NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Ean

A variant of Ian, a Scottish name derived from John.

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Ean is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ean popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3990, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 4 births.

This profile covers 7 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2019 to 2021. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Ean is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 7 living people in the UK are called Ean. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2022 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Ean ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 4 boys were registered as Ean.
  • About 7 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ean as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3990

2021

Births in 2021

4

Latest year

Peak year

2021

4 births

Estimated living

7

2026

Meaning

What does Ean mean?

The name Ean has its origins in the Scottish Gaelic language, derived from the word "Eoghan," which means "born of the yew tree." This name has been in use since ancient times in the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides islands.

One of the earliest known references to the name Ean comes from the 6th century, when a Scottish king named Aedan mac Gabrain ruled over the Kingdom of Dalriada. He was a prominent figure in the region and played a significant role in the expansion of Christianity in Scotland.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Ean Mor MacDonald, also known as John of Islay, was the Lord of the Isles and a powerful figure in Scottish history. He was known for his military prowess and his role in the Scottish Wars of Independence against England.

Another historical figure bearing the name Ean was Ean Dubh Munro, a Scottish warrior who lived in the 16th century. He was the chief of the Clan Munro and played a vital role in the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547, leading his clan against the English forces.

In the 18th century, Ean MacLachlan was a Scottish Gaelic poet and bard from the Isle of Mull. He was renowned for his skill in composing traditional Scottish Gaelic poetry and his works were widely celebrated during his lifetime.

Ean MacColl, born in 1915 and died in 1989, was a Scottish folk singer, songwriter, and labor activist. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the British folk revival movement, and his songs often reflected his political beliefs and social commentary.

While the name Ean has its roots in Scottish Gaelic culture, it has also been adopted and used in various other cultures and languages over time, albeit with slightly different spellings or pronunciations. However, its origins and historical significance remain closely tied to the Scottish Highlands and Hebrides islands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Ean over time

The chart below shows babies named Ean registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2019 to 2021. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Ean, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Ean
01234201920202021

Decades

Ean by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ean was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3990 4 1
2010s #4702 3 1

Related

Names similar to Ean

FAQ

Ean: questions and answers

How popular is the name Ean in the UK right now?

In 2021, Ean was ranked #3990 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Ean most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 4 babies registered as Ean in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Ean?

A variant of Ian, a Scottish name derived from John.

How many people are called Ean in the UK?

A total of 7 babies have been registered as Ean across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.