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Aileen


Gender: Feminine
Language
: English, Scottish
Etymology:
Aileen is another form (chiefly Scottish) of Eileen, or Aibhilín or Eibhilín, a Gaelic form of the Norman French name Aveline (or Evelyn), from Avis, from the Germanic name Aveza. Aveza comes from a Germanic name element “Avi” whose meaning is unknown.

Eileen is sometimes also used as an Irish equivalent to the Greek name Helen (“Light”) although the two are not related etymologically.

History:
Aileen has traditionally found in Scotland.

Aileen, tagging along after the name Eileen, was introduced to the United States and Britain by Irish immigrants of the mid-19th century. By the 20th century both names had become common (and Eileen had become popular). This is probably due the growing trendiness of Irish names, but mostly because of the preference in the early 20th century of “een” names for girls (Charlene, Doreen, Arlene, Marlene, Darlene, Noreen, etc.).

Please see Eileen for more information.

Pronunciation: ay-leen.

Alternates: Aleen, Aleena, Aileena, Ailene, Ailena.

Famous Bearers:
Miscellaneous
:
Aileen Carol Wuornos (1956-2002)
American serial murderer.

Political Figures:
M. Aileen Carroll (1944-)
Canadian politician.

Singers and Entertainers:
Aileen Bisbee Pringle (1895-1989)
American silent film actress.
Aileen Stanley (Maude Elsie Aileen Muggeridge) (1897-1982)
American singer.
Aileen Raymond (1910-2005)
British actress.
Aileen Quinn (1971-)
American actress.

Sports Stars:
Aileen Riggin (1906-2002)
American Olympic swimmer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.016 % named Aileen

Popularity of Aileen:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880: 738th most popular.
1881: 939th most popular.
1882: N/A
1883: 692nd most popular.
1884: 686th most popular.
1885: N/A
1886: 897th most popular.
1887: 861st most popular.
1888: 837th most popular.
1889: 687th most popular.
1890: 759th most popular.
1891: 727th most popular.
1892: 685th most popular.
1893: 512th most popular.
1894: 442nd most popular.
1895: 455th most popular.
1896: 479th most popular.
1897: 440th most popular.
1898: 442nd most popular.
1899: 416th most popular.
1900: 407th most popular.
1901: 356th most popular.
1902: 340th most popular.
1903: 400th most popular.
1904: 346th most popular.
1905: 413th most popular.
1906: 336th most popular.
1907: 418th most popular.
1908: 361st most popular.
1909: 357th most popular.
1910: 357th most popular.
1911: 323rd most popular.
1912: 326th most popular.
1913: 314th most popular.
1914: 302nd most popular.
1915: 292nd most popular.
1916: 324th most popular.
1917: 321st most popular.
1918: 348th most popular.
1919: 330th most popular.
1920: 304th most popular.
1921: 304th most popular.
1922: 303rd most popular.
1923: 314th most popular.
1924: 292nd most popular.
1925: 299th most popular.
1926: 288th most popular.
1927: 310th most popular.
1928: 302nd most popular.
1929: 344th most popular.
1930: 361st most popular.
1931: 384th most popular.
1932: 382nd most popular.
1933: 424th most popular.
1934: 447th most popular.
1935: 477th most popular.
1936: 468th most popular.
1937: 527th most popular.
1938: 569th most popular.
1939: 585th most popular.
1940: 596th most popular.
1941: 648th most popular.
1942: 641st most popular.
1943: 515th most popular.
1944: 566th most popular.
1945: 599th most popular.
1946: 586th most popular.
1947: 603rd most popular.
1948: 615th most popular.
1949: 688th most popular.
1950: 678th most popular.
1951: 591st most popular.
1952: 656th most popular.
1953: 599th most popular.
1954: 683rd most popular.
1955: 644th most popular.
1956: 728th most popular.
1957: 720th most popular.
1958: 696th most popular.
1959: 683rd most popular.
1960: 668th most popular.
1961: 654th most popular.
1962: 649th most popular.
1963: 685th most popular.
1964: 649th most popular.
1965: 610th most popular.
1966: 668th most popular.
1967: 666th most popular.
1968: 667th most popular.
1969: 635th most popular.
1970: 674th most popular.
1971: 760th most popular.
1972: 723rd most popular.
1973: 741st most popular.
1974: 746th most popular.
1975: 807th most popular.
1976: 889th most popular.
1977: 924th most popular.
1978: 901st most popular.
1979: 968th most popular.
1980: 778th most popular.
1981: 772nd most popular.
1982: 769th most popular.
1983: 671st most popular.
1984: 659th most popular.
1985: 731st most popular.
1986: 711th most popular.
1987: N/A
1988: 731st most popular.
1989: 802nd most popular.
1990: 827th most popular.
1991: 781st most popular.
1992: 781st most popular.
1993: 716th most popular.
1994: 806th most popular.
1995: 790th most popular.
1996: 698th most popular.
1997: 528th most popular.
1998: 488th most popular.
1999: 517th most popular.
2000: 525th most popular.
2001: 497th most popular.
2002: 541st most popular.
2003: 533rd most popular.
2004: 509th most popular.

Selected Sources:
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names, Pickering, 1999
The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, Mcleod and Freedman, 1995

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)


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