Pronunciation
Ay-teen / Ay-deen
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Traditionally associated with passion or jealousy, from the Old Irish element ét
Fun fact
The fairy king Midir falls in love with Étaín, but his wife is jealous and turns her into a fly. She's blown over the sea for years, then falls into a glass of wine that a woman drinks. She's reborn as a human child, and later meets Midir again. It's a long story, but that's the very short version!
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Étaín, 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 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2022 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2019 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2018 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2017 | 8 | #471 |
| 2016 | 6 | #585 |
| 2015 | 11 | #402 |
| 2014 | 3 | #876 |
| 2013 | 4 | #747 |
| 2012 | 4 | #768 |
| 2011 | 8 | #510 |
| 2010 | 3 | #910 |
| 2009 | 8 | #488 |
| 2008 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2007 | 3 | #842 |
| 2006 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2005 | 4 | #587 |
| 2004 | 8 | #370 |
| 2003 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2002 | 3 | #620 |
| 2001 | 3 | #606 |
| 2000 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1999 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1998 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1997 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1996 | 3 | #534 |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | 4 | #456 |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | 3 | #488 |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | 4 | #459 |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | 4 | #467 |
| 1978 | 3 | #522 |
| 1977 | 3 | #518 |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | 3 | #503 |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | 3 | #508 |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | 3 | #443 |
| 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.