Eilee
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "ray of sunlight" or "sun ray".
Name Census estimates that about 291 living Americans carry the first name Eilee. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Eilee today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eilee births was 2017 (27 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eilee. 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
291
~ 1 in 1,177,850 Americans
Peak year
2017
27 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,313
Tracked since 2005
Popularity
Eilee: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eilee from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 151 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Eilee remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eilee 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 Eilee during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Eilees live
Origin
Meaning and history of Eilee
The given name Eilee likely originated from the Irish Gaelic language, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is believed to be a feminine variant of the name Aodh, which means "fire" or "fiery" and was a popular name among Irish kings and warriors. The name Eilee may have evolved from the Irish Eilidh, a form of the name Helen.
In ancient Irish mythology, there are references to a goddess named Eile or Eile na Greine, who was associated with the sun and its warmth. This could suggest a possible connection between the name Eilee and the concept of radiance or brightness.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eilee can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where an Eilee of Leinster is mentioned in the 11th century. Another notable early bearer of the name was Eilee Ó Lorcáin, an Irish poet and historian who lived in the 13th century.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Eilee. Eilee Bán Ó Briain (1275-1349) was an Irish chieftain and celebrated warrior who fought against the Norman invasion of Ireland. Eilee Ní Chonaill (1559-1629) was a renowned Irish noblewoman and patron of the arts, known for her support of Gaelic culture and literature.
In the 17th century, Eilee Ní Chléirigh (1615-1692) was a prominent Irish scribe and chronicler who preserved numerous historical manuscripts and genealogies. Eilee Ní Mhurchadha (1720-1798) was an Irish harpist and composer, celebrated for her contributions to traditional Irish music.
In more recent times, Eilee Ní Bhriain (1892-1981) was an Irish language activist and educator who played a significant role in the revival of the Irish language and culture in the early 20th century.
While the name Eilee has its roots in Irish culture and history, it has gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among those with Irish heritage or an appreciation for Celtic names. The name's meaning and associations with fire, radiance, and Irish mythology have contributed to its enduring appeal.
People
Eilee + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eilee 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
Eilee: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eilee?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 291 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eilee 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 1,177,850 US residents.
Is Eilee a common name?
We classify Eilee as "Very Rare". It ranks above 78.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 293 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eilee most popular?
The single biggest year for Eilee was 2017, when 27 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eilee is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Eilee a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eilee 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.