine across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 149 more in Scotland and 976 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Aine most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Aine ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #169 in 2024. 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.