Aileen first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Aileen has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Aileen

Irish feminine form of the Gaelic name Aideen, meaning "little fire".

Popularity of Aileen by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Aileen is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Aileen being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 351 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Aileen.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 351
2022 0 404
2021 0 429
2020 0 404
2019 0 452
2018 0 436
2017 0 455
2016 0 500
2015 0 609
2014 0 541
2013 0 479
2012 0 603
2011 5 633
2010 0 645
2009 0 685
2008 0 650
2007 0 645
2006 0 558
2005 0 633
2004 0 567
2003 0 526
2002 0 505
2001 0 550
2000 0 501
1999 0 492
1998 0 525
1997 0 441
1996 0 303
1995 0 235
1994 0 247
1993 0 277
1992 0 254
1991 0 254
1990 0 230
1989 0 238
1988 0 256
1987 0 217
1986 0 252
1985 0 237
1984 0 265
1983 0 254
1982 0 213
1981 0 211
1980 0 212
1979 0 149
1978 0 159
1977 0 152
1976 0 148
1975 0 169
1974 0 190

The history of the first name Aileen

The name Aileen has its origins in the Gaelic language, specifically in Ireland. It is derived from the old Irish name "Aoibhillinn," which means "little beautiful one" or "small and beauteous." The name is thought to have been in use since the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th century.

The name Aileen is a diminutive form of the Irish name Aoife, which itself means "beautiful" or "radiant." The spelling has evolved over time, with variations such as Aylina, Ailene, and Ailinn appearing in historical records.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Aileen can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1231, an entry mentions an "Aileen ingen Ruaidhri," which translates to "Aileen, daughter of Ruaidhri."

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Aileen. One of the most famous was Aileen Aroon, a 17th-century Irish noblewoman and muse of the Irish poet Sir Samuel Ferguson (1810-1886), who wrote a famous poem entitled "Aileen Aroon" in her honor.

Another notable Aileen was Aileen O'Beirne (1902-1974), an Irish sculptor and artist known for her religious statues and works depicting Irish mythology. Her sculptures can be found in churches and public spaces throughout Ireland.

In the literary world, Aileen Piper (1909-1997) was a renowned Australian author and poet, known for her works exploring the themes of love, nature, and the human experience. Her poetry collections include "The Half-Inhabited World" and "The Burning Cloud."

Aileen Wuornos (1956-2002) was an American serial killer, convicted of killing seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990. Her life and trial were the subject of the 2003 biographical crime drama film "Monster," in which Charlize Theron portrayed Wuornos and won an Academy Award for Best Actress.

Finally, Aileen Quinn (born 1971) is an American actress best known for her role as Annie in the 1982 film adaptation of the musical "Annie." She had a successful career as a child actress and has continued to work in the entertainment industry as an adult.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Aileen was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Aileen, please contact us.

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"Aileen first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 5, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/aileen-meaning-and-history/.

"Aileen first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/aileen-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 5 November, 2024

Aileen first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/aileen-meaning-and-history/.

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