Eithen
Of Celtic/Welsh origin, meaning "abundant" or "rich, plentiful".
Name Census estimates that about 178 living Americans carry the first name Eithen. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Eithen today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eithen births was 2008 (26 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eithen. 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
178
~ 1 in 1,925,586 Americans
Peak year
2008
26 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2023 SSA rank
#12,745
Tracked since 2001
Popularity
Eithen: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eithen from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 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
Eithen 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 Eithen during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Eithens live
Origin
Meaning and history of Eithen
The given name Eithen is of Welsh origin, derived from the Old Welsh word "eithin," meaning "furze" or "gorse," a type of spiny evergreen shrub native to the British Isles. This name emerged during the early medieval period in Wales, a nation with a rich cultural heritage and a longstanding tradition of using nature-inspired names.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Eithen can be found in the Welsh Triads, a collection of traditional narratives dating back to the 13th century. These triads often featured characters with names rooted in the natural world, reflecting the close connection between the Welsh people and their environment.
Throughout history, the name Eithen has been borne by several notable figures. One such individual was Eithen ap Rhys (c. 1190-1260), a Welsh prince and military leader who played a significant role in the struggles against the Norman invasion of Wales during the 13th century. His bravery and leadership earned him a place in the annals of Welsh history.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Eithen Vaughan (1516-1589), a Welsh poet and historian who lived during the Tudor period. Vaughan was renowned for his poetic works celebrating Welsh culture and identity, as well as his historical writings that documented the rich heritage of his homeland.
In the realm of religion, Eithen ap Gwgan (c. 550-630) was a 7th-century Welsh saint and founder of several churches in the region of Denbighshire. His life and teachings were revered, and his name is still associated with various religious sites and traditions in Wales.
Moving forward in time, Eithen Jones (1765-1832) was a notable Welsh scholar and clergyman who made significant contributions to the study of Welsh language and literature. His works helped preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Wales during a period of rapid social and economic change.
Another individual who bore the name Eithen was Eithen Lewis (1892-1968), a Welsh artist and illustrator known for her vibrant depictions of Welsh landscapes and rural life. Her paintings captured the essence of her homeland and played a role in shaping the artistic identity of Wales in the 20th century.
These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have carried the name Eithen, a name deeply rooted in the cultural and natural heritage of Wales. While its usage may have ebbed and flowed over the centuries, the name Eithen remains a testament to the enduring connection between the Welsh people and their land.
People
Eithen + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eithen 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
Eithen: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eithen?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 178 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eithen 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 1,925,586 US residents.
Is Eithen a common name?
We classify Eithen as "Very Rare". It ranks above 72.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 180 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eithen most popular?
The single biggest year for Eithen was 2008, when 26 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eithen is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Eithen a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eithen 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.
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.