UK girl's name
Avaley
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "plant of life".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Avaley is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Avaley popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5581, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2017 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Avaley. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Avaley ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 3 girls were registered as Avaley.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Avaley as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5581
2021
Births in 2021
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Avaley mean?
The given name Avaley has its origins in the ancient Celtic cultures of northwestern Europe. Derived from the Proto-Celtic word "avalos," meaning "apple," the name was originally a unisex name used among the Gauls, Britons, and other Celtic tribes. It was likely a reference to the apple's significance in Celtic mythology and its association with fertility and abundance.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Avaley dates back to the 5th century CE, where it appears in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient Irish chronicle. The entry mentions an "Avaley mac Conchobair," a prince of the Kingdom of Mide in what is now central Ireland.
In the 7th century, the name gained prominence with Avaley of Strathclyde, a powerful ruler of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde in what is now western Scotland. Avaley's reign was marked by his successful defense of his kingdom against the Northumbrian invaders, earning him a place in the annals of Scottish history.
During the Middle Ages, the name Avaley was popular among the nobility and ruling classes of various European regions with Celtic influences. One notable bearer was Avaley of Normandy (1035-1099), a Norman nobleman who fought alongside William the Conqueror in the Norman conquest of England in 1066.
In the 12th century, the name appeared in the works of the renowned Welsh poet and historian, Geoffrey of Monmouth. His chronicle "Historia Regum Britanniae" (History of the Kings of Britain) mentions an "Avaley ap Cadwaladr," a legendary British king said to have ruled in the 7th century.
Another prominent figure was Avaley de Montfort (1180-1265), a French nobleman and crusader who played a significant role in the Albigensian Crusade against the Cathars in southern France. He was known for his military prowess and his unwavering loyalty to the Catholic Church.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Avaley over time
The chart below shows babies named Avaley registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Avaley, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2021, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Avaley by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Avaley 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 | #5581 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5765 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Avaley
- 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
Avaley: questions and answers
How popular is the name Avaley in the UK right now?
In 2021, Avaley was ranked #5581 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Avaley most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 3 babies registered as Avaley in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Avaley?
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "plant of life".
How many people are called Avaley in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Avaley across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.