Irish Names Starting with E

Éabha is the Irish form of Eve, the name of the first woman in the Bible. It comes from the Hebrew Chawwah, which is traditionally linked with a word meaning “to live.”

No. 2 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 294 baby girls.

From each meaning “steed, horse.” The daughter of a king of the Irish province of Connacht, she was renowned for both her beauty and her fashion sense.

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby girls a year get the name.

Éala is inspired by eala, the Irish word for “swan.”

No. 10 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 209 baby girls.

Ealga comes from the Irish ealga, an old literary word meaning “noble.” It is best known from Inis Ealga, “noble island,” one of the poetic names for Ireland.

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby girls a year get the name.

Eavan in Irish is Aoibheann, pronounced EVE-een, meaning “radiant beauty.”

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2010.

From aoibheann “pleasant, beautiful, radiant.”

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2017.

Eileen in Irish is Eibhleann, pronounced AVE-linn, meaning “pleasant, beautiful, radiant.”

No. 443 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 8 baby girls.

Eimear possessed the “Six Gifts of Womanhood” – “beauty, a gentle voice, sweet words, wisdom, needlework and chastity!”

No. 207 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 21 baby girls.

Éinín means “little bird” in Irish, from éan “bird” and the diminutive ending -ín, the same ending that turns Róis (Rose) into Róisín. Einin is the same name written without the fada.

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2023.

Eithne means “kernel of a nut or seed” but it may also be related to Aidan meaning “little fire.” There are at least nine St. Eithnes.

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2013.

Elaine in Irish is Eibhleann, pronounced AVE-linn, meaning “pleasant, beautiful, radiant.”

No. 608 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 5 baby girls.

Enya in Irish is Eithne, pronounced EN-ya, meaning “kernel, seed.”

No. 304 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 13 baby girls.

From et meaning “jealousy.” Etain surpassed all other women of her time in beauty and gentleness and thus was an object of jealousy herself.

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2022.

Eva in Irish is Aoife, pronounced EE-fa, meaning “beautiful, radiant, joyful.”

No. 69 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 77 baby girls.

Is the Irish form of Old English ead “rich” + mund “guardian”, and implies “guardian of the riches.”

No. 348 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 11 baby boys.

Edmond in Irish is Eamon, pronounced AIM-an, meaning “guardian of the riches.”

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2022.

Edmund in Irish is Eamon, pronounced AIM-an, meaning “guardian of the riches.”

No. 829 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 3 baby boys.

Meaning “iron.” The name is often linked with Ernest, a Germanic word meaning “vigor.”

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby boys a year get the name.

The name is given to boys as a mark of respect to the great Irish orator and patriot Robert Emmet who was a leader of the unsuccessful 1798 rebellion against the British.

No. 829 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 3 baby boys.

From ean meaning “bird” and suggests “birdlike” or “freedom of spirit.” A soldier and a prince Enda was converted by his sister, Saint Fanchea.

No. 87 for boys in Ireland in 2025 (spelled Éanna), with 66 baby boys.

Ennis comes from the Irish inis, “island,” a word also used for a river meadow bounded by water.

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby boys a year get the name.

Comes from an old Irish word and means “born of the yew tree.”

No. 132 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 41 baby boys.

Eoin is an Irish form of John. It comes through Latin Iohannes and Greek from the Hebrew Yochanan, “God is gracious.”

No. 106 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 53 baby boys.

Ernan in Irish is Eirnin, pronounced AIR-nin, meaning “iron.”

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby boys a year get the name.

Ernest in Irish is Eirnin, pronounced AIR-nin, meaning “iron.”

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2021.

Eugene in Irish is Eoghan, pronounced O-in, meaning “born of the yew tree.”

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2022.