Eileen
A girls’ name of Irish origin, meaning bright or shining one; form of Evelyn.
How Eileen has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #696 |
| 2016 | #728 |
| 2017 | #692 |
| 2018 | #669 |
| 2019 | #701 |
| 2020 | #701 |
| 2021 | #670 |
| 2022 | #621 |
| 2023 | #660 |
| 2024 | #593 |
| 2025 | #654 |
Eileen by the numbers
In 2025, 44 babies in England and Wales were named Eileen. In the US, 421 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
For the size of the two countries, it is given noticeably more often in the US than in England and Wales.
Its American peak was 4,250 babies in 1947, so it is a 1940s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1945, about 1 in 370 American girls born that year was called Eileen.
Names that come from Eileen
Forms of Eileen in other languages, names built from it, and names that mean a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
Other names that come from Evelyn
Like Eileen, each of these traces back to Evelyn: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Evelyndesired, wished-for child10,686 in the US (2017)
- Evelynnisland; a variant spelling of Evelyn938 in the US (2017)
- Evalynwished for child; a form of Evelyn275 in the US (2017)
- Evalynnwished for child; modern elaboration of Evelyn225 in the US (2017)
- Evelinawished for child; form of Evelyn73 in England and Wales (2025)
- Evalinalife-giving; a form of Evelyn102 in the US (2017)
- Evelinwished for child; a form of Evelyn27 in England and Wales (2025)
- Evaleelife; a form of Eva or Evelyn with suffix -lee72 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Eileen. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
Sounds like Eileen
Names that are said the same way as Eileen, however they are written. Sounding alike does not mean they share a history.
- Elainebright light; form of Helen506 in the US (2017)
- Ellenbright, shining; form of Helen383 in the US (2017)
- Elinbright, shining; related to Helen40 in England and Wales (2025)
- Elanenthusiasm; liveliness; spirited vigor142 in the US (2017)
- Elaynebright light; a form of Helen29 in the US (2017)
- Ellynbright light; a variant of Helen21 in the US (2017)
Other names that mean light
Like Eileen, each of these has light in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
Names about as common as Eileen
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