This is my name, and I love it. I used to think it was a bit dull, but I've come to see it as simple and sweet instead. I was given this name because it means "Ireland" and my mom's side of the family is Irish. Incidentally, I was born in the 1980s (1984 to be exact), the decade in which the name's popularity was at its peak.
This is my name and although I didn't like it at first I got used to it. :) Erin can also mean "girl" (I've only ever seen this meaning listed anywhere once) and "peace" (I've seen this listed in heaps of names books and websites - the address for one of these sites is http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/femalenames/namese.htm). Erin is actually a poetic name for Ireland and was derived from the word "Eire".
Erin Brockovich is a 2000 movie which dramatizes the story of Erin Brockovich's first fight against PG&E. It featured Julia Roberts in the lead role for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress.
-- Anonymous User 1/4/2006
I have a cousin who spells it Erynn.
-- Anonymous User 1/29/2006
I am probably one of an extremely limited few named Erin between 1940-1949. In Junior High School I was assigned to the boy's gym class because some office worker inserted a v making my name Ervin. I was also allowed to stay only two days in mechanical drawing class when the teacher realized I was a "girl".
Erin is derived from Eireann, which is the Gaelic word for Ireland. It doesn't mean "peace," it doesn't mean "jewel," and it most certainly is not a feminization of Aaron.
-- Anonymous User 5/14/2006
Can also be a masculine name.
-- Anonymous User 6/20/2006
I have to say that this is the first time that I have found courage to even look this name up. This would have been the name of my first younger sister on her due date on September 15th/2001, but she died in my mother's stomach at 5 months because her cord was tangled. Even though I have never held Erin in my arms, I still love her, but this event will truly ruin the name for me. :(
Umm, it's hard to be positive after that last post, but I'll try. Erin is my sister's name and I always liked it. Erin Casey and Keira Linn. That's us. The one thing that annoyed my sister was how people pronounced her name as Aaron. Other than that it is a simple, beautiful name that is recognized by many.
I think when people say that the name isn't used in Ireland they mean widely because I only know 4/5 people with the name myself and one of them was once a very good friend of mine. It's a very pretty name and I would consider calling my daughter it one day if it wasn't pronounced so awfully in this country (it comes out more like "urn") but maybe it's just my northern accent because in the south it's pronounced beautifully. Oh yes and the name has nothing to do with 'peace' or with 'jewels', simply just means 'Ireland' which I think is wonderful.
HAHA it's so funny, my friend's name is Erin and in America they pronounce Aaron like Erin, it's so funny, even though we're not in America but you know what I mean.
In 2004, Erin was indeed among the top 100 names given girls in Ireland. However, like Colleen, the idea of first turning Erin into a girls' given name began outside of Ireland with Irish-Americans and Irish-Australians, and it was only then exported back to Ireland as a name from overseas. So originally it wasn't an "Irish" name in the sense of first being used as a given name in Ireland.
-- Anonymous User 12/11/2006
I am very fond of this name, that even as it became more popular it didn't lose its uniqueness. You almost never are in contact with more than one Erin at a time, but even if you are, they are nothing alike. A name that can fit any kind of girl.
Interestingly, I recently met an Indian girl who had this name, extrememly kind and friendly, but naturally everyone was always surprised when they met her that she wasn't Irish yet had the name Erin! Looking at the ratings too, I think Erin would be an interesting name for a boy as well. Although I do think it's first and traditionally a girl's name, I don't think it would be completely odd for a boy to have it. I don't think he'd be made fun of, at least not too much more than normal, for having the name Erin.
On another note, I really love the sound of the name. Just thought I'd put that last bit in!
Can I just say Aaron and Erin have nothing in relation at all. Erin means Ireland.
-- Anonymous User 1/19/2007
My older sister's name is Erin. It's beautiful and yes, she is Irish!
-- Anonymous User 2/1/2007
This name is very pretty and I like its meaning "Ireland". Despite being pronounced the same, Erin is not the feminine form of Aaron. Aaron and Erin are totally and completely unrelated names!
I love this name, it is awesome, I know someone named Erin also.
-- Anonymous User 5/11/2007
Erin Hunter is the author of the fairly popular Warriors series. In actuality, the name is shared by three people: Cherith Baldry, Kate Cary, and Victoria Holmes. They write under one name to avoid confusion when filing the books.
I love the name Erin! When I get older, I want to name one of my kids Erin (if they're a girl). I also know a girl named Erin. She's really nice. I think all Erin's are nