Given name · also Irish
Aileen
“light-bearer”·“from the green meadow”
Aileen is used as a given name. Interpretations include “light-bearer” and “from the green meadow”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “light-bearer” and “from the green meadow”. These belong to different or overlapping naming contexts.
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Irish and Scottish naming traditions.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Aileen through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 37,642
- 5 boys · 37,637 girls
- Most popular year
- 2009
- 685 babies
- 2025
- 340
- #799 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −15%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 340 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 799 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 14.7% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 685 in 2009. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (86). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 25,227 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Aileen’s family of names
Aileen has an affectionate form in Ailie. Aileen has an alternative spelling in Eileen. In English usage, Aileen has a related form in Eileen.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 20
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Aileen
- Aileen BavieraFilipino sinologist1959–2020
- Aileen RigginAmerican diver, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist (1906–2002)
- Aileen QuinnAmerican actress, singer and dancerborn 1971
- Aileen PringleAmerican actress (1895–1989)
- Aileen Meagherathletics competitor (1910-1987)
- Aileen FrischSouth Korean lugerborn 1992
- Aileen HernandezAmerican union organizer and civil rights activist (1926–2017)
- Aileen McGlynnScottish paralympic tandem cyclistborn 1973
- Aileen Osborn WebbAmerican patron of the arts, founder of Craft Horizons and American Craft Council (1892-1979)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Aileen, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Skye
“woman from the Isle of Skye” · “man from the Isle of Skye”
8% boys · 92% girls
Delaney
“the dark challenger” · “from the elder-tree grove”
1% boys · 99% girls
Ainsley
“one's own meadow”
1% boys · 99% girls
Quinn
“woman who is queenly” · “one who provides counsel; an intelligent man”
20% boys · 80% girls
Maisie
“pearl”
>99% girls
Maire
“star of the sea” · “from the sea of bitterness”
>99% girls
Nairna
“from the alder-tree river”
>99% girls
Monroe
“woman from the river” · “from the mouth of the river Roe”
20% boys · 80% girls