Ailsa: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	5	1	–	#4,823
1920s	21	2	+320%	#3,051
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	–	–	–	–
1950s	–	–	–	–
1960s	6	1	–	#6,045
1970s	80	8	+1233%	#4,535
1980s	45	5	-44%	#6,619
1990s	112	11	+149%	#6,495
2000s	123	12	+10%	#6,061
2010s	121	12	-2%	#6,656
2020s (to 2025)	25	4	-66%	#9,583

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#4,823

1920s

+320%

#3,051

1930s

–

1940s

–

1950s

–

1960s

–

#6,045

1970s

+1233%

#4,535

1980s

-44%

#6,619

1990s

112

+149%

#6,495

2000s

123

+10%

#6,061

2010s

121

-2%

#6,656

2020s (to 2025)

-66%

#9,583

The story of Ailsa

Ailsa 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 1918, 538 American babies have been named Ailsa. Its peak came in 2003, when 19 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2000s.

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 Ailsa stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ailsa?

The median living Ailsa is about 24 years old; half are between 14 and 36. An estimated 500 people named Ailsa are alive in the United States today.

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

Ailsa year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	5	#15,363
2023	5	#15,260
2022	–	–
2021	10	#9,583
2020	5	#15,176
2019	6	#13,871
2018	14	#7,776
2017	9	#10,722
2016	12	#8,898
2015	9	#10,906
2014	11	#9,544
2013	15	#7,757
2012	14	#8,217
2011	12	#9,168
2010	19	#6,656
2009	12	#9,396
2008	12	#9,489
2007	13	#9,020
2006	5	#17,244
2005	16	#7,151
2004	12	#8,731
2003	19	#6,061
2002	12	#8,292
2001	14	#7,329
2000	8	#10,767
1995	10	#8,085
1990	11	#7,309
1985	–	–
1980	5	#10,407
1975	8	#6,490
1970	8	#5,821
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	–	–
1950	–	–
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	5	#4,978
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Ailsa?

The median living Ailsa is about 24 years old. Half of all living Ailsas are between 14 and 36 years old.

How many people named Ailsa are alive today?

An estimated 500 people named Ailsa are alive in the United States, based on 538 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ailsa mean?

Ailsa is a feminine given name, not to be confused with Alisa.

How popular is the name Ailsa in 2025?

Ailsa 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 Ailsa?

538 babies have been named Ailsa in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ailsa most popular?

Ailsa peaked in 2003, when 19 newborns received the name.

Is Ailsa a boy or girl name?

Ailsa is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ailsa rising or falling?

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

Ailsa

Ailsa popularity over time

The story of Ailsa

How old are people named Ailsa?

Ailsa year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Ailsa