Eann
A masculine given name of uncertain origin, possibly Irish or Gaelic.
Name Census estimates that about 122 living Americans carry the first name Eann. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Eann today is around 15 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eann births was 2012 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eann. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
122
~ 1 in 2,809,462 Americans
Peak year
2012
10 babies that year
Average age
15
years old
2024 SSA rank
#9,203
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Eann: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eann from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 52 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Eann remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eann by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Eann during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Eann
The name Eann is believed to have its origins in the ancient Celtic languages, particularly in the Gaelic dialects spoken in Ireland and Scotland. It is thought to be derived from the Old Irish word "én," which means "bird" or "blackbird." This connection to the natural world and the symbolism of birds suggests that the name may have held spiritual or cultural significance for the early Celtic peoples.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eann can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In the year 1022, an entry mentions an individual named "Énán Ua Léocháin," who was described as a learned scholar and abbot of the monastery at Clonmacnoise.
During the Middle Ages, the name Eann was particularly popular among Irish and Scottish families, reflecting the strong cultural ties between the two regions. One notable bearer of the name was Eann MacDuibhshíthe (c. 1260-1318), a Scottish nobleman and chief of the Clan MacDuffie. He played a significant role in the Wars of Scottish Independence against England and was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce.
In the 16th century, the name Eann appeared in the Irish bardic poetry of the time. The renowned poet Eann Og Mac an Bhaird (c. 1550-1610) was celebrated for his intricate verse compositions, many of which were dedicated to prominent Irish chieftains and nobles.
Another historical figure with the name Eann was Eann Ó Cléirigh (c. 1590-1643), a renowned Irish chronicler and scribe. He was part of a team of scholars who compiled the Annals of the Four Masters, a comprehensive chronicle of Irish history from the earliest times to the 17th century. This monumental work has become a invaluable resource for understanding Irish history and culture.
In the realm of Irish mythology, the name Eann is associated with the legendary figure of Eann mac Dealbhaoth, who is said to have been a skilled craftsman and the inventor of various tools and weapons. This mythical figure highlights the importance of craftsmanship and ingenuity in ancient Irish culture.
While the name Eann has its roots in the Celtic traditions of Ireland and Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by Irish and Scottish emigrants. However, its historical significance and ties to the rich cultural heritage of these regions remain a defining characteristic of this ancient name.
People
Eann + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eann as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Eann: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eann?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 122 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eann going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 2,809,462 US residents.
Is Eann a common name?
We classify Eann as "Very Rare". It ranks above 67.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 123 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eann most popular?
The single biggest year for Eann was 2012, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eann is about 15 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Eann in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Eann a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eann in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Eann still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Eann in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Eann can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Eann?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.