Girls

This name will tick a lot of boxes for many parents: unisex; trendy sound; pretty instinctive to pronounce; and some great namesakes including British chef Ainsley Harriott and American footballer Ainsley Battles.

Aisley is a delicate feminine name that blends elements of traditional names with modern styling. It appears to be a contemporary variation of the Irish name Aisling (pronounced 'ASH-ling'), which means 'dream' or 'vision.' The modified spelling makes pronunciation more intuitive for English speakers while maintaining its Celtic charm. Some may also see Aisley as a creative fusion of popular names like Aislinn and Paisley. The name carries a light, airy quality with its soft sounds and flowing syllables. While not among the most common names, Aisley has gained modest popularity in recent years as parents seek names with traditional roots but distinctive qualities. Its appeal lies in striking a perfect balance—recognizable without being ordinary, unique without being difficult to pronounce, and carrying a subtle nod to Irish heritage without requiring explanation.

This shows up on the Social Security data for boys, but these days is mostly female: 2700 baby girls were named Allison last year versus six baby boys.

Widely used here since the 50s, Allison — a derivative of Alice — has now been once again surpassed by the original Alice as parents embrace vintage revivals. Despite this, Allison's popularity has slipped only slightly.