It is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic Amhladh,[1] Amhlaidh,[1] Amhlaigh, and Amhlaibh.
[4] The Old Irish personal name Amlaíb is a Gaelicised form of the Old Norse Óláfr, and is recorded in the Annals of Ulster as being introduced into Ulster by "Amlaíb, son of the king of Lochlann"[5][6] In the 9th century, Óláfr may have been pronounced more like the Old Norse Áleifr.
[7] A Classical Gaelic form of this Old Irish name is Amhlaíbh.
The older Irish Gaelic names Amalgaid[4] and Amhalghaidh[4] (pronounced "owl-ghee"),[3] were borne by an early king of Munster, and an early king of Connacht.
[4] In later times, Amalgaid and Amhalghaidh were Anglicised as Auley; as well as Awley, which was a spelling commonly used by the Magawleys of Calry.