What does Elin mean?
Elin is the Welsh form of Helen, “light” or “torch.”
What does Eira mean?
Eira is the Welsh word for “snow.”
Elin vs Eira
Which is more popular?
Eira is more popular than Elin today: about 116 US babies were given the name Eira in 2025, compared with 53 named Elin.
| Elin | Eira | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Light | Snow |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EL-in | AY-rah |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1893 | 1979 |
| Peak year | 2011 (428) | 2025 (116) |
| In 2025 | 53 | 116 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Elin
Eira
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Elin | Eira |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 553 | 474 |
| 2010s | 3,032 | 321 |
| 2000s | 369 | 51 |
| 1990s | 143 | 11 |
| 1980s | 145 | 16 |
| 1970s | 111 | 5 |
| 1960s | 109 | 0 |
| 1950s | 138 | 0 |
| 1940s | 164 | 0 |
| 1930s | 77 | 0 |
| 1920s | 85 | 0 |
| 1910s | 87 | 0 |
| 1900s | 25 | 0 |
| 1890s | 14 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Elin or Eira more popular?
Eira is more popular than Elin today: about 116 US babies were given the name Eira in 2025, compared with 53 named Elin.
What is the difference between Elin and Eira?
Elin means Light (Welsh origin), while Eira means Snow (Welsh origin).
Which name is older, Elin or Eira?
In US records, Elin first appears in 1893 and Eira in 1979, so Elin has the longer recorded history.