Erin

For many more names, please Return to Edgar's Main Page.

Erin

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Erin is the Anglicized form of Eireann, a Gaelic name which comes from “Eire,” or Ireland.

History:
Erin, or Eireann, was the poetic name for Ireland (a la Britannia for England, or Columbia for the United States). It rather inexplicably began being used as a first name for girls in the fifties, possibly as a result of the vogue for Irish and Celtic names.

Pronunciation: ERR-in.

Alternates: Eryn.

Famous Bearers:
Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Erin Patria Margaret Shapiro (1939-)
British feminist.

Miscellaneous:
Erin Brockovich-Ellis (1960-)
American public advocate whose activities were the subject of the 2000 movie Erin Brockovich.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.141 % named Erin
0.001 % named Eryn

Popularity of Erin:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 446th most popular.
1960-1970: 217th most popular.
1970-1980: 41st most popular.
1980-1990: 28th most popular.
1990: 44th most popular.
1991: 46th most popular.
1998: 56th most popular.
1992: 47th most popular.
1993: 48th most popular.
1994: 48th most popular.
1995: 50th most popular.
1996: 50th most popular.
1997: 52nd most popular.
1999: 59th most popular.
2000: 60th most popular.
2001: 60th most popular.
2002: 72nd most popular.
2003: 81st most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 65th most popular.
1999: 79th most popular.
2000: 49th most popular.
2001: 47th most popular.
2002: 48th most popular.
2003: 42nd most popular.

Popularity of Eryn:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1990: N/A
1994: N/A
1995: 872nd most popular.
1996: 986th most popular.
1997: 882nd most popular.
1998: 918th most popular.
1999: 982nd most popular.
2000: 859th most popular.
2001: 918th most popular.
2002: N/A