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Eileen as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Eileen

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The baby name Eileen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /aɪˈliːn/ (eye-LEEN).

Eileen is Irish in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Irish
Pronunciation: /aɪˈliːn/ (eye-LEEN)

What is the meaning of the name Eileen ?

The baby name Eileen is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /aɪˈliːn/ (eye-LEEN).

Eileen is Irish in Origin.

Eileen is an Anglicized form of Irish Eibhlín and is also used to represent Scottish Gaelic Eilidh. The Irish Eibhlín likely entered via Norman French Aveline, itself from a Germanic root of uncertain sense, while Eilidh is the Gaelic counterpart of Helen. Owing to these twin sources, Eileen is commonly interpreted as “light” or “bright, shining one” through the Helen tradition, though the Aveline line preserves a less definite, Germanic etymology.

In Ireland the name appears in early modern records and is famously borne by the 18th‑century poet Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill. Eileen spread across the English‑speaking world, peaking in the early to mid‑20th century; its profile was renewed by the 1982 hit “Come On Eileen.” Variants and related forms include Eibhlín/Eibhlin, Aileen, Eilene, Ilene, Ileen, and Scottish Eilidh; cognates and cousins are Aveline, Evelyn, Helen, and Ellen. Common diminutives include Eily and Lina.

Eileen has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Eileen

Eileen Heckart Actor · Born 1919 · United States Eileen Heckart was an American actress best known for her acclaimed work on stage and screen over a career that lasted nearly 60 years. She won an Academy Award for Butterflies Are Free and also earned major recognition including a Golden Globe, two Emmy Awards, and three Tony Award nominations. Eileen Brennan Actor · Born 1932 · United States Eileen Brennan was an American actress best known for playing Captain Doreen Lewis in Private Benjamin. She also appeared in The Last Picture Show and made her film debut in Divorce American Style. Eileen Atkins Actor · Born 1934 · United Kingdom Eileen Atkins is an English actress best known for her acclaimed work in theatre, film, and television. She has had a long career since 1953, with notable appearances in Gosford Park, Cold Mountain, and Cranford.
Eileen Davidson Actor · Born 1959 · United States Eileen Davidson is an American actress and author best known for her long-running soap opera roles. She’s especially famous for playing Ashley Abbott on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, as well as Kristen DiMera and Susan Banks on Days of Our Lives. Eileen Ryan Actor · Born 1927 · United States Eileen Ryan was an American actress best known for her film and television work, including Magnolia, Parenthood, and The Pledge. She was married to actor and director Leo Penn and was the mother of Sean Penn, Chris Penn, and Michael Penn. Eileen Essell Actor · Born 1922 · United Kingdom Eileen Essell was an English actress best known for launching her screen career remarkably late, beginning at age 79. She later appeared in films including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and The Producers.

