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Home › Baby Names Directory › Aelin

Aelin

♀ Girl

Pronounced AY-lin /ˈeɪ.lɪn/High

Meaning: brow, brightnessMedium

In 30 seconds: Aelin is a Welsh-rooted name meaning brightness, made famous as the fire-wielding queen in Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass fantasy series. A lyrical two-syllable name with mythic resonance.
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Origin MediumWelsh, Fictional
Meaningbrow, brightness
U.S. rank (2025)#1855 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births107 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 411

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520162025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Aelin may derive from the Welsh ael meaning brow or brightness, related to Welsh Aelwen (fair brow). However, it gained primary cultural traction as the protagonist in Sarah J. Maas's popular fantasy series beginning with Throne of Glass (2012).

Aelin appeared in US birth records following the success of the Throne of Glass series, sitting within the tradition of fantasy names entering real-world naming like Arya and Khaleesi.

Did you know? In Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, Aelin Ashryver Galathynius is the Queen of Terrasen — naming data shows a spike in babies named Aelin after the series conclusion in 2018.
Overall data confidence 72%
Behind the Name: Aelin — name etymology referenceMaas, Throne of Glass (2012) — reference for Aelin

Variations

AelynnAilinAilene

Nicknames

AeLin

Famous Bearers

  • ★Aelin Ashryver Galathynius (fictional)
    Queen of Terrasen and protagonist (also known as Celaena Sardothien) of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series (2012–2018).

If you like Aelin…

Arya— fantasy-inspired name from Game of Thrones of similar cultural moment
Lyra— fantasy name from His Dark Materials of similar feel
Maylin— lands in the same popularity range
Aerith— lands in the same popularity range
Aeris— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Aelin

By themetwo-syllablewelshfantasyfictional
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Frequently Asked

What does Aelin mean?

Aelin may mean brightness or brow from Welsh, but is most famous as the name of the queen protagonist in Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series.

How do you pronounce Aelin?

Aelin is pronounced AY-lin (/ˈeɪ.lɪn/), with two syllables.

Is Aelin a girl's name?

Yes, Aelin is used as a girl's name, primarily through the Throne of Glass fantasy series.

How popular is the name Aelin?

Aelin appeared in US records following the popularity of the Throne of Glass series, particularly after its 2018 conclusion.

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