Eileen is the English form of the Irish Eibhlín, which goes back to the Norman French Aveline, a name of uncertain meaning that is popularly explained as "bright" or "shining" through its long association with Helen. It was a favorite of Irish-American families in the early 20th century, and the 1982 hit Come On Eileen keeps it on the radio. In the United States Eileen was number 625 in 2000, 698 in 2015 and ranks 654 in 2025 after a peak of 592 the year before.