Aileen

Aileen is a female first name that is considered a variant of Eileen. This form is the Anglicized variant of the Irish name Eibhlín or Aibhilín, which in turn originated from the Middle English name Evelyn.

What does the name Aileen mean?

The name Aileen is derived from Eileen and has its roots in the Irish Eibhlín or Aibhilín, as well as in the Middle English Evelyn. The origins of these names may lie in the Germanic name Ava, from which the diminutive forms Avelina and Aveline developed through Avila. The exact origin and meaning of Aileen and Ava are unclear. Ava may refer to the Germanic element avi, meaning 'desired' or 'longed for,' so Aileen could be interpreted as 'the Desired.' Alternatively, the name could also stem from the Old Saxon word aval for 'strength' or 'power,' which would give Aileen the meaning 'the Strong.' The name is especially common in English-speaking countries but is also used in German-speaking regions. Other variants of Aileen or Aveline include names like Aileena, Ailin, Ailina, Ailine, Ailyn, Ayleen, Eileena, Eilin, Eilina, Evelyn, Evelyna, Evelyne, Evelynn, Eyleen, Eyleena, Eylin, and Eyline.

Where does the name Aileen come from?

Aileen has its roots in Old Germanic and Old Saxon and means 'the Desired' or 'the Strong.' The name is composed of the elements avi (Old Germanic) for 'desired, longed for' and aval (Old Saxon) for 'strength, power.' The languages in which Aileen is prevalent include English, Irish, and Scottish.

How do you pronounce Aileen?

Aileen is usually pronounced in German as 'Ei-lin' [ˈaɪ̯liːn]. The name is two syllables and has an elegant sound, with a gliding diphthong at the beginning that conveys a sense of lightness. The second syllable is stressed and contains a long I, giving the name a clear accent. The final 'n' gently rounds off the sound. Overall, Aileen sounds graceful, modern, and stylish, with an international flair.

Popularity

In Germany, Aileen enjoys great popularity and currently ranks 929th on the list of the most common female first names. Its best ranking was in 2006 at 246th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 450 times, earning it 927th place during that period. From 2010 to 2024, Aileen ranks 674th.

Nicknames & pet names

Ai / Aiai / Aiaiai / Aii / Aila / Aile / Ailee / Aileenchen / Aileensche / Ailien / Ailini / Ailo / Aily / Ailüün / Ais / Aldi / Alien / Alin / Ally / Aly / Anny / Elli / Leen / Leeni / Lin / Lina / Linchen / Line / Lini

Similar first names

Famous people

• Aileen Allen (American diver)
• Aileen Britten (Australian actress)
• Aileen Britton (Australian actress)
• Aileen Celeste (actress from Venezuela)
• Aileen Dankyi-Sampong (German singer)
• Aileen de Graaf (Dutch darts player)
• Aileen Eaton (boxer from the USA)
• Aileen Fox (English archaeologist)
• Aileen Frisch (German luger)
• Aileen Getty (actress/director)
• Aileen Marson (Egyptian actress)
• Aileen McGlynn (British cyclist)
• Aileen Meagher (athlete, Olympic participant)
• Aileen Paterson (English illustrator)
• Aileen Pringle (American actress)
• Aileen Quinn (American actress)
• Aileen Raymond (actress from Great Britain)
• Aileen Rose Dent (artist from Australia)
• Aileen Sormunen (American curler)
• Aileen Stanley (American singer)