Eileen
Eileen is a girls' name of Irish origin meaning “possibly desired.” It ranked #654 in the United States in 2025. An anglicization of the Irish Eibhlín, a form of the Norman French Aveline, and related to Evelyn and Aileen.
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how do you pronounce Eileen?
eye-LEEN
where does the name Eileen come from?
An anglicized form of the Irish Eibhlín, from the Norman French Aveline, from the Germanic Avi, possibly desire, with diminutive endings. Eileen is also sometimes used for the separate Irish name Éibhleann, possibly from a word for radiance or beauty, and it is related to Evelyn and Aileen.
It was widely popular in the early-to-mid 20th century and is now undergoing a vintage revival.
how popular is this name?
Eileen has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 143 years since 1882, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #68 in 1943, and ranked #654 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #654 |
| 2024 | #592 |
| 2023 | #663 |
| 2022 | #621 |
| 2021 | #671 |
| 2020 | #701 |
| 2019 | #701 |
| 2018 | #669 |
| 2017 | #692 |
| 2016 | #727 |
| 2010 | #837 |
| 2000 | #624 |
| 1990 | #461 |
| 1980 | #377 |
| 1970 | #245 |
| 1960 | #130 |
| 1950 | #91 |
| 1943 | #68 |
| 1940 | #125 |
| 1930 | #110 |
| 1920 | #100 |
| 1910 | #240 |
| 1900 | #365 |
| 1890 | #693 |
| 1882 | #813 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Eileen fell outside the top 1,000.
who are famous people named Eileen?
- Eileen Gray
- Eileen Collins
- Eileen Davidson
the history of Eileen
The name features in a number of classic Irish songs.
what are the nicknames and variants of Eileen?
Variants around the world
what names go well with Eileen?
Sibling names that share Eileen's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Eileen
What does the name Eileen mean?
Eileen means “possibly desired”.
What is the origin of the name Eileen?
Eileen comes from the Irish naming tradition. Related forms include Eibhlín, Aveline, Evelyn and Aileen.
How popular is the name Eileen?
Eileen ranked #654 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1943, at #68, and it has spent 143 years in the top 1,000 since 1882.
Is Eileen a boy or girl name?
Eileen is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Eileen?
Eileen is pronounced eye-LEEN, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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