Fun Facts About the Name Eileen
- A favorite of earlier generations: Eileen appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 3 separate runs, totaling 20 years. Its last run lasted 11 consecutive years, from 1942 through 1952.
- More than 190 thousand babies named Eileen: U.S. records list 190,013 babies given the name Eileen from 1880 through 2025. Even 406 boys received the name Eileen - about 1 boy for every 467 girls.
What Does the Name Eileen Mean?
Eileen is an English-language name of Irish origin. It is the anglicized form of the Irish Eibhlín (also written Aibhlín), which is usually explained as an Irish borrowing of the Norman French Aveline, a diminutive of Ava. The sense of that Germanic name element is not securely known; it has been guessed to mean "desired," and Latin avis, "bird," has been suggested for related forms, but no single meaning is established.
Eibhlín was also used in Ireland as a Gaelic equivalent of Helen, the name known from Greek myth. Helen's own etymology is uncertain, connected by different writers with a Greek word for "torch" and with selene, "moon." The common gloss of Eileen as "light" or "bright, shining one" therefore follows from that customary pairing with Helen rather than from the literal sense of the Irish form.
Eileen Name History & Origins
Eibhlín was in use in Ireland in the medieval and early modern periods and appears in Gaelic genealogical and poetic records. The English spelling Eileen belongs to the modern period, when Irish names were regularly written in anglicized forms. Aileen is a closely related spelling of the same name rather than a separate origin.
The name has a long place in Irish song. The love song Eibhlín a Rún, "Eileen, my secret" or "Eileen, my love," is attributed to the poet Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh and survives in English versions such as "Eileen Aroon." Later English-language settings of Irish material, including the song "Eileen Alannah," belong to the same tradition. Such literary and musical uses show the name in circulation; they are not records of its first appearance.
Through the 20th century the anglicized form spread through the English-speaking world, carried by Irish emigration and by its use in songs and stories, while Eibhlín remained the usual Irish-language form.
How Popular is the Name Eileen?
Eileen recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1947. People named Amelia who were born during its modern resurgence from 1942 through 1952 turn 74-84 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #654 | 437 | 0.0272% |
| 2024 | #593 | 508 | 0.0315% |
| 2023 | #662 | 444 | 0.0277% |
| 2022 | #622 | 475 | 0.0290% |
| 2021 | #671 | 440 | 0.0268% |
| 2020 | #701 | 401 | 0.0248% |
| 2019 | #701 | 413 | 0.0246% |
| 2018 | #669 | 439 | 0.0258% |
| 2017 | #692 | 421 | 0.0244% |
| 2016 | #728 | 390 | 0.0220% |
| 2015 | #697 | 408 | 0.0229% |
| 2014 | #717 | 391 | 0.0219% |
| 2013 | #756 | 359 | 0.0205% |
| 2012 | #829 | 324 | 0.0184% |
| 2011 | #748 | 369 | 0.0210% |
| 2010 | #838 | 321 | 0.0181% |
| 2009 | #814 | 347 | 0.0189% |
| 2008 | #763 | 386 | 0.0204% |
| 2007 | #735 | 396 | 0.0206% |
| 2006 | #778 | 355 | 0.0187% |
| 2005 | #717 | 381 | 0.0206% |
| 2004 | #737 | 358 | 0.0195% |
| 2003 | #678 | 389 | 0.0213% |
| 2002 | #667 | 380 | 0.0211% |
| 2001 | #619 | 407 | 0.0226% |
| 2000 | #625 | 402 | 0.0221% |
| 1999 | #593 | 414 | 0.0233% |
| 1998 | #552 | 450 | 0.0255% |
| 1997 | #601 | 377 | 0.0217% |
| 1996 | #614 | 373 | 0.0213% |
| 1995 | #604 | 372 | 0.0212% |
| 1994 | #609 | 368 | 0.0206% |
| 1993 | #588 | 401 | 0.0222% |
| 1992 | #579 | 403 | 0.0219% |
| 1991 | #554 | 422 | 0.0225% |
| 1990 | #462 | 529 | 0.0279% |
| 1989 | #467 | 524 | 0.0284% |
| 1988 | #440 | 515 | 0.0289% |
| 1987 | #464 | 471 | 0.0271% |
| 1986 | #413 | 534 | 0.0311% |
| 1985 | #403 | 560 | 0.0325% |
| 1984 | #373 | 614 | 0.0365% |
| 1983 | #333 | 689 | 0.0412% |
| 1982 | #396 | 584 | 0.0345% |
| 1981 | #386 | 585 | 0.0351% |
| 1980 | #377 | 613 | 0.0369% |
| 1979 | #386 | 570 | 0.0355% |
| 1978 | #345 | 629 | 0.0411% |
| 1977 | #350 | 631 | 0.0412% |
| 1976 | #369 | 564 | 0.0385% |
| 1975 | #336 | 662 | 0.0454% |
| 1974 | #308 | 759 | 0.0517% |
| 1973 | #283 | 865 | 0.0593% |
| 1972 | #279 | 918 | 0.0603% |
| 1971 | #277 | 1,036 | 0.0623% |
| 1970 | #245 | 1,282 | 0.0733% |
| 1969 | #212 | 1,475 | 0.0874% |
| 1968 | #197 | 1,578 | 0.0962% |
| 1967 | #180 | 1,793 | 0.1086% |
| 1966 | #168 | 2,039 | 0.1205% |
| 1965 | #157 | 2,418 | 0.1370% |
| 1964 | #153 | 2,585 | 0.1364% |
| 1963 | #141 | 2,936 | 0.1523% |
| 1962 | #139 | 3,058 | 0.1555% |
| 1961 | #131 | 3,489 | 0.1729% |
| 1960 | #130 | 3,496 | 0.1729% |
| 1959 | #126 | 3,629 | 0.1793% |
| 1958 | #125 | 3,526 | 0.1753% |
| 1957 | #120 | 3,710 | 0.1814% |
| 1956 | #123 | 3,451 | 0.1719% |
| 1955 | #120 | 3,503 | 0.1792% |
| 1954 | #115 | 3,680 | 0.1895% |
| 1953 | #108 | 3,629 | 0.1929% |
| 1952 | #100 | 3,742 | 0.2018% |
| 1951 | #95 | 3,816 | 0.2119% |
| 1950 | #91 | 3,883 | 0.2267% |
| 1949 | #95 | 3,722 | 0.2176% |
| 1948 | #91 | 3,838 | 0.2260% |
| 1947 | #91 | 4,251 | 0.2398% |
| 1946 | #80 | 4,168 | 0.2653% |
| 1945 | #70 | 3,637 | 0.2783% |
| 1944 | #73 | 3,649 | 0.2749% |
| 1943 | #68 | 4,092 | 0.2933% |
| 1942 | #88 | 3,107 | 0.2300% |
| 1941 | #121 | 2,196 | 0.1818% |
| 1940 | #125 | 2,034 | 0.1779% |
| 1939 | #115 | 2,158 | 0.1968% |
| 1938 | #113 | 2,283 | 0.2069% |
| 1937 | #107 | 2,344 | 0.2203% |
| 1936 | #103 | 2,320 | 0.2230% |
| 1935 | #108 | 2,199 | 0.2097% |
| 1934 | #109 | 2,227 | 0.2133% |
| 1933 | #115 | 2,004 | 0.1988% |
| 1932 | #114 | 2,121 | 0.1988% |
| 1931 | #106 | 2,224 | 0.2089% |
| 1930 | #110 | 2,378 | 0.2112% |
| 1929 | #98 | 2,558 | 0.2291% |
| 1928 | #102 | 2,644 | 0.2293% |
| 1927 | #91 | 2,929 | 0.2456% |
| 1926 | #92 | 2,928 | 0.2470% |
| 1925 | #96 | 2,964 | 0.2435% |
| 1924 | #93 | 3,070 | 0.2458% |
| 1923 | #95 | 2,976 | 0.2467% |
| 1922 | #96 | 2,939 | 0.2447% |
| 1921 | #100 | 2,862 | 0.2321% |
| 1920 | #100 | 2,718 | 0.2268% |
| 1919 | #103 | 2,346 | 0.2076% |
| 1918 | #110 | 2,264 | 0.1956% |
| 1917 | #106 | 2,147 | 0.1986% |
| 1916 | #118 | 1,858 | 0.1779% |
| 1915 | #132 | 1,493 | 0.1518% |
| 1914 | #159 | 920 | 0.1208% |
| 1913 | #184 | 614 | 0.0983% |
| 1912 | #203 | 470 | 0.0842% |
| 1911 | #211 | 336 | 0.0803% |
| 1910 | #240 | 258 | 0.0651% |
| 1909 | #240 | 216 | 0.0622% |
| 1908 | #242 | 199 | 0.0595% |
| 1907 | #266 | 168 | 0.0527% |
| 1906 | #258 | 161 | 0.0545% |
| 1905 | #301 | 124 | 0.0425% |
| 1904 | #294 | 120 | 0.0436% |
| 1903 | #311 | 101 | 0.0386% |
| 1902 | #325 | 91 | 0.0345% |
| 1901 | #326 | 86 | 0.0359% |
| 1900 | #367 | 85 | 0.0284% |
| 1899 | #340 | 77 | 0.0330% |
| 1898 | #345 | 81 | 0.0313% |
| 1897 | #376 | 59 | 0.0252% |
| 1896 | #425 | 46 | 0.0193% |
| 1895 | #428 | 44 | 0.0188% |
| 1894 | #465 | 36 | 0.0161% |
| 1893 | #477 | 32 | 0.0150% |
| 1892 | #461 | 35 | 0.0165% |
| 1891 | #760 | 13 | 0.0070% |
| 1890 | #700 | 15 | 0.0079% |
| 1889 | #578 | 20 | 0.0112% |
| 1888 | #695 | 14 | 0.0078% |
| 1887 | #593 | 15 | 0.0103% |
| 1886 | #579 | 15 | 0.0104% |
| 1885 | #957 | 6 | 0.0045% |
| 1883 | #956 | 5 | 0.0045% |
| 1882 | #840 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | #6,414 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #6,331 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #6,138 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #4,097 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1968 | #3,184 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1967 | #3,346 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #3,333 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #2,914 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1963 | #2,452 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #4,229 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1960 | #2,739 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #3,369 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1958 | #3,107 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1957 | #2,416 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1956 | #3,642 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #2,468 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #3,984 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1953 | #2,979 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #3,882 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1951 | #2,903 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,843 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1949 | #2,498 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1948 | #3,829 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #1,941 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1946 | #2,311 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1945 | #3,096 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #2,511 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1943 | #1,786 | 17 | 0.0012% |
| 1942 | #2,184 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1941 | #2,116 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1940 | #2,373 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1939 | #2,200 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1938 | #3,672 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1937 | #2,541 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #1,902 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1935 | #2,774 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1934 | #3,061 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1933 | #3,092 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #2,918 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1931 | #2,131 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1930 | #2,831 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #4,133 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1928 | #3,163 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1927 | #3,894 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #4,391 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #4,490 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #3,995 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #3,852 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1917 | #3,666 | 6 | 0.0006% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Eileen
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Eileen Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Eileen's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Eileen's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.