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Eila

Girl name · 7 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Eila: 7 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2016.

Eila is a name with several possible origins, but within Scotland and Ireland it is most often seen as a variant of Aileen or Eileen—Gaelic forms of the Greek Helenē, meaning "light" or "torch." It also has roots in Finnish (meaning "divine" or "oak tree") and Hebrew (meaning "oak" or "terebinth"), giving it a pleasingly international feel. One notable bearer is Finnish sculptor Eila Hiltunen (1922–2003), whose public works include the famous Sibelius Monument in Helsinki. While no major places share the name directly, its Gaelic cousins appear in Scottish place names like Eilean (Gaelic for "island") and Aileen itself. As a modern alternative to the more traditional Eileen, Eila has grown steadily in Scotland since the 1990s, offering a fresh yet timeless choice for parents.