Eilley
A feminine variant spelling of the name Eileen of uncertain origin.
Name Census estimates that about 57 living Americans carry the first name Eilley. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Eilley today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eilley births was 2012 (13 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eilley. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Eilley. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
57
~ 1 in 6,013,234 Americans
Peak year
2012
13 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2015 SSA rank
#17,198
Tracked since 2009
Popularity
Eilley: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eilley from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 52 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eilley 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 Eilley 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 Eilley
The name Eilley is a unique and intriguing moniker that has its roots in the ancient Celtic language. Its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 5th to 7th centuries, when it was primarily used in regions such as Ireland, Scotland, and parts of Wales.
The name Eilley is believed to be derived from the Gaelic word "aoibheall," which means "beautiful" or "radiant." This suggests that the name was initially given to children as a way of expressing their parents' hopes for their offspring to possess both inner and outer beauty.
While there are no definitive historical references to the name Eilley in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is worth noting that many Celtic names were passed down through oral traditions and storytelling before being recorded in written form.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eilley can be found in the 12th century, when an Irish noblewoman named Eilley O'Rourke was mentioned in the Annals of Ulster. This historical record suggests that the name was in use among the noble classes of Ireland during that time period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Eilley. One such figure was Eilley O'Connell (1745-1825), an Irish revolutionary who played a significant role in the Rebellion of 1798 against British rule in Ireland.
Another prominent Eilley was Eilley MacLeod (1856-1932), a Scottish writer and poet who gained recognition for her works depicting the rugged landscapes and rich cultural traditions of the Highlands.
In the realm of art, Eilley Greenwood (1909-1988) was a renowned British sculptor whose works were widely acclaimed for their abstract and modernist style.
Moving into the 20th century, Eilley Timmins (1920-2003) was a Canadian politician and activist who fought tirelessly for women's rights and social justice.
More recently, Eilley O'Hara (1965-present) is an Irish actress and singer who has graced both the stage and screen with her talented performances.
These examples illustrate the enduring presence of the name Eilley throughout various eras and across different fields, showcasing its versatility and timeless appeal.
People
Eilley + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eilley 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
Eilley: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eilley?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 57 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eilley 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 6,013,234 US residents.
Is Eilley a common name?
We classify Eilley as "Very Rare". It ranks above 56.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 57 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eilley most popular?
The single biggest year for Eilley was 2012, when 13 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eilley is about 14 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 Eilley in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Eilley a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eilley 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.
Is Eilley still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Eilley 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 Eilley 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 called Eilley?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.