NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Aylish

A rare feminine name of possible Celtic origin with an uncertain meaning.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2004. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Aylish is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aylish popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2004 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4598, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 9 births.

This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1996 to 2004. 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 33% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Aylish. 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 2005 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Aylish ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales in 2004, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1996, when 9 girls were registered as Aylish.
  • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aylish as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4598

2004

Births in 2004

3

Latest year

Peak year

1996

9 births

Estimated living

27

2026

Meaning

What does Aylish mean?

The name Aylish has its origins in the ancient Gaelic language, rooted in the Celtic cultures of Ireland and Scotland. It dates back to the 5th century AD, during the era of early medieval Ireland. The name is derived from the Old Irish word "ailís," which means "noble" or "gentle."

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Aylish can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history written in the 17th century. It refers to Aylish of Armagh, a 6th-century Irish noblewoman and patron of the arts, who is credited with commissioning the Book of Armagh, a 9th-century illuminated manuscript containing the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament in Latin.

In the 9th century, Aylish mac Craith was a renowned Irish poet and scholar who lived during the Viking Age. His work, "The Lament for the Sons of Usnech," is considered one of the finest examples of early Irish literature.

During the High Middle Ages, Aylish Ó Cuinn was a 12th-century Irish chieftain and leader of the Uí Briúin Bréifne dynasty. He is remembered for his military exploits and his role in the Irish-Norman wars.

In the late medieval period, Aylish Bán was a 15th-century Irish harpist and composer from County Mayo. Her compositions were highly regarded and contributed to the preservation of traditional Irish music during a time of cultural upheaval.

Moving forward to the 17th century, Aylish O'Reilly was an Irish noblewoman and landowner from County Cavan. She is notable for her involvement in the Irish Confederate Wars, where she provided financial and logistical support to the Irish Catholic forces fighting against the English Parliamentary forces.

These are just a few examples of notable historical figures who bore the name Aylish, showcasing its rich cultural heritage and enduring legacy throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Aylish over time

The chart below shows babies named Aylish registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2004. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Aylish, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2004, compared with 9 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Aylish
02579199620002004

Decades

Aylish by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aylish 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
2000s #4598 3 1
1990s #2689 24 4

Related

Names similar to Aylish

FAQ

Aylish: questions and answers

How popular is the name Aylish in the UK right now?

In 2004, Aylish was ranked #4598 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Aylish most popular?

The peak year on record was 1996, with 9 babies registered as Aylish in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Aylish?

A rare feminine name of possible Celtic origin with an uncertain meaning.

How many people are called Aylish in the UK?

A total of 27 babies have been registered as Aylish across the 5 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.