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
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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 ...
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
Columba or Colmcille; gd, Calum Cille; gv, Colum Keeilley; non, Kolban or at least partly reinterpreted as (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what is toda ...
*
Eithne Tháebfhota
Eithne Tháebfhota ("of the Long Side") was one of the daughters of the king Cathaír Mór. According to the Irish mythology, she was described as the queen of two kings of different generations.
Queen of Ireland
In most Old Irish writing, she ...
, third wife of
Conn Cétchathach
Conn Cétchathach (; "of the Hundred Battles"), son of Fedlimid Rechtmar, was a semi-legendary High King of Ireland and the ancestor of the Connachta, and, through his descendant Niall Noígiallach, the Uí Néill dynasties, which dominated Irelan ...
Modern
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Eithne Coyle
, occupation = Political Activist
, spouse = Bernard O'Donnell
, office = President of Cumann na mBan
, term_start = 1926
, term_end = 1941
, predecessor = Constance Markievicz
, successor = Margaret Langs ...
, Irish republican activist
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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, 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'')
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Eithne Ní Uallacháin
Eithne Ní Uallacháin (; 1 January 1957 – 19 May 1999) was an Irish people, Irish singer, songwriter, and former teacherRiverdance group on Broadway, died in the Air France Flight 447 crash on 1 June 2009
* Eithne Ní Bhraonáin (
Enya
Enya Patricia Brennan (; ga, Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin; born 17 May 1961), known professionally by the mononym Enya, is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician known for modern Celtic music. She is the best-selling Irish solo arti ...
), musician
* LÉ ''Eithne'', a ship in the Irish Naval Service
See also
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List of Irish-language given names
This list of Irish-language given names shows Irish language (''Gaeilge'') given names and Anglicized or Latinized forms, with English equivalents. Some English-language names derive directly from the Irish: Kathleen = Caitlín, Shaun = Seán. S ...