| Gender | Female |
|---|---|
| Language(s) | Estonian, Finnish, Sami |
| Origin | |
| Meaning | Finnish version of Helga, "holy" |
Aili is a Finnish, Sami and Estonian female given name, with the pronunciation [aɪliː]. It is the Finnish variation of the name Helga, via the Sami Áile, deriving ultimately from heilagr, meaning "holy", or "blessed". Ailikki is a diminutive.
Aili has also been used as an anglicised spelling of Eilidh, in this case with the pronunciation [eɪli]. Eilidh is the Gaelic variant of the Greek name Helen and also the Scottish diminutive of Eleanor. The meaning of Eleanor is disputed, but the theory most supported by evidence is that it is derived from the Old Germanic name Adenorde, via the Provençal Aliénor.
Aili can also be considered a diminutive for various names, such as Aileen, Eileen and Alice.
Some notable bearers of the name Aili: