Aili
Aili is a Finnish, Sami and Estonian female given name, with the pronunciation . 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 . 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:
- Aili Alliksoo, Estonian sprinter and hurdler
- Aili Jõgi, Estonian patriot
- Aili Keskitalo, Norwegian-Sami politician, president of the Sami Parliament of Norway
- Aili Siiskonen, Finnish journalist, civil servant and politician
- Aili M. Tripp, Finnish-American political scientist
- Aili Vahtrapuu, Estonian sculptor
- Aili Vint, Estonian artist