Eion

Meaning & origin

Eion is an anglicized spelling of the traditional Irish name Eoghan, which has deep roots in Gaelic history. In the United States, Eion first appeared on the Social Security Administration's records in 1981 and saw its highest usage in 2001, when it ranked around 6,000. Since then, it has steadily declined in use, consistent with the trajectory of many once-popular Irish names that have fallen out of the top 1,000. In 2025, approximately 1 in 284,679 newborn boys received the name, placing it at rank 10,695. The name has little geographic concentration, with no state reporting it as particularly popular. Despite its rarity, Eion retains a strong cultural connection to Ireland and is occasionally chosen by parents seeking a distinctive but authentically Irish name.

Eion is generally considered a variant of Eoghan, an ancient Irish name derived from the Old Irish 'éo' meaning 'yew tree' combined with a diminutive suffix, thus 'little yew' or 'born from the yew tree.' The name has been used in Ireland for centuries, and its anglicized form Eion gained some modern usage, particularly in the late 20th century.