Eavan
An anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name Aoibheann, meaning "beautiful; radiant; splendid."
Name Census estimates that about 180 living Americans carry the first name Eavan. It is a predominantly female name (96.7% of registrations). The average person named Eavan today is around 18 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eavan births was 2008 (18 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eavan. 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
180
~ 1 in 1,904,191 Americans
Peak year
2008
18 babies that year
Average age
18
years old
2008 SSA rank
#11,475
Tracked since 1996
Gender
Gender distribution for Eavan
Eavan leans heavily female at 96.7% of total registrations, but 6 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Eavan as a male name
- Ranked #11,475 in 2008
- 6 male births in 2008
- Peak: 2008 (6 births)
Eavan as a female name
- Ranked #12,540 in 2021
- 7 female births in 2021
- Peak: 2004 (17 births)
Popularity
Eavan: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eavan 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 98 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eavan 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 Eavan during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Eavans live
Origin
Meaning and history of Eavan
The name Eavan has its origins in the Irish language and culture, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old Irish word "eibhinn," which means "radiant" or "pleasant." The name was commonly used in Ireland during the Middle Ages and has undergone various spelling variations over time, including Eavan, Eavann, Eavan, and Eavin.
In ancient Irish literature and manuscripts, the name Eavan is associated with several mythological and historical figures. One notable example is the character of Eavan, who appears in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. She was a beautiful and skilled warrior princess known for her bravery and strength.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Eavan can be found in Irish annals and genealogical records from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Eavan O'Donnell, a prominent Irish chieftain who lived in the late 12th century. Another notable figure was Eavan O'Byrne, a noble and landowner from County Wicklow in the 16th century.
Throughout history, several prominent individuals have borne the name Eavan, including:
1. Eavan Boland (1944-2020), an Irish poet and author known for her feminist perspectives and explorations of Irish identity.
2. Eavan Brady (born 1975), an Irish actress and television presenter, best known for her roles in various Irish and British TV shows.
3. Eavan Kerins (born 1981), an Irish singer-songwriter and musician, known for her unique blend of folk and pop music.
4. Eavan McCrystal (born 1971), an Irish journalist and broadcaster, who has worked for various Irish media outlets.
5. Eavan O'Doherty (born 1966), an Irish actress and playwright, known for her work in theater and television productions.
While the name Eavan has its roots in Irish culture, it has gained popularity and recognition beyond Ireland's borders. The name's meaning of "radiant" and "pleasant" has contributed to its enduring appeal and usage across various regions and cultures.
People
Eavan + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eavan 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
Eavan: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eavan?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 180 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eavan 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 1,904,191 US residents.
Is Eavan a common name?
We classify Eavan as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 182 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eavan most popular?
The single biggest year for Eavan was 2008, when 18 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eavan is about 18 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Eavan a female name?
Yes, 96.7% of people registered as Eavan in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.