Eilene
A feminine name possibly derived from the name Ellen, of Greek origin.
Name Census estimates that about 962 living Americans carry the first name Eilene. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Eilene today is around 58 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eilene births was 1946 (54 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eilene. 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
962
~ 1 in 356,293 Americans
Peak year
1946
54 babies that year
Average age
58
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,480
Tracked since 1909
Popularity
Eilene: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eilene from the 1900s through to the 2020s, spanning 13 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1940s, with 387 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1940s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eilene 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 Eilene during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Eilenes live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. California, Ohio, Pennsylvania recorded the most babies named Eilene, while Nebraska, Massachusetts, Iowa recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 29 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Eilene
The name Eilene is believed to have its origins in the Greek language, derived from the word "helene," which means "bright one" or "shining light." It is a variation of the more common name Helen, which has been widely used across various cultures and time periods.
The earliest recorded use of the name Eilene can be traced back to the late 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries like the United States and the United Kingdom. However, its roots can be traced back further to ancient Greece, where the name Helen was associated with the mythological figure, Helen of Troy, whose beauty was said to have sparked the Trojan War.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Eilene was Eilene Galloway (1906-1997), an American artist and illustrator known for her work in children's books. She collaborated with several prominent authors, including Dr. Seuss, and her illustrations graced the pages of numerous beloved children's books.
Another prominent figure with the name Eilene was Eilene Zimmerman (1914-2008), an American journalist and author. She worked for several major newspapers, including the New York Times, and wrote extensively on social issues, particularly those related to women's rights and civil liberties.
In the realm of literature, Eilene Ingram (1929-2013) was an American poet and educator. She published several collections of poetry and taught creative writing at various universities throughout her career. Her work often explored themes of nature, identity, and the human experience.
Moving to the field of science, Eilene Cross (1941-2020) was an American biochemist and academic. She made significant contributions to the understanding of protein structure and function and served as a professor at several prestigious institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley.
Lastly, Eilene Janifer (1936-2021) was an American author and editor who wrote extensively in the science fiction and fantasy genres. She published numerous short stories and novels, and her work was celebrated for its imaginative and thought-provoking exploration of speculative themes.
While the name Eilene may not be as widely used today as it once was, it carries a rich history and has been borne by individuals who have made significant contributions across various fields, from the arts and literature to science and journalism.
People
Eilene + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eilene 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
Eilene: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eilene?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 962 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eilene 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 356,293 US residents.
Is Eilene a common name?
We classify Eilene as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,077 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eilene most popular?
The single biggest year for Eilene was 1946, when 54 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eilene is about 58 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Eilene a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eilene 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.