Eileen Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Eileen has Irish origins and means 'bright, shining one.' It evolved from the name Éibhlín, which is a diminutive of Elizabeth. The name has a rich linguistic history and is associated with elegance and charm. There are no biblical references tied to Eileen, but it became popular in the 20th century, especially in English-speaking regions.
The name Eileen is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Silent Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Eileen has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for female in South, too falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Eileen' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4917th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2498th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2871st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6193rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 15172nd out of 16616 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 118th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 107th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 122nd out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 256th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 479th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 710th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 685th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Eileen' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Eileen"
Pronunciation
/aɪˈliːn/
Origin
Irish
Etymology
Eileen is derived from the Irish name 'Éibhlín,' which itself is a diminutive form of 'Elizabeth.' The name Elizabeth has Hebrew origins, meaning 'God is my oath.'
Meaning
bright, shining one
Language Evolution
Éibhlín, Eibhlin, Eileen
Historical Usage
Eileen gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the 20th century, particularly in the United States and Ireland.
Variants & Derivatives
Eibhlin, Eileen, Aileen
Modern Popularity & Image
Eileen is viewed as a classic and timeless name, often associated with elegance and charm.
Famous People
Eileen Atkins, Eileen Fisher, Eileen Myles
Explore More Eileen Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Eileen"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Eileen"
"Eileen" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 4917th of 7545 | 34 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 2498th of 6773 | 170 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2871st of 7552 | 156 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6193rd of 10718 | 39 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 15172nd of 16616 | 7 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 118th of 9107 | 37,358 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 107th of 9204 | 46,175 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 122nd of 12526 | 68,112 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 256th of 19264 | 17,832 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 479th of 27321 | 7,944 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 710th of 35406 | 6,056 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 685th of 30306 | 5,089 |
Regional Popularity of "Eileen" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
65.87% 1025th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
67.94% 1651st/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Eileen" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
5.01% 71st/1416 |
5.66% 78th/1379 |
13.36% 316th/2366 |
9.63% 110th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
5.50% 85th/1546 |
3.34% 52nd/1556 |
14.49% 341st/2353 |
8.92% 138th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
6.29% 140th/2227 |
1.73% 42nd/2430 |
10.55% 301st/2853 |
5.37% 149th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
10.73% 315th/2937 |
3.24% 113th/3483 |
16.17% 569th/3518 |
7.34% 297th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
15.39% 567th/3685 |
6.15% 275th/4475 |
15.44% 802nd/5194 |
6.82% 431st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
20.30% 930th/4582 |
9.99% 516th/5164 |
13.36% 977th/7313 |
7.17% 535th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
21.81% 869th/3984 |
12.64% 567th/4487 |
11.70% 798th/6822 |
8.49% 533rd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Eileen"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Eileen" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.