Ailsa

Ailsa (f) Used for over a century as a Christian name,
though almost exclusively in Scotland. There are now signs of interest being shown in the name elsewhere in the English-speaking world.

Some writers (e.g. Partridge, Johnson and Sleigh) have linked it with Elsa, a name which has never been particularly popular in Scotland. It is far more likely to be a direct borrowing from Ailsa Craig. In Pseudonyms, by J. F. Clarke, Ellen Terry is quoted as saying: ‘Ailsa Craig! What a magnificent name for an actress!’

Return To Scottish Christian Names