Fun Facts About the Name Eily
- 438 babies named Eily: U.S. records list 438 babies given the name Eily from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Eily Mean?
Eily is an English spelling of an Irish feminine name. Its literal meaning is uncertain. The name is usually treated as a variant or short form of Eileen, which is the anglicized form of Irish Eibhlín. Eibhlín is a Gaelicized form of the Norman French name Aveline, a diminutive of Ava. The meaning of Ava is not certain; it may come from a Germanic element meaning "desired" or from a word for "bird." A separate traditional association links Eileen - and sometimes Eily - to Helen, and therefore to the meaning "light" or "torch." That association is not the literal etymology of Eibhlín, so it is best understood as a later interpretation.
Eily Name History & Origins
Eily is usually placed in the family of English spellings of Irish Eibhlín. Norman settlers brought the French name Aveline to Ireland after the twelfth century, and it was adopted into Irish as Eibhlín. Over time, English speakers in Ireland rendered the name in several forms, including Eileen, Aileen, and Eily. The shorter form Eily appears in Irish and Irish-diaspora use as a familiar or pet form of the name.
The name is also familiar from Dion Boucicault's 1860 play The Colleen Bawn, whose heroine is Eily O'Connor. The play was based on an earlier story and became a popular melodrama in the nineteenth century, but this literary use is not the origin of the name and should not be confused with its earliest record. Eily is still found as a given name in Ireland and among families of Irish descent.
How Popular is the Name Eily?
Eily has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2013. Its best rank was #5,183 in 2013.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,591 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #5,326 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2023 | #6,229 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 2022 | #5,827 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #8,153 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2020 | #5,707 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #6,789 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2018 | #5,654 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2017 | #6,352 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2016 | #5,327 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2015 | #5,517 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2014 | #5,847 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #5,183 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2012 | #6,407 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #6,647 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2010 | #6,722 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2009 | #9,557 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2008 | #9,649 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2007 | #6,898 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2006 | #10,103 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #9,632 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #8,863 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #8,670 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #12,597 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #14,049 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2000 | #15,762 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #12,914 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Eily Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Eily's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Eily's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.