Eithne
Eithne is a female personal name of Irish origin. In English, it is pronounced Enya. The meaning is "kernel or grain".
Other spellings and earlier forms include Ethnea, Ethlend, Ethnen, Ethlenn, Ethnenn, Eithene, Ethne, Aithne, Enya, Ena, Edna, Etney, Eithnenn, Eithlenn, Eithna, Ethni, Edlend, Edlenn.
Eithne is considered by some sources to be the feminine cognate of the name Aidan.[1]
The name is popular in Ireland, and is borne by a variety of historical and legendary figures.
Ancient
- Ethniu, daughter of Balor and mother of Lug in Irish mythology
- Eithne and Sodelb, Leinster saints
- Eithne, daughter of the king of Alba, wife of the High King Fiacha Finnfolaidh and mother of Tuathal Teachtmhar
- Eithne, the mother of Saint Columba
Modern
- Eithne Coyle, Irish republican activist.
- Eithne Farry, former literary editor of Elle
- Eithne Fitzgerald, Irish economist and former Labour Party politician.
- Eithne Hannigan, Irish musician and actress who played one of five Dots on children's TV show Playbus (later Playdays)
- Eithne Ní Uallacháin, singer and musician
- Eithne Walls, a physician and former dancer, who danced with the popular Riverdance group on Broadway, died on the Air France Flight 447 crash on June 1, 2009
- Enya Brennan (Eithne Ní Bhraonáin), musician
- LÉ Eithne (P31), a ship in the Irish Naval Service
See also
References
- ^ Macleod, Iseabail and Freedman, Terry: The Wordsworth Dictionary of First Names, Wordsworth Editions, 1995, ISBN 1-85326-366-4, p.74.
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