Eileen
Say it: EYE-leen/aɪˈliːn/
GirlIrishMeans from Aveline, a Norman name of uncertain meaning6 letters2 syllables
#443
in Ireland (2025)
#435 with spellings combined
8
babies in 2025
#17
best rank (1964)
5,338
babies since 1964
Down 72
10-year rank change
Eileen through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #435 |
| 2024 | 10 | #368 |
| 2023 | 8 | #434 |
| 2022 | 11 | #354 |
| 2021 | 13 | #324 |
| 2020 | 17 | #255 |
| 2019 | 9 | #419 |
| 2018 | 13 | #333 |
| 2017 | 10 | #399 |
| 2016 | 9 | #451 |
| 2015 | 13 | #363 |
| 2014 | 8 | #500 |
| 2013 | 12 | #376 |
| 2012 | 5 | #679 |
| 2011 | 19 | #266 |
| 2010 | 12 | #396 |
| 2009 | 17 | #284 |
| 2008 | 24 | #230 |
| 2007 | 10 | #406 |
| 2006 | 11 | #346 |
| 2005 | 10 | #347 |
| 2004 | 9 | #340 |
| 2003 | 13 | #263 |
| 2002 | 15 | #238 |
| 2001 | 15 | #225 |
| 2000 | 15 | #227 |
| 1999 | 10 | #267 |
| 1998 | 13 | #222 |
| 1997 | 30 | #156 |
| 1996 | 29 | #167 |
| 1995 | 47 | #114 |
| 1994 | 42 | #125 |
| 1993 | 50 | #113 |
| 1992 | 31 | #161 |
| 1991 | 51 | #115 |
| 1990 | 56 | #112 |
| 1989 | 71 | #99 |
| 1988 | 63 | #105 |
| 1987 | 77 | #96 |
| 1986 | 73 | #95 |
| 1985 | 91 | #83 |
| 1984 | 81 | #92 |
| 1983 | 107 | #77 |
| 1982 | 144 | #63 |
| 1981 | 112 | #76 |
| 1980 | 140 | #66 |
| 1979 | 123 | #75 |
| 1978 | 148 | #62 |
| 1977 | 145 | #63 |
| 1976 | 170 | #52 |
| 1975 | 175 | #50 |
| 1974 | 187 | #45 |
| 1973 | 194 | #46 |
| 1972 | 220 | #38 |
| 1971 | 240 | #31 |
| 1970 | 249 | #27 |
| 1969 | 245 | #26 |
| 1968 | 276 | #22 |
| 1967 | 308 | #21 |
| 1966 | 313 | #18 |
| 1965 | 367 | #17 |
| 1964 | 344 | #17 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Eileen mean?
From Aveline, a Norman name of uncertain meaning
Irish, an English spelling of Eibhlín, the Irish form of the Norman French Aveline.
Say it right
EYEleen
Some people put the stress on the second syllable, eye-LEEN.
The story of Eileen
Eileen is the English spelling of the Irish Eibhlín. That name came to Ireland with the Normans as Aveline, which also gave English the name Evelyn. Aveline is usually traced to an old Germanic name element, but its first meaning is not certain. Eileen has sometimes been used for the older Irish name Éibhleann as well.
It has a long life in Irish song, from the old air “Eibhlín a Rún” to “Come On Eileen”, the 1982 hit by Dexys Midnight Runners.
Eileen was one of the best-known Irish girls’ names in the middle of the twentieth century. It was number 17 in 1964, and in 1965 it was given to 367 girls. It was still in the top 100 in the 1980s before becoming much rarer, with 8 girls in 2025. It has never been as common in Northern Ireland, where its best rank was number 314 in 1997.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Eileen (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Eileen
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Eileen | 8 | 5,338 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #314 (1997); 41 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.