Pronunciation
Al-bay / Awl-bay / Ayl-bee / Ayl-beh / Al-vuh
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Traditionally associated with white or bright; rock is another suggested root
Alternate spellings
Alby
Fun fact
This is one of those names with a LOT of different pronunciations, depending on dialect and preference. There was a Saint Ailbe associated with Emly in Co Tipperary. In one legend, he blessed a river that had no fish, and that very day it was full of them! It's used for boys and girls, although Ailbhe is a spelling you'll often see for girls.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Ailbe, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4 | #676 |
| 2024 | 5 | #582 |
| 2023 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2022 | 3 | #779 |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | 5 | #556 |
| 2019 | 9 | #402 |
| 2018 | 5 | #572 |
| 2017 | 3 | #710 |
| 2016 | 3 | #713 |
| 2015 | 3 | #699 |
| 2014 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2013 | 4 | #605 |
| 2012 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2011 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2010 | 3 | #720 |
| 2009 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2008 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2007 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2006 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2005 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2004 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2003 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2002 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2001 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2000 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1999 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1998 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1997 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1996 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | 3 | #321 |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | 3 | #265 |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.