Pronunciation
En-ya
Meaning
Kernel, seed; origin debated
Related forms: Eithne (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Eithne; Ethna
Fun fact
Enya is an anglicised spelling of Eithne. In Irish mythology, Eithne is Balor's daughter and Lugh's mother. She's kept in a tower because of a prophecy that her son will kill her father. There have also been early Irish saints called Eithne, so it has both a mythological and a saintly history. Eithne is also an Irish word for a kernel or grain, which gives it that nature meaning.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Enya, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13 | #304 |
| 2024 | 6 | #556 |
| 2023 | 11 | #339 |
| 2022 | 9 | #420 |
| 2021 | 12 | #336 |
| 2020 | 7 | #495 |
| 2019 | 5 | #621 |
| 2018 | 7 | #512 |
| 2017 | 6 | #579 |
| 2016 | 7 | #515 |
| 2015 | 5 | #660 |
| 2014 | 8 | #494 |
| 2013 | 7 | #540 |
| 2012 | 7 | #560 |
| 2011 | 13 | #359 |
| 2010 | 10 | #444 |
| 2009 | 8 | #488 |
| 2008 | 10 | #430 |
| 2007 | 11 | #373 |
| 2006 | 8 | #431 |
| 2005 | 12 | #300 |
| 2004 | 21 | #189 |
| 2003 | 18 | #212 |
| 2002 | 17 | #218 |
| 2001 | 16 | #217 |
| 2000 | 4 | #465 |
| 1999 | 10 | #267 |
| 1998 | 5 | #380 |
| 1997 | 17 | #246 |
| 1996 | 19 | #212 |
| 1995 | 10 | #296 |
| 1994 | 8 | #329 |
| 1993 | 11 | #286 |
| 1992 | 19 | #213 |
| 1991 | 11 | #284 |
| 1990 | 4 | #446 |
| 1989 | 8 | #332 |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.