Aela is a short name of uncertain origin; it is usually linked to the Breton Aël, which means "angel", and in Brittany Aela is used as its feminine form. Gamers also know the name from Aela the Huntress, a companion character in the video game Skyrim, released in 2011. Aela is rare in the United States: it rose from number 4146 in 2015 to number 2694 in 2024 and ranks number 2778 in 2025.