UK girl's name
Eireann
An Anglicized form of the Irish name Éirinn meaning "abundant, fertile land".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Eireann is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Eireann popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3318, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 9 births.
This profile covers 100 England and Wales registrations across 22 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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.
The latest count is about 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 440 living people in the UK are called Eireann. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Eireann ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 9 girls were registered as Eireann.
- • Eireann ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #127 in 2024.
- • About 440 living people in the UK are estimated to have Eireann as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3318
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2001
9 births
Estimated living
440
2026
Meaning
What does Eireann mean?
The given name Eireann is derived from the Irish Gaelic word "Éire," which means "Ireland." It is a feminine name that has its roots in the ancient Celtic culture of Ireland. The earliest recorded use of the name dates back to the 5th century AD, when it appeared in various Irish myths and legends.
In Irish mythology, Éire was the name of a goddess who was believed to be the matron of Ireland. According to legend, she was one of the queens of the ancient Irish people, and her name was later adopted as the name for the island itself. The name Eireann is a variant spelling of this ancient name, reflecting the evolution of the Irish language over time.
One of the earliest historical figures known to have been named Eireann was Eireann Baráin, a 6th-century Irish princess who was the daughter of Muiredach Muinderg, the High King of Ireland. Another notable figure was Eireann Inghen Diarmada, a 10th-century Irish noblewoman who was the wife of the King of Leinster.
In more recent history, Eireann has been used as a given name by several prominent Irish individuals. One example is Eireann Ní Chuilleanáin, an Irish poet and academic who was born in 1942 and is known for her works exploring themes of Irish identity and culture.
Another notable figure was Eireann Ní Mhaoilriada, an Irish language activist and author who was born in 1920 and played a significant role in the promotion and preservation of the Irish language throughout her life.
Eireann Inghinidhe Rógánaigh, born in 1935, was an Irish historian and academic who made significant contributions to the study of early Irish history and literature.
Eireann Aschuill, born in 1949, is an Irish singer and musician who has been an important figure in the preservation and promotion of traditional Irish music for several decades.
Throughout history, the name Eireann has been closely associated with Irish culture, heritage, and national identity. Its ancient roots and mythological significance have made it a popular choice for Irish parents seeking to celebrate their cultural heritage through their child's name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Eireann over time
The chart below shows babies named Eireann registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Eireann, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Eireann by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Eireann 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 | #4467 | 24 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4742 | 20 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3688 | 43 | 9 |
| 1990s | #3033 | 13 | 3 |
Geography
Where Eireann is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Eireann. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Eireann ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #127 in 2024.
Across the UK
Eireann in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#792 in 2021
7 years of NRS records, 29 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#127 in 2024
27 years of NISRA records, 313 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Eireann
-
Eireann Marshall
university teacher; classical scholar
British classicist (1967-)
1967-
Related
Names similar to Eireann
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Eireann: questions and answers
How popular is the name Eireann in the UK right now?
In 2024, Eireann was ranked #3318 for girls in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Eireann most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 9 babies registered as Eireann in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Eireann?
An Anglicized form of the Irish name Éirinn meaning "abundant, fertile land".
How many people are called Eireann in the UK?
A total of 100 babies have been registered as Eireann across the 22 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 29 more in Scotland and 313 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Eireann most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Eireann ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #127 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.