Ailton is of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name 'Aelii', which was taken from the Latin word 'aetherius' meaning 'of the heavens'. It was often used as a given name in Portugal and Brazil during the 20th century.
The name Ailton experienced a significant increase in popularity between 2003 and 2004, with the number of births nearly tripling from 6 to 19. This high was not sustained, however, as the number of births fluctuated thereafter, ranging between 12 and 13 per year until 2007. Over this five-year period, a total of 62 babies were named Ailton.