Irish girl name
Eileen Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Eileen means uncertain; from a norman name of debated origin. Anglicised from Irish Eibhlín, which came from the Norman name Aveline.
Eileen is the usual English form of the Irish Eibhlín, which itself grew out of the Norman name Aveline. It was brought to Ireland in the Middle Ages and has been popular there ever since, becoming widespread in English-speaking countries in the twentieth century. The Irish form is pronounced rather differently, closer to ev-LEEN, which surprises many people. The English spelling is simple, but it is often confused with Aileen, which has a separate Scottish history.
Pronunciation by a native speaker.
How to pronounce Eileen
EYE·leen
Eileen has 2 syllables. The stress falls on the first syllable (shown in bold). Say it as written in the respelling, with each capitalised part spoken a little louder.
Why the spelling looks different from the sound
- ei / ea: "ei" is often "eh" or "ay", and "ea" is often "a" as in "cat" or "ay" depending on the word (Eimear, Neasa, Deirdre).
More on silent letters · Irish names people mispronounce.
Irish, Welsh and Gaelic dialects differ from region to region, so you may hear more than one correct version.
Variants of Eileen
EileneAileenEibhlínEileene
A well-known Eileen
Eileen Gray.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Eileen mean?
Eileen means "uncertain; from a norman name of debated origin". Anglicised from Irish Eibhlín, which came from the Norman name Aveline.
How do you pronounce Eileen?
Eileen is pronounced EYE-leen.
What is the origin of Eileen?
Eileen is an Irish girl name. In Irish it is written Eibhlín.
How many syllables are in Eileen?
Eileen has 2 syllables, with the stress on the first one.
Why is Eileen spelled the way it is?
The spelling follows Irish spelling conventions rather than English ones. "ei" is often "eh" or "ay", and "ea" is often "a" as in "cat" or "ay" depending on the word (Eimear, Neasa, Deirdre).
What are other spellings of Eileen?
Other spellings and forms include Eilene, Aileen, Eibhlín, Eileene.