Find out how popular the first name Ethne has been for the last 40 years (from 1978 to 2017) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ethne by gender

Based on the last 40 years of data, Ethne is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2017, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Ethne.

The history of the first name Ethne

The given name Ethne has its origins in the Irish Gaelic language and culture. It is derived from the Old Irish word "etan" which means "kernel" or "grain". The name is believed to have been in use since the early medieval period in Ireland, around the 5th to 8th centuries AD.

Ethne was a popular name among the ancient Irish, particularly in the provinces of Connacht and Ulster. It is found in several early Irish texts and manuscripts, including the Annals of Ulster and the Annals of the Four Masters, which record historical events and genealogies of prominent families.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Ethne is in the Old Irish saga "The Wooing of Emer", which dates back to the 8th or 9th century. In this tale, Ethne is the name of the wife of the legendary Irish hero Cú Chulainn.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Ethne remained a common name among Irish women, particularly those of noble or aristocratic families. Several notable historical figures bore this name, including:

1. Saint Ethne (457-498), an Irish princess who became a nun and founded the monastery of Cluain Credil in County Westmeath.

2. Ethne ingen Cináeda (died 868), an Irish princess who was the daughter of Cináed mac Conaing, King of Ciannachta.

3. Ethne ingen Áeda (died 914), an Irish noblewoman who was the wife of Niall Glúndub, the High King of Ireland.

4. Ethne ingen Conchobair (died 1009), an Irish princess who was the daughter of Conchobar mac Taidg Ua Briain, King of Munster.

5. Ethne Dhuibh (died 1031), an Irish chieftain and leader of the Uí Thoirdhealbhaigh dynasty in County Sligo.

While the name Ethne was primarily used in Ireland during the medieval period, it also spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Scotland and England, due to cultural and linguistic exchanges between these regions and Ireland. However, its usage remained predominantly within Irish communities and families with Irish heritage.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ethne was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ethne, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!