Eithyn
A Welsh name derived from the word "eithin" meaning gorse or furze.
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Eithyn. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Eithyn today is around 17 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Eithyn births was 2007 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Eithyn. 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 Eithyn. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
2007
6 babies that year
Average age
17
years old
2011 SSA rank
#12,830
Tracked since 2007
Popularity
Eithyn: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Eithyn from the 2000s through to the 2010s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 6 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
Eithyn 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 Eithyn 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 Eithyn
The name Eithyn has its origins in the Welsh language, tracing back to the medieval period in the region now known as Wales. It is derived from the Welsh word "eithin," which refers to the gorse plant, a thorny evergreen shrub native to western Europe. This connection suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals residing in areas abundant with gorse or associated with its cultivation or usage.
In terms of historical references, the name Eithyn does not appear to have been widely mentioned in ancient texts or religious scriptures. However, it is recorded in some Welsh genealogical records and local histories from the 13th century onwards, indicating its use as a personal name during that time period.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Eithyn was a Welsh landowner and farmer who lived in the late 13th century. Unfortunately, detailed records of his life and achievements have been lost to time.
In the 15th century, an Eithyn ap Rhys was a notable bard and poet in the court of the Welsh prince Owain Glyndŵr. His works, though largely unpreserved, were celebrated for their skillful use of the Welsh language and poetic traditions.
During the 16th century, an Eithyn Goch (meaning "Eithyn the Red") was a prominent figure in the Welsh Wars of the Roses, serving as a captain in the army of Henry Tudor, the future King Henry VII of England. His bravery and loyalty were instrumental in securing Tudor's victory at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.
In the 18th century, an Eithyn Jones was a respected minister and theologian within the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist movement. He authored several influential treatises on religious doctrine and played a significant role in the spread of Methodism across Wales.
Lastly, in the 19th century, Eithyn Davies was a Welsh industrialist and entrepreneur who founded a successful mining company in the South Wales Coalfield. His business acumen and innovative techniques contributed to the region's economic growth during the Industrial Revolution.
While the name Eithyn has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, these examples illustrate its enduring presence within Welsh culture and society over the centuries, spanning various professions and walks of life.
People
Eithyn + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Eithyn 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
Eithyn: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Eithyn?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Eithyn 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Eithyn a common name?
We classify Eithyn as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 11 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Eithyn most popular?
The single biggest year for Eithyn was 2007, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Eithyn is about 17 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 Eithyn in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Eithyn a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Eithyn 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.
Is Eithyn still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Eithyn 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 Eithyn 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 share the name Eithyn?
Find out how many Americans are named Eithyn on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.