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Eileen

♀ Girl

Pronounced eye-LEEN /aɪˈliːn/High

Meaning: Irish and Scottish Gaelic anglicization of Eibhlín, itself from the Old Norse Aveline or from the Old French Aveline, ultimately connected to the Germanic element avi meaning desire or the Hebrew Evelyn; often glossed as bright or shining in Irish naming traditionMedium

In 30 seconds: A lyrical Irish name with complex roots, Eileen was a 20th-century favorite that is now gently reviving, beloved for its distinctive Irish spelling and breezy, bright sound.
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Origin MediumIrish, Scottish Gaelic
MeaningIrish and Scottish Gaelic anglicization of Eibhlín, itself from the Old Norse Aveline or from the Old French Aveline, ultimately connected to the Germanic element avi meaning desire or the Hebrew Evelyn; often glossed as bright or shining in Irish naming tradition
U.S. rank (2025)#654 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births437 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1947
Total births (all-time)≈ 189,607

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 194718822025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Eileen is an anglicization of the Irish Gaelic Eibhlín, a form that came to Ireland with the Normans as a variant of Aveline. The ultimate root is debated: it may trace to a Germanic element meaning desire or to an Old Norse source. In Irish tradition Eileen is often connected semantically to Helen (brightness, torch), though this is a folk etymology rather than a documented linguistic descent.

Eileen was enormously popular in Ireland and among Irish-American communities throughout the early and mid-20th century. In the United States it peaked in the 1940s–1950s and has been declining since, making it a candidate for vintage revival. The Dexys Midnight Runners song (1982) gave it a generation of pop-culture currency. Today Eileen is being rediscovered by parents who appreciate its genuinely Irish character.

Did you know? The 1988 hit song Come On Eileen by Dexys Midnight Runners became one of the best-selling singles of the decade, ensuring this Irish name's place in popular culture worldwide.
Overall data confidence 80%
Behind the Name — Eileen — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AileenEibhlínIlene

Nicknames

EllieLee

Famous Bearers

  • ★Eileen Collins (1956–present)
    American astronaut, the first woman to command a U.S. Space Shuttle mission.

If you like Eileen…

Aileen— direct spelling variant of the same Irish name with the same melodic sound
Colleen— shares the -een ending, Irish heritage, and the same mid-century American peak
Maureen— fellow Irish -een name from the same cultural and generational cohort
Kathleen— another Irish anglicization with the same -een ending and the same gentle revival appeal

Frequently Asked

What does the name Eileen mean?

Eileen is an Irish anglicization of Eibhlín and is generally glossed as bright or shining in Irish naming tradition, though the etymology is complex.

How do you pronounce Eileen?

It is said eye-LEEN /aɪˈliːn/ — two syllables with stress on the second.

Is Eileen an Irish name?

Yes, Eileen is the anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic Eibhlín and is considered an Irish and Scottish name.

Is Eileen coming back in fashion?

Eileen is considered a vintage name ripe for revival; it is beginning to be chosen again by parents who love its Irish character.