Eilean

Eilean is the Gaelic form of the first name Eileen, which has its origins in the Old French Aveline or Ava.

What does the name Eilean mean?

Eilean is regarded as the Gaelic variant of the name Eileen, which traces back to the Old French Aveline or Ava. The meaning of the name includes terms like 'the desired one,' 'the strong one,' or 'the little bird.' Its roots likely lie in the Old Germanic av, avi, and awi, meaning 'desired,' 'coveted,' or 'wanted,' and in Old Saxon aval, meaning 'the power' or 'the strength.' There may also be a connection to the Latin avis, meaning 'the bird.' Furthermore, Eilean is a variant of Helen, which is originally derived from Helena. In this context, the meaning would be 'the radiant one,' 'the beautiful one,' 'the torch,' or 'the moon.' The origin in Ancient Greek goes back to the three components helénē (ἑλένη), meaning 'the torch,' 'the light,' and 'the brightness,' as well as hēlios (ἥλιος) for 'the sun,' 'the sunlight,' and 'the sunbeams,' or selēnē (σελήνη) for 'the moon.' Other variants include Ileen, Aileen, Ailine, Ailin, Ailien, Alleen, Ayline, and Aylina.

Where does the name Eilean come from?

Eilean is a female first name with Old Saxon and Ancient Greek roots, meaning 'the desired one.'

How do you pronounce Eilean?

Eilean is pronounced approximately like 'Eilen.'

Popularity

Eilean is a rather rare name in Germany. In 2009, it ranked 2,111th on the list of the most common female first names. The name achieved its best ranking in 2008 at 1,636th place. From 1930 to 2024, Eilean has been used as a first name in Germany, averaging 3rd place. However, no child has been baptized with this name in the last ten years.