Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1991

Ai

Meaning ai, “the heap of ruins Gender Girl · 3% boys Rank 2025 Below top lists

From Hebrew הָעַי (ha-'ai, “the heap of ruins”).

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Ai
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1991
19 babies
All-time total
403
#13,668 all-time among girls
First recorded
1974
in Social Security records

Ai popularity over time

403 babies have been named Ai since 1974, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
00.010.010.0218801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s – – – – – –
1900s – – – – – –
1910s – – – – – –
1920s – – – – – –
1930s – – – – – –
1940s – – – – – –
1950s – – – – – –
1960s – – – – – –
1970s 12 – 12 1 – #8,065
1980s 82 11 93 9 +675% #5,917
1990s 107 – 107 11 +15% #5,005
2000s 114 – 114 11 +7% #7,150
2010s 60 – 60 6 -47% #9,753
2020s (to 2025) 17 – 17 3 -53% #9,580

The story of Ai

Ai is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1974, 403 American babies have been named Ai. Its peak came in 1991, when 19 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1990s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ai stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ai?

The median living Ai is about 26 years old; half are between 18 and 36. An estimated 400 people named Ai are alive in the United States today.

median 26 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ai year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 10 #9,580 – –
2020 7 #12,189 – –
2019 10 #9,753 – –
2018 – – – –
2017 6 #14,200 – –
2016 6 #14,401 – –
2015 7 #13,061 – –
2014 – – – –
2013 9 #11,038 – –
2012 7 #13,530 – –
2011 6 #14,867 – –
2010 9 #11,279 – –
2009 10 #10,703 – –
2008 7 #13,877 – –
2007 11 #10,143 – –
2006 17 #7,150 – –
2005 13 #8,342 – –
2004 13 #8,272 – –
2003 9 #10,445 – –
2002 14 #7,453 – –
2001 7 #12,089 – –
2000 13 #7,588 – –
1995 11 #7,524 – –
1990 11 #7,308 – –
1985 7 #8,329 – –
1980 11 #5,917 – –
1975 – – – –
1970 – – – –
1965 – – – –
1960 – – – –
1955 – – – –
1950 – – – –
1945 – – – –
1940 – – – –
1935 – – – –
1930 – – – –
1925 – – – –
1920 – – – –
1915 – – – –
1910 – – – –
1905 – – – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Ai

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Ai Weiwei Ai Weiwei Chinese conceptual artist and dissident (born 1957) Contemporary
  2. 2 Ai Yazawa Japanese manga author b. 1967 · Contemporary
  3. 3 Ai Kayano Japanese voice actress (born 1987) Contemporary
  4. 4 Ai Iijima Ai Iijima Japanese television personality (1972–2008) Contemporary
  5. 5 Ai Hashimoto Ai Hashimoto Japanese actress (born 1996) Contemporary
  6. 6 Ai Sugiyama Ai Sugiyama Japanese tennis player (born 1975) Contemporary
  7. 7 Ai Qing Ai Qing Chinese poet (1910–1996) Contemporary
  8. 8 Ai Otsuka Japanese singer b. 1982 · Contemporary
  9. 9 Ai Takahashi Ai Takahashi Japanese pop singer and actress (born 1986) Contemporary
  10. 10 Ai Kago Ai Kago Japanese singer (born 1988) Contemporary
  11. 11 Ai Shibata Japanese swimmer (born 1982) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ai, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ai?

The median living Ai is about 26 years old. Half of all living Ais are between 18 and 36 years old.

How many people named Ai are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Ai are alive in the United States, based on 403 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ai mean?

From Hebrew הָעַי (ha-'ai, “the heap of ruins”).

How popular is the name Ai in 2025?

Ai did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Ai?

403 babies have been named Ai in the United States since 1974, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ai most popular?

Ai peaked in 1991, when 19 newborns received the name.

Is Ai a boy or girl name?

Ai is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 97% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ai rising or falling?

Ai is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Ai?

Well-known people named Ai include Ai Weiwei (artist), Ai Yazawa (writer), Ai Kayano (actor).

Names like Ai

Names that sound and feel close to Ai: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Ai with similar names → More names starting with A →