Eithne () is a female personal name of
Irish origin, meaning "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.
The name is popular in Ireland, and is borne by a variety of historical and legendary figures. It has also been
Anglicized
Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...
with the etymologically unrelated name
Edna.
Ancient
*
Ethniu
In Irish mythology, Ethniu (; , ) in modern spelling, is the daughter of the Fomorian leader Balor, and the mother of Lugh. She is also referred to as Ethliu ().
Name
Ethniu is a fine example of the difficulty of conducting research into Ir ...
, daughter of
Balor
In Irish mythology, Balor or Balar was a leader of the Fomorians, a group of malevolent supernatural beings, and considered the most formidable. He is often described as a giant with a large eye that wreaks destruction when opened. Balor takes ...
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
Fiacha (earlier Fíachu) is a name borne by numerous figures from Irish history and mythology, including:
* Fiacha Cennfinnán, High King of Ireland in the 16th or 20th century BC
* Fiacha mac Delbaíth, High King in the 14th or 18th century BC
* ...
and mother of
Tuathal Teachtmhar
* Eithne, saint and mother of
Saint Columba
Columba () or Colmcille (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Gaelic Ireland, Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is today Scotland at the start of the Hiberno-Scottish mission. He founded the ...
*
Eithne and Fidelma, princesses and saints baptised by St. Patrick
* Eithne and Daorchaorthainn, female saints associated with Tullow
*
Eithne Tháebfhota, third wife of
Conn Cétchathach
Conn Cétchathach (), or Conn of the Hundred Battles, son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a legendary High King of Ireland who is claimed to be the ancestor of the Connachta, and through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, w ...
Modern
*
Eithne Coyle
Eithne Coyle (1897–1985; ) was an Irish republican activist. She was a leading figure within Cumann na mBan ( women's paramilitary organisation) and a member of the Gaelic League.Cal McCarthy, ''Cumann na mBan and the Irish Revolution'', T ...
(1897–1985), Irish republican activist
*
Eithne Farry
Eithne Farry is the former literary editor of ELLE. She is the author of "Yeah, I Made it Myself". She was a backing singer with Talulah Gosh and has reviewed a book for ''Marie Claire''.
Works
* ''Yeah, I Made it Myself: DIY Fashion for the Not ...
, former literary editor of ''Elle''
*
Eithne FitzGerald (born 1950), Irish economist and former Labour Party politician
* Eithne Hannigan, Irish musician and actress who played one of five Dots in the children's TV show ''Playbus'' (later ''
Playdays
''Playdays'' (known as ''Playbus'' until December 1989) is a British pre-school television programme which ran from 1988 to 1997 on Children's BBC. The show was the successor to '' Play School'' and, like its predecessor, was designed as an ed ...
'')
*
Eithne Ní Uallacháin
Eithne Ní Uallacháin (1 January 1957 – 19 May 1999) was an Irish singer, songwriter, and former teacher from County Louth, Ireland.
Early life
Eithne was born in an Irish-speaking household to Pádraig Ó hUallacháin (1912-1974) and Eit ...
(1957–1999), Irish singer and musician
* Eithne Walls, a physician and former dancer, who danced with the popular
Riverdance
''Riverdance'' is a theatrical show that consists mainly of traditional Irish music and dance. With a score composed by Bill Whelan, it originated as an interval act during the Eurovision Song Contest 1994, featuring Irish dancing champions J ...
group on Broadway, died in the
Air France Flight 447
Air France Flight 447 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to Charles de Gaulle Airport, Paris, France. On 1 June 2009, inconsistent airspeed indications and mi ...
crash on 1 June 2009
*
Eithne "Enya" Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin (born 1961), Irish singer and composer
*
LÉ ''Eithne'', a ship in the Irish Naval Service
See also
*
List of Irish-language given names
This list of Irish-language given names shows Irish language given names, their Anglicisation (linguistics), anglicisations and/or English language equivalents.
Not all Irish given names have English equivalents, though most names have an angl ...
References
{{Given name, , nocat
Irish-language feminine given names
Feminine given names