Eileen – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
FJ Girls 0 #9 1 583
BW 0 #18 2 960
SV Girls 0 #18 1 458
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
ID 0 #39 1 2,238
MT 0 #42 2 1,767
SG Girls 0 #45 1,842 18,916
PR 0 #47 9 1,497
CM 0 #56 1 2,592
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
SG 0 #73 251 11,010
CN 0 #76 10 3,857
TW 0 #78 23 4,523
PH 0 #87 10 5,607
JM 0 #89 5 3,714
BN Girls 0 #97 10 5,459
ID Girls 0 #101 2 3,319
QA 0 #106 1 7,011
OM 0 #119 3 6,215
Switzerland Girls 2024 #120 16 1,786
Norway Girls 2025 #123 4 453
CY Girls 0 #123 3 3,755
PR Girls 0 #127 35 3,171
MT Girls 0 #129 23 3,773
PA 0 #130 9 3,797
IQ 0 #132 2 3,533
JO 0 #140 1 2,158
EE Girls 0 #142 1 1,888
CR 0 #146 13 5,526
BW Girls 0 #150 2 4,216
CN Girls 0 #162 240 8,829
Sweden Girls 2022 #167 13 1,568
TW Girls 0 #175 106 8,139
UY 0 #181 2 2,477
AE 0 #182 6 10,220
LU Girls 0 #186 5 4,850
DK 0 #205 2 5,198
JM Girls 0 #209 51 7,507
NA Girls 0 #210 15 7,146
PS 0 #224 3 5,692
HU Girls 0 #225 1 3,308
AL Girls 0 #227 1 4,141
MO Girls 0 #229 23 7,056
Germany Girls 0 #230 1,408 4,949
Canada Girls 2024 #238 48 2,795
GR Girls 0 #245 5 6,293
GH 0 #246 3 5,396
JP Girls 0 #248 4 6,592
MY 0 #253 78 12,352
EC Girls 0 #254 5 3,650
NG 0 #269 4 5,926
IL 0 #278 5 6,291
HR Girls 0 #294 1 3,687
PH Girls 0 #296 96 13,098
PE 0 #299 12 6,350
DK Girls 0 #304 13 7,429
QA Girls 0 #307 10 15,378
HK 0 #309 40 8,483
SA 0 #309 4 10,560
GH Girls 0 #311 14 6,973
JO Girls 0 #315 11 7,570
Germany 0 #316 126 2,542
MU Girls 0 #325 27 8,539
KZ Girls 0 #329 4 5,862
GT 0 #338 1 5,948
PA Girls 0 #344 142 9,861
France Girls 2021 #347 59 3,185
CZ Girls 0 #348 4 5,378
SD Girls 0 #357 2 7,678
OM Girls 0 #362 35 15,987
PL Girls 0 #364 1 5,096
NL 0 #365 27 2,481
CL 0 #367 45 6,867
ZA 0 #375 73 14,421
JO Boys 0 #389 1 7,057
Austria Girls 0 #393 28 1,885
YE 0 #397 2 8,639
MY Girls 0 #401 821 24,821
BO 0 #405 4 6,868
BD Girls 0 #406 1 8,413
EG 0 #412 1 6,387
CO 0 #417 64 7,768
CR Girls 0 #424 109 11,342
MX 0 #440 6 8,339
Spain 0 #441 12 2,326
HK Girls 0 #446 172 16,104
IQ Girls 0 #449 56 11,303
PT Girls 0 #465 7 7,952
United States Girls 2024 #470 508 8,487
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
GT Girls 0 #487 19 7,500
RU Girls 0 #487 12 11,913
UY Girls 0 #499 12 6,731
PS Girls 0 #501 23 10,981
KW Girls 0 #503 13 19,177
PA Boys 0 #504 2 9,305
AE Girls 0 #521 33 20,968
CM Girls 0 #524 17 11,671
ZA Girls 0 #526 876 25,928
IR Girls 0 #539 7 8,334
BH 0 #542 12 17,937
CL Girls 0 #550 326 14,098
LY 0 #551 9 12,703
HK Boys 0 #557 1 12,905
PS Boys 0 #561 1 10,655
CO Girls 0 #580 667 16,140
AR Girls 0 #583 17 8,289
IL Girls 0 #592 26 11,648
BO Girls 0 #593 19 9,488
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
IN Girls 0 #653 2 13,121
LB 0 #687 4 13,263
SG Boys 0 #688 10 17,960
IQ Boys 0 #696 2 13,071
CL Boys 0 #700 1 13,390
IT 0 #703 12 4,183
SY 0 #716 13 11,684
Finland Girls 2026 #725 14 3,895
NG Girls 0 #741 46 15,093
NL Girls 0 #764 193 5,933
KW Boys 0 #806 1 18,755
PE Girls 0 #807 138 14,861
Spain Girls 0 #859 125 5,561
TN 0 #863 3 13,765
PE Boys 0 #869 10 14,506
SA Girls 0 #892 44 25,931
CO Boys 0 #907 14 15,656
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
EG Girls 0 #950 10 14,742
BR Girls 0 #988 5 12,708
NG Boys 0 #1,000 2 16,906
MX Boys 0 #1,032 2 16,355
MX Girls 0 #1,034 150 17,781
MY Boys 0 #1,181 2 25,439
TR 0 #1,194 18 19,440
DZ 0 #1,234 1 20,130
ZA Boys 0 #1,265 8 25,619
IT Girls 0 #1,313 134 9,415
SA Boys 0 #1,690 2 28,008

Eileen is popular in 81 countries — most recent births per country:

Norway
Ireland
France
Canada
Scotland, United Kingdom

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Eileen

Eileen is predominantly a girl's name.
Eileen is a 2 syllable name, pronounced /aɪˈliːn/ (eye-LEEN).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Aileen, Eibhlín, Eilín, Eilene, Eilin and Eilyn.
Yes, very popular — Eileen ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 10 countries.
Eileen ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Eileen's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 6 notable people named Eileen are in our database, including Eileen Heckart (Actor), Eileen Brennan (Actor), Eileen Atkins (Actor).