
The short answer
Eileen is a feminine name used in Irish and English. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Anglicized form of Eibhlín. It is also sometimes considered an Irish form of Helen." It ranked #654 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, anglicized form of Eibhlín. It is also sometimes considered an Irish form of Helen. The entry lists its usage as Irish, English.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Eileen ranked #654 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #654 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Irish) and that sit near Eileen in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Eileen mean?
Behind the Name does not give Eileen a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: anglicized form of Eibhlín.
Is Eileen a popular name?
Eileen ranked #654 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Eileen a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Eileen appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Eileen — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.