Unisex name · English
Ainsley
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearingAinsley is a gender-neutral name that is of English origin: from a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing. It is used in Scottish and English.
- Meaning
- From a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing
- Origin
- English
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #483 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Ainsley
As a gender-neutral name, Ainsley is of English origin: from a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing. It is used in Scottish and English.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
How popular is Ainsley?
In 2025, 621 girls and 8 boys in the US were named Ainsley.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #483
- 621 babies, 386 per million girls
- Best rank
- #332 in 2013
- Most babies: 1,001 in 2014
- Babies since 1961
- At least 20,470
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 6 per million |
| 1980s | 21 per million |
| 1990s | 45 per million |
| 2000s | 345 per million |
| 2010s | 512 per million |
| 2020s | 396 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #344 | #352 | #399 | #478 | #355 | #364 | #507 | #598 | #704 | #483 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #8,935
- 8 babies, 5 per million boys
- Best rank
- #3,526 in 1987
- Most babies: 17 in 2015
- Babies since 1950
- At least 426
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 1 per million |
| 1970s | 2 per million |
| 1980s | 4 per million |
| 1990s | 2 per million |
| 2000s | 5 per million |
| 2010s | 6 per million |
| 2020s | 5 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #6,059 | #7,107 | #10,806 | – | #7,515 | #8,188 | #7,281 | #8,285 | – | #8,935 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- IngaNamed for Ing, a Germanic god (Old Norse, girl)
- CataleyaFrom cattleya, an orchid named for William Cattley (English, girl)
- MagnoliaFlower named for botanist Pierre Magnol (French, girl)
- AshleyAsh tree clearing (Old English, unisex)
- BentleyFrom a surname meaning bentgrass clearing (Old English, boy)
- BlakelyDark clearing (Old English, girl)
- BradleyBroad clearing (Old English, boy)
- CamelliaNamed for botanist Kamel (Latin, girl)
- DahliaFlower named for botanist Anders Dahl (Swedish, girl)
- EverleighVariant of Everly, from a place name meaning boar clearing (Old English, girl)
- EverlyBoar clearing (Old English, girl)
- HaileyHay clearing (Old English, girl)
- JuneSixth month, named for Juno (Latin, girl)
- KinsleyCyne's clearing, from cyne, royal (Old English, girl)
- LeeClearing, meadow (Old English, unisex)
Middle names for Ainsley
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More names from English
- LilianaLatinate form of Lillian, probably from Elizabeth or Lily (English, girl)
- SamanthaPerhaps a feminine form of Samuel with the suffix antha (English, girl)
- ArmstrongStrong in the arm (English, boy)
- EvelynFrom a surname derived from the given name Aveline (English, girl)
- HeatherHeather plant (English, girl)
- JacksonFrom a surname meaning son of Jack (English, boy)
- LillyVariant of Lily, the flower (English, girl)
- ScottFrom Scotland (English, boy)
- AceFrom the English word ace, highest rank (English, boy)
- AdairFrom a surname derived from Edgar (English, unisex)
- AddisonSon of Adam (English, girl)
- AloraVariant of Elora, probably invented; used in the film Willow (English, girl)
- AmoraApparently a modern coinage based on Latin amor, love (English, girl)
- AndersonSon of Andrew (English, boy)
- ArloMeaning uncertain; perhaps from Spenser's Arlo Hill (English, boy)
- AutumnFall season (English, girl)
- AyrtonSettlement on the River Aire (English, boy)
- BayA sheltered curve of coast (English, unisex)
Ainsley: common questions
What does the name Ainsley mean?
Ainsley is of English origin: from a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing.
Is Ainsley a boy or girl name?
Ainsley is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 621 girls and 8 boys in the US were named Ainsley, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Ainsley come from?
Ainsley is of English origin: from a place named for a solitary or hermitage clearing. Today it is used in Scottish and English.
How popular is the name Ainsley?
Ainsley ranked #483 in the US in 2025, with 621 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Ainsley?
Middle names that flow well with Ainsley include David, Finn, Gemma, Glenn and Henry. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.