Erin

For other uses, see Erin (disambiguation).

"Erin's Isle" redirects here. For other uses, see Erin's Isle (disambiguation).

Erin

A topographic map of Ireland, after which Erin is named
Pronunciation	/ˈɛrɪn/
Gender	Unisex
Language(s)	English; Irish
Origin
Language(s)	1. Irish Gaelic 2. Hiberno-English
Word/name	Hiberno-English derivative of Irish “Éirinn”
Meaning	Ireland (West), green water,
Region of origin	Gaelic & Celtic
Other names
Related names	Ehrynn Erinn Eryn Erynn Iorn

Erin is a personal name taken from the Hiberno-English word for Ireland, originating from the Irish word "Éirinn". "Éirinn" is the dative case of the Irish word for Ireland, "Éire", genitive "Éireann", the dative being used in prepositional phrases such as "go hÉirinn" "to Ireland", "in Éirinn" "in Ireland", "ó Éirinn" "from Ireland".

The dative has replaced the nominative in a few regional Irish dialects (particularly Galway-Connemara and Waterford).[1] Poets and nineteenth-century Irish nationalists used Erin in English as a romantic name for Ireland.[2] Often, "Erin's Isle" was used. In this context, along with Hibernia, Erin is the name given to the female personification of Ireland, but the name was rarely used as a given name, probably because no saints, queens, or literary figures were ever called Erin.[3]

According to Irish mythology and folklore, the name was originally given to the island by the Milesians after the goddess Ériu.

The phrase Erin go bragh ("Éire go brách" in standard orthography, dative "in Éirinn go brách" "in Ireland forever"), a slogan associated with the United Irishmen Rebellion of 1798, is often translated as "Ireland forever".[4] The songs 'Let Erin Remember' and 'Érin grá mo chroí' are more examples of the word's usage in Irish romantic nationalism.[5][6]

Usage as a given or family name

As a given name, Erin is used for both sexes, although, given its origins, it is principally used as a feminine forename. It first became a popular given name in the United States.[3] Its US popularity for males peaked in 1974 with 321 boys registered with the name.[7] Erin is also a name for Ireland in Welsh, and is one of the 20 most popular girls' names in Wales.[8] [9]

As a family name, Erin has been used as one of the many spellings of the name of the Scottish clan "Irwin"—which was involved in the Scottish Plantations of Ireland.[10] However, that name was originally derived from the place of the same name near Dumfries, and means "green water", from Brittonic ir afon.[11][12]

Notable women

• Erin Andrews (born 1978), American sports reporter
• Erin Anttila (born 1977), Irish-Finnish singer, better known by her mononym Erin
• Erin Babcock (1981–2020), Canadian politician
• Erin Bell (born 1987), Australian former netball player
• Erin Bethea (born 1982), American actress
• Erin Boag (born 1975), New Zealand ballroom dancer
• Erin Brockovich (born 1960), American legal clerk and environmental activist and subject of the movie of the same name
• Erin Burnett (born 1976), American news anchor and reporter
• Erin Byrnes, American politician
• Erin Calipari (born 1987), American pharmacologist
• Erin Chambers (born 1979), American actress
• Erin Davis (born 1962), Canadian Broadcaster and author
• Grey DeLisle (born 1973), American voice actress and recording artist, real name Erin Grey van Oosbree
• Erin Fitzgerald (born 1972) Canadian-American voice actress
• Erin Gallagher (born 1998), South African swimmer
• Erin Gemmell (born 2004), American competitive swimmer
• Erin Gray (born 1950), American actress
• Erin Gruwell (born 1969), American teacher
• Erin Heatherton (born 1989), American fashion model
• Erin Hunter, pseudonym used by the authors of the Warriors and Seekers series
• Erin Kelly (born 1981), American actress
• Erin Kellyman (born 1998), British actress
• Erin Jeanne McDowell, American cookbook author
• Erin McKean (born 1971), American lexicographer
• Erin D. Michos, American cardiologist
• Erin Molan (born 1983), Australian television presenter
• Erin Moran (1960–2017), American actress
• Erin Morgenstern (born 1978), American writer
• Erin Moriarty (born 1994), American actress
• Erin O'Connor (born 1978), British model
• Erin Phillips (born 1985), Australian former basketball player and Australian rules footballer
• Erin Pizzey (born 1939), author and founder of the first domestic violence shelter in the modern world
• Erin Regan (born 1980), retired American soccer player
• Erin Richards (born 1986), Welsh actress
• Erin Sanders (born 1991), American actress
• Erinn Smart (born 1980), American fencer
• Erin Spanevello (1987–2008), Canadian fashion model
• Erin Wall (1975–2020), Canadian operatic soprano

Notable men

• Erin Barnett (born 1996), Gibraltarian footballer
• Erin Bigler (born 1949), American neuropsychologist
• Erin Clark (born 1997), Samoa league footballer
• Erin Corr (1803–1862), Irish engraver
• Erin Cossey (born 1971), New Zealand Maori rugby union player
• Erin Hartwell (born 1969), American cyclist
• Erin Helyard, Australian conductor and keyboard
• Erin Henderson (born 1986), American football linebacker
• Erin Mullally (born 1990), American actor and model
• Erin O'Grady (1971–2003), American professional wrestler
• Erin O'Toole (born 1973), Canadian politician
• Erin Pinheiro (born 1997), Cape Verdean footballer
• Erin "Syd" Sidney (born 1982), American singer, songwriter, record producer
• Erin Tañada (born 1963), Filipino lawyer, broadcaster, and advocate
• Erin Tate, American drummer
• Erin Weir, Canadian Member of Parliament for the riding of Regina—Lewvan

Fictional characters

• Dr Erin Mears, a character in the 2011 film, Contagion, played by Kate Winslet
• Erin, a character in 1986 American fantasy drama film The Boy Who Could Fly
• Erin, a character in The Simpsons episode "Summer of 4 Ft. 2", voiced by Christina Ricci
• Erin, protagonist of Nahoko Uehashi's light novel, manga, and anime series 獣の奏者エリン (Kemono no Sōja Erin)
• Erin Brill, a character from the TV series Better Call Saul
• Erin Driscoll, a character in U.S. thriller 24
• Erin Esurance, formerly the Esurance mascot
• Erin Hannon, a character in U.S. sitcom The Office
• Erin Hasko, a character in the Marvel Comics series Web Warriors and video game Spider-Man Unlimited
• Erin Noble, a character in British television series Young Dracula
• Erin Quinn, protagonist of Northern Irish sitcom Derry Girls
• Erin Silver, a character in American television franchise Beverly Hills, 90210
• Erin Strauss, the former BAU Section Chief from the U.S. drama series Criminal Minds
• Erin Ulmer, a character from Final Destination 3
• Erin Walton, a character from The Waltons
• Eirin Yagokoro, a character from Touhou Project
• Erin Park, a character from Erin & Aaron

References

1. Behind the Name: Meaning, Origin and History of the Name Erin
2. Irish Melodies. Collins & Payn. 1828.
3. Osborn, Susan (1999). What's in a Name? (illustrated ed.). Simon and Schuster. p. 250. ISBN 978-0671025557. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
4. Dolan, Terence Patrick (2020). A Dictionary of Hiberno-English. Gill Books. ISBN 9780717190744.
5. Chant, C. (2013). The Handbook of British Regiments (Routledge Revivals). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781134647316. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
6. Williams, Sean; Laoire, Lillis Ó (2011). Bright Star of the West: Joe Heaney, Irish Song Man. Oxford University Press. pp. 20–21. ISBN 978-0-19-532118-0.
7. "US Popularity for "Erin" by Year". Parents.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
8. Welsh names for children Archived 2008-07-31 at the Wayback Machine
9. Campbell, Niamh (20 April 2022). "Derry Girls-inspired baby names gain popularity across UK and Ireland". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
10. "Clan Irwin Association". Archived from the original on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2007.
11. Scottish Surname Meanings & History Archived 2007-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
12. Behind the Name: Search Results