Entry № 0531 · Irish origin

Eithne Eithne — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity

/ EN-yah /
Gender
Girl
Origin
Irish
Meaning
"Kernel (mother of Lugh)"
Syllables
2
Rank · US 2025
№ 0
First recorded
Ancient (Irish)

A name that means "kernel (mother of lugh)".

Eithne (pronounced "en-yah") is from the Old Irish etne (kernel, grain). **The mother of Lugh** — the great Celtic god — and one of the most enduring Irish feminine names. **Enya, the Irish singer (born 1961), is the Anglicized form.**

Multiple saints and queens bore the name.

Kernel. Mother of Lugh; modern Enya.

The name in its native script.

Eithne
Transliteration
Eithne
Pronunciation
/ ˈɛn.jə /
Root
Grammatical form

Where Eithne stands.

Current rank · 2025
№ 0 in the U.S.
All-time peak
№ 0 in 0
Babies named Eithne · last year
87 in the U.S.
First entered SSA top-1000
0
Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular
№25 №75 №150 №250 1995 2005 2015 2020 2025 PEAK · — NOW · —

Eithnes before her.

Real people
Enya
Irish singer (Anglicized Eithne).
born 1961
In fiction
Eithne
Lugh's mother.
Irish mythology

Names connected to Eithne.

The number behind Eithne.

5

The Free Spirit

Eithne reduces to five — the number of Irish kernel.

Why families chose this name.

"Lugh's mother. Six letters. Eithne."
Saoirse · Mother of one · Gweedore