Possible variant of Eli (Hebrew 'my God') or Aylin (Turkish moon-halo name), used as a feminine form.
Ayli appears to be a gentle modern diminutive or variant drawing from several overlapping traditions. Most directly it echoes Aylin, a widely used Turkish feminine name meaning "moon halo" — the luminous ring of light that encircles the moon on clear nights. Turkish names of Turkic and Persian origin have experienced growing international appreciation as their musical qualities become recognized beyond their home cultures.
Aylin itself has charted on popularity lists in Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands due to Turkish diaspora communities. The name also resonates with Aylee and Ailey, the latter made familiar by Alvin Ailey, the visionary African American choreographer who founded his eponymous dance theater in New York in 1958 — an institution that became one of the most celebrated cultural forces of the twentieth century. While Alvin's surname was a family name rather than a given name, its visibility has nudged related phonetic constructions into broader naming consciousness.
In Hebrew and Arabic contexts, names beginning with Ay- or Ali- often connect to roots meaning "exalted" or "sublime." As a standalone given name, Ayli is notably spare and contemporary in feel — two syllables, softly ending, easy in virtually every language. Its brevity gives it versatility; it works across cultures without carrying heavy historical freight.
This kind of soft, vowel-rich short name has found consistent favor among parents seeking something that feels delicate, international, and unhurried. The name suggests gentleness, an open quality, and the kind of quiet distinctiveness that doesn't require explanation.