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Home › Baby Names Directory › Ainsley

Ainsley

♂ Boy

Pronounced AYNZ-lee /ˈeɪnz.li/Medium

Meaning: From an English/Scottish place name and surname, read as 'one's own meadow' or 'hermitage clearing' (Old English elements). Unisex; used here for a boy.Low

In 30 seconds: A place-name pick: Ainsley means 'one's own meadow' (said 'AYNZ-lee'). Crisp and unisex.
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Origin MediumEnglish, Scottish
MeaningFrom an English/Scottish place name and surname, read as 'one's own meadow' or 'hermitage clearing' (Old English elements). Unisex; used here for a boy.
U.S. rank (2023)#8280 ↘ Falling
2023 U.S. births9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2015
Total births (all-time)≈ 418

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201519502023

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

Ainsley is an English/Scottish place name and surname, 'one's own meadow' (or 'hermitage clearing'). Unisex and tidy, it is used here for a boy — rare in the U.S. for boys (said 'AYNZ-lee').

For boys it appears rarely in the U.S. Rare, place-based, and crisp.

Did you know? Ainsley comes from an English/Scottish place name, read as 'one's own meadow' or 'hermitage clearing' — a crisp, unisex surname-name used here for a boy (said 'AYNZ-lee').
Overall data confidence 48%
References — Ainsley — English/Scottish place name 'one's own meadow'; unisex

Variations

AinsleeAinsleighAnsley

Nicknames

AinsLee

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Ainsley…

Ansley— a spelling cousin
Paisley— a like -ley place name
Kinsley— a like -ley surname name
Aubrey— another unisex pick
Arley— another English name

Explore names like Ainsley

By themeenglishunisexplace-namescottish
By meaningEarth / Nature

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ainsley mean?

Ainsley is from an English/Scottish place name, read as 'one's own meadow' or 'hermitage clearing.'

How do you pronounce Ainsley?

It's said AYNZ-lee /ˈeɪnz.li/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ainsley a boy or girl name?

Ainsley is used here as a boy's name; it is unisex and also used for girls.

How popular is Ainsley?

Ainsley is a rare name for boys in the U.S.

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