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.
Ancient
*
Ethniu
In Irish mythology, Ethniu (), or Eithne (Modern Irish pronunciation: ) in modern spelling, is the daughter of the Fomorian leader Balor, and the mother of Lugh. She is also referred to as Ethliu (modern Eithle), Eithlionn (genitive; modern Eith ...
, daughter of
Balor
In Irish mythology, Balor or Balar was a leader of the Fomorians, a group of malevolent supernatural beings. He is often described as a giant with a large eye that wreaks destruction when opened. Balor takes part in the Battle of Mag Tuired, a ...
and mother of
Lug in Irish mythology
*
Eithne and Sodelb
Eithne and her sister Sodelb are two relatively obscure Irish saints from Leinster who are supposed to have flourished in the 5th century. They are commemorated together in the Irish martyrologies on 29 March, though 2 and 15 January were also mar ...
, 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
*
Eithne Tháebfhota, third wife of
Conn Cétchathach
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 in the 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 in the
Air France Flight 447 crash on 1 June 2009
* Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (
Enya), musician
*
LÉ ''Eithne'', a ship in the Irish Naval Service
See also
*
List of Irish-language given names
References
{{Given name, , nocat
Irish-language feminine given names