Eileen

Eileen is the anglicized variant of the Irish name Eibhlín, which has its origin in the Middle English Evelyn. All these names likely derive from the Germanic first name Ava, from which the forms Avelina and its Old French variant Aveline emerged.

What does the name Eileen mean?

Eileen is an anglicized form of the Irish name Eibhlín, which traces back to the Middle English name Evelyn. The origin of these names may lie in the Germanic first name Ava, from which the pet forms Avelina and the Old French Aveline developed through the form Avila. The exact origin and meaning of Eileen and its root name Ava are not definitively clarified. Ava may derive from the Germanic element avi, meaning 'desired, longed for'. In this case, Eileen could be interpreted as 'the Desired'. Another possibility is that the name traces back to the Old Saxon word aval, meaning 'strength, power', which would give Eileen the meaning 'the Strong'. Eileen is particularly widespread in English-speaking regions but is also commonly found in German-speaking areas. Other variants of Eileen and Aveline include Aileen, Aileena, Ailin, Ailina, Ailine, Ailyn, Ayleen, Eileena, Eilin, Eilina, Evelyna, Evelyne, Evelynn, Eyleen, Eyleena, Eylin, and Eyline.

Where does the name Eileen come from?

Eileen has an Old Germanic and Old Saxon origin and means 'the Desired' or 'the Strong'. The Old Germanic word avi stands for 'desired, longed for' and the Old Saxon word aval means 'strength, power'. The languages in which Eileen appears are American, English, and Irish.

How do you pronounce Eileen?

The name Eileen is melodious and consists of two syllables. In German pronunciation, it is usually pronounced as 'Ei-lin' [ˈaɪ̯liːn]. The diphthong gives the name a lively and resonant quality. The emphasis on the second syllable with a long I creates a bright aura, while the final 'n' provides a clear closure. Overall, Eileen appears elegant and international – modern, feminine, and present.

Popularity

Eileen is one of the very popular first names in Germany. Currently, it ranks 519th in the list of the most common female first names. The name achieved its best ranking in 1997 at position 283. In the last ten years, Eileen has been given as a first name about 830 times, placing it 578th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 514th. Worldwide, Eileen also appears in various countries.

Nicknames & pet names

Ayleenie / Ei / Eiei / Eiken / Eila / Eile / Eileenchen / Eileenchka / Eileenomon / Eilie / Eilinchen / Eilo / Eilono / Eily / Elle / Elli / Ely / Eylee / Lee / Leechen / Leen / Leenchen / Leeni / Leenie / Leeny / Leni / Lien / Lienchen / Liene / Lina / Linchen / Line / Lini / Linile / Linna / Liny / Zweileen

Similar first names

Eyline

Famous people

• Come on Eileen (song by Dexy's Midnight Runners)
• Eileen Bennett (English tennis player)
• Eileen Brennan (American actress)
• Eileen Browne (English author)
• Eileen Collins (* 1956), American astronaut
• Eileen Essell (British actress)
• Eileen Gray (designer)
• Eileen Heckart (1919-2001) (American actress)
• Eileen Helsby (British actress)
• Eileen Hiscock (1909–1958), British athlete and Olympian
• Eileen Hope Williams (New Zealand golfer)
• Eileen Joyce (Australian musician)
• Eileen Joyce Rutter (1945) (British author)
• Eileen Kennedy-Moore (American author)
• Eileen Magrath (British actress)
• Eileen Marie Collins (former American astronaut)
• Eileen Mary Challans (1905–1983), British author
• Eileen May Duggan (poet from New Zealand)
• Eileen Montesin (actress)
• Eileen Napaltjarri (artist from Australia)