Eileen (pronounce eye-LEEN [ai 'li:n]) is a female first name. It is the Anglicised version of Irish Eibhlín, which is in turn a form of the older Irish Gaelic Aibhilín or Eilín (Anglicised as Aveline). Aveline is probably derived from Ava, which is of Germanic origin but whose meaning is uncertain, though it possibly means "desired". "Eileen" also means "light."