Comments
Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
Impression
Other
Some people are being a little rude about this being used on a girl. The usage of names changes over time, and Ainsley was a surname in the first place, not a boy's name, so it has always been suitable for both. Some surnames just don't work as first names, but I think Ainsley is an exception. It is wonderful on both boys or girls.
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If I had to guess I'd say that people started naming their baby daughters Ainsley because of the character Ainsley Hayes, played by Emily Proctor, on the TV show "The West Wing." In fact, she makes her first appearance on the show in Season 2 in 2000, which is the exact year the name appears on the popularity list.
Do writers know that they are almost always responsible for names becoming popular? Novels,films, TV shows, songs, it's always the writers. Only then do celebrities pick these names, making them even more famous. Examples: "Taylor" from author Taylor Caldwell; "Tracy" from the Katharine Hepburn character in the movie The Philadelphia Story; "Linda" from the 1942 song written about baby Linda Eastman (later McCartney); "Lori" (instead of Laurie) from the character Lori Ann March in the 1960 soap opera The Secret Storm; "Madison" from the Darryl Hannah mermaid in the movie Splash. Even way back when: "Thelma" from the novel of the same name by Mary Corelli in 1887. The list goes on and on.
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Do writers know that they are almost always responsible for names becoming popular? Novels,films, TV shows, songs, it's always the writers. Only then do celebrities pick these names, making them even more famous. Examples: "Taylor" from author Taylor Caldwell; "Tracy" from the Katharine Hepburn character in the movie The Philadelphia Story; "Linda" from the 1942 song written about baby Linda Eastman (later McCartney); "Lori" (instead of Laurie) from the character Lori Ann March in the 1960 soap opera The Secret Storm; "Madison" from the Darryl Hannah mermaid in the movie Splash. Even way back when: "Thelma" from the novel of the same name by Mary Corelli in 1887. The list goes on and on.
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Well I'm clearly in the minority but I think this name sounds more masculine than feminine.
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I am so tired of girl names derived from surnames. Why would you give your daughter a masculine name when any other name is fine!
Also this name sounds extremely whiny and annoying, I hate it.
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Also this name sounds extremely whiny and annoying, I hate it.
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Ainsley Harriott, famous cook and a British treasure.
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Infinitely better than Paisley.
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I adore this name so much! It feels almost flowery, I really enjoy the cuteness of the name and all of the Ainsleys I’ve ever met have been wonderful!
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It’s cute, but I can’t say I like how cutesy it is. Ashley would be a little bit better.
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Not a fan of the sound.
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I don't like the name. I agree with people who said it sounds nasal, brings unpleasant words to mind, and it sounds 'made up' (but it isn't). That's one of the name's many contradictory traits: on the one hand, it sounds too dainty... and yet the AYNZ syllable is so rough. So, it sounds too harsh for girls, but too frilly for boys. I LOVE unisex names, but I strongly dislike this one. If your name is Ainsley and you like it, then that's fine. You should love your name. You're the only person who has to like it; you're the one who owns it.
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Ainsley Whirly, the psychopathic sister of NYPD Profiler Malcolm Bright on the show Prodigal Son.
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It sounds so cutesy and frilly in the worst way possible.
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I think of anus, sorry. It’s the first thing when I hear this name. Possible teasing!
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I love this name so much, I am expecting a girl and have decided to name her Aynslie Kadynce. Her older sis is named McKenslie Brooke. Aynslie and McKenslie, I think that goes wonderfully together!
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My name that I named myself... I think it's nice. I know a lot of people are saying that they couldn't imagine it on a boy but I disagree. I think it can be pretty masculine it can definitely be used for any gender.
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I’m not a big fan of it.
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Sounds rather cutesy.
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Although I think it's prettier than Ansley, I'm not too fond of it. I have a friend in the US that is expecting a girl and they decided to name her Aynsleigh Paige. Spelled like that. Just sounds weird.
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I’m not too supportive about Ainsley.
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I wanna eat the name Ainsley.
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Awwww, Ainsley is such a cute name! So beautiful and elegant, so youthful and delicate, I can think of other words to describe this wonderful name. I agree Ainsley is usable for boys and girls, and it can stay that way, but personally I wouldn’t use this on a boy! It just sounds so feminine to me! I love this name better for a girl!
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My name is Aynslee and I love having a unique name, people often mispronounce it when they see it, but can usually get it pretty quickly. My spelling of the name is more of the phonetic spelling of the name. I've only met one other person with this name and it was spelled Ainsley.
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In 2018, 6 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Ainsley who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 2, 429th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
In 2018, 2 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Ainsley who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 20, 274th most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
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In 2018, 2 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Ainsley who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 20, 274th most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
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My best friend's name is Ainsley. This name would also be very pretty for a middle name, and may be a better option if you like this name but are worried about people mispronouncing the name. I have heard my friend's name being pronounced like "ANNEsley." I do believe that this name is a better alternative to the name Ashley. Ainsley is not overused and honestly, a prettier name than Ashley.
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Ugly. The spelling Ainslee is even worse.
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I'm very fond of the name and actually have the name. It is very rude of you to just say it is ugly with no other interpretation. I think it is unique and beautiful and I've gotten second, third, and more opinions from other people and I have found out that the people who said the same thing as you, were either bullies of another person in my school or were just the people who did not do well in their classes, skipped, or were just uninformed and did not try. I have respect for people who say what they feel, with a reason, but I have no respect for people who just flat out say these things to either be hurtful or are just idiotic (this word officially means uninformed). So I suggest that you give a reason to why my name and others names are ugly. Thank you.
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To nasally.
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It's a nice name but very nasal.
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Ainsley makes a much better middle name than first name in my opinion - It goes well with so many names.
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My name is Ainsley and I was named after Ainsley Gotto, (both Australian). Ainsley Gotto recently passed away (March 2018). I was born in the late 1970s and as I grew up, I couldn't be but intrigued by my namesake.
Widely described as a trailblazer for women in politics and business, Ainsley Gotto was intelligent, hardworking and an astute business woman in her own right. At just 21 years of age, Ainsley Gotto was appointed the personal private secretary to Australia's then Prime Minister John Gorton (this is in effect the same as being appointed Chief of Staff). She was known to have a savage wit and disdain for political correctness. She was also very beautiful. She stayed classy until the end, ignoring the incessant rumour-mongers.
I have loved having an uncommon name and I really think that Ainsley Gotto was someone whose characteristics I admired and wanted to wear for myself!
I get called Ains most commonly which is okay with me. I also find my name difficult to pronounce myself. My maternal grandparents were Greek and couldn't pronounce it at all, instead calling me Angelia. That was okay with me too.
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Widely described as a trailblazer for women in politics and business, Ainsley Gotto was intelligent, hardworking and an astute business woman in her own right. At just 21 years of age, Ainsley Gotto was appointed the personal private secretary to Australia's then Prime Minister John Gorton (this is in effect the same as being appointed Chief of Staff). She was known to have a savage wit and disdain for political correctness. She was also very beautiful. She stayed classy until the end, ignoring the incessant rumour-mongers.
I have loved having an uncommon name and I really think that Ainsley Gotto was someone whose characteristics I admired and wanted to wear for myself!
I get called Ains most commonly which is okay with me. I also find my name difficult to pronounce myself. My maternal grandparents were Greek and couldn't pronounce it at all, instead calling me Angelia. That was okay with me too.
4
My good friend just announced the birthday of her new niece. The name chosen by her sister is
Ansleigh, in keeping with a more traditional Scottish and Irish spelling for girls.
I read older comments about the other pronunciations & spellings, both good and bad, including one that was crude.
But the way it's pronounced below has majesty, in my honest opinion.
She pronounces it ANNE'S-Leigh (& the *Leigh is pronounced "lay"). I love it for its relative rarity as well as how it sounds.
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Ansleigh, in keeping with a more traditional Scottish and Irish spelling for girls.
I read older comments about the other pronunciations & spellings, both good and bad, including one that was crude.
But the way it's pronounced below has majesty, in my honest opinion.
She pronounces it ANNE'S-Leigh (& the *Leigh is pronounced "lay"). I love it for its relative rarity as well as how it sounds.
2
It was at a Frank Zappa concert when I first heard Aynsley, both the name and the drummer. I urge the web masters to add Aynsley Dunbar to the Namesakes sub-menu. I'm surprised nobody has yet mentioned him here. I'm thrilled to be the first.
His accomplishments span decadees with a long list of music luminaries in performance and recording. He well deserves his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, as a member of the band Journey.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aynsley_Dunbar.
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His accomplishments span decadees with a long list of music luminaries in performance and recording. He well deserves his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017, as a member of the band Journey.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aynsley_Dunbar.
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I kind of prefer it on a girl, but it's okay on a male. It is Ashley and it just seems different. Ashley is more simple and common, really.
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The name Ainsley was given to 14 boys in the US in 2016. I much prefer it on boys myself.
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The name Ainsley is VERY pretty and elegant and more. I have a sister named Ainsley and I think it's lovely! It's very popular and hot.
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My name is Aynsley! I like my name very much, but it is very hard to find other people with my name. It is also very hard to find things with my name on it, and if I do it is always spelled Ainsley. I do think it can be a very delicate name if you make it that way. I am not a very delicate person, therefore the people I know do not think of it as a delicate name.
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I find this name to be very unflattering. I don't understand the appeal of it at all. First off, it starts off with "Ain" which immediately makes me think of the word, pain. (Ainsley Painsley) secondly, it ends in "sley" and those types of names are really ugly in my opinion (Ainsley, Ansley, Paisley) yuck!
Plus, Ainsley sounds way too modern, trendy & harsh. Also, immature and overly cutesy.
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Plus, Ainsley sounds way too modern, trendy & harsh. Also, immature and overly cutesy.
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My name is Ainslie (IV). I am male and my first name goes back 4 generations. There were/are 6 male family members who have had Ainslie as a first name. I love that it is becoming a girls name in all its spelling variations. I have enjoyed meeting two young girls with that very pretty name. It is a name for the 21st century.
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Ainsley is a 14th century Irish name meaning "ONE from the MEADOW". It is a common name for men and women in England, Ireland, Scotland and becoming more popular in America.
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I think this name is beautiful, and I like it on a girl. However, I don't despise it on a boy. I think this is one of the few, truly unisex names, and I just have a preference for it on a girl. The meaning "Anne's field" makes it a bit more feminine.
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I like this name on a boy, can't stand it on a girl. I don't understand why people are saying it sounds delicate, it sounds extremely harsh and masculine, not even remotely pretty on a girl.
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-1
My sister's name is Ainsley. She hates it. She says it's too delicate but I like delicate names. I guess that's why I like my name. My name is Tessa. Ainsley is a beautiful girl, if I had to say.
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It's a nice name for a girl — can't imagine it being used for a boy!
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This name is adorable at a young age AND sophisticated as an adult. I personally love it!
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It's a nice name but I wish it didn't sound like "anus."
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-6
I named my firstborn Ainsley in 1986. I got the idea from Aynsley porcelain. Ashley was common then and I had never heard this name. I thought it was melodious. She likes her name but wishes she could find personalized products with her name.
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Variant of the name Ainsley; Aynsley.
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I cannot stop loving this name! Too cute!
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I love this name but when spoken aloud it sounds kind of nasal, like the speaker needs to blow their nose.
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I'm an Ainsley, and I've always liked my name, I like the sound of it and most people seem to get it right. Never actually met another Ainsley though.
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There was a contestant in Cycle 14 of America's Next Top Model named Ainsley. I think she came in 7th overall.
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Sounds like a very great and substantial name. Despite the -ley, it sounds fairly masculine. What a neat name!
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It's kind of cute. I can only see it as a girls name.
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The Greek for Anna's Field is
Άννα πεδίο
The Hebrew form of Anna is Hannah.
The Hebrew form of Hannah's field would be
של חנה שדה
My granddaughter's name is Aynslee and, even at 5, she tells me that nearly everyone who meets her has a difficult time saying her name. She prefers to think of the name as meaning Anna's meadow or Hannah's meadow. Considering that it was once very rare for women to own any kind of property, she likes to believe that, at one time, a woman named Anna or Hannah owned a meadow. But she told me that there are times that she wishes she had a different name.
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Άννα πεδίο
The Hebrew form of Anna is Hannah.
The Hebrew form of Hannah's field would be
של חנה שדה
My granddaughter's name is Aynslee and, even at 5, she tells me that nearly everyone who meets her has a difficult time saying her name. She prefers to think of the name as meaning Anna's meadow or Hannah's meadow. Considering that it was once very rare for women to own any kind of property, she likes to believe that, at one time, a woman named Anna or Hannah owned a meadow. But she told me that there are times that she wishes she had a different name.
3
My little sister is Aynsley. She says she experiences a lot of trouble with pronunciation (when people see it) or with recognition (when people hear it). It's often mistaken for Ashley, or written as Ansley, never Ainsley (oddly enough).
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Ainsley Harriott is a British celebrity chef. His most well-known role is perhaps that of presenting the quick-fire cookery programme Ready Steady Cook.
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Ainsley Waugh is a Jamaican sprinter.
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Ainsley Brooks is currently an occasional extra on the British soap opera Eastenders.
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This is my name and I love it except I spell it Ainsleigh. Which is very pretty by the way.
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Really, /really/ dislike this name. It sounds very fragile and delicate, like a tender flower that, when you poke it falls to pieces. Just my opinion.
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I think this is a lovely -but not too frilly- name.
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This name fits a girl more than it does a boy!
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Ainsley is a beautiful, elegant name for a girl. I wish it were my name.
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My name is Ainsley and I am in my late teens. I didn't like it very much until recently. I think I have grown into it and now I'm glad I don't have a very common name. Although it is getting more popular nowadays people are always intrigued when I tell them my name. Plus people tend to remember my name especially when I was at school as I was the only Ainsley in my year.
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I think this is a very pretty name. Whoever has this name is lucky!
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I think this spelling is the best of the three, though they are all nice names.
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Can also be spelled Ainslea, Ainsleah, Ainslee, Ainsleigh and Ainsly. It is a very pretty name.
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Scottish, meaning "Anne's field" or "my meadow".
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A variant form of this is Ansley also spelled Anslee, Ansleigh and Anslie.
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My sister's name is Ainsley. She doesn't like it much but I think it's quite pretty.
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British television chef Ainsley Harriot.
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Ainsley is the name of American Actress Emily Procter's character on the TV series "The West Wing".
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