Fun Facts About the Name Eithne
- 11 babies named Eithne: U.S. records list 11 babies given the name Eithne from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Eithne Mean?
Eithne is an Irish feminine name. It comes from the Old Irish noun eithne, usually translated as "kernel" or "grain." The name therefore has a literal, everyday sense. The same word is found in early Irish as a common noun, and the personal name is generally treated as a direct use of it.
Eithne Name History & Origins
Eithne is an Old Irish name that remained in use in Irish-speaking communities. It appears in early Irish literature as the name of several women, including Eithne, daughter of Balor and mother of Lugh in the myth of Lugh's birth. Medieval Irish genealogies also record women named Eithne, and traditional accounts name the mother of St. Colum Cille as Eithne.
The name changed little in spelling from Old Irish to modern Irish, where it remains Eithne. English-language use produced forms such as Enya and Ethna; Enya in particular is an anglicized rendering of the Irish name and is now also used as a given name in its own right.
How Popular is the Name Eithne?
Eithne 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 2025. Its best rank was #13,673 in 2025.
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 | #13,673 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #18,447 | 5 | 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 Eithne 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 are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Eithne's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Eithne's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.