Light; bird; or from the hay meadow
Ailey is a name with multiple potential roots. It is often considered a diminutive of Aileen or Eileen, which are Irish forms of Helen, meaning 'light'. Alternatively, it can be a variant of the English surname Hayley, meaning 'hay meadow', or the Scottish name Ailsa.
Less common today
Ailey isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #2,625 in 2008.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
American journalist and writer
