Aili, Aila

• Origin: Sami; Scottish
• Usage: Finnish, English, Estonian, Scottish
• Gender: Female
• Finnish & Estonian pron: (EYE-leh, EYE-lee; EYE-lah)
• Variation: Láilá (Sami)

Aila is a Finnish female name derived from the Sámi name Áile, likely a form of the Old Norse Helga, meaning “holy.” It has also been suggested to be an indigenous Sami name of unknown meaning. It has been recorded as a given-name among the Sami since at least the 17th-century and was later borrowed by the Finns in the 19th-century, where its use then spread to Estonia.

Aili may also occur independently in Scotland as a variant or Anglicized spelling of the Scottish Gaelic name Eilidh, a traditional Gaelic form of Helen.

Aila has enjoyed increased popularity in the English-speaking world in recent years, perhaps helped by the popularity of the similar-sounding Isla and Ayla. In Scotland, it ranked among the Top 100 most popular female names between 2018 and 2021, peaking at #84 in 2018. Its Scottish usage may also occasionally reflect the influence of Eilidh.

In the United States, Aila first entered the Top 1000 in 2019 and currently ranks at #827 (2025), while in England & Wales it currently ranks at #573 (2025).

The related Aili briefly appeared in the U.S. Top 1000 in 1909 and 1910, reaching its highest position at #868 in 1909.

The designated name-day in Estonia is September 16th and September 17th in Finland.

Sources

• https://www.behindthename.com/name/aila
• https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aili
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aili
• https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aila_(eesnimi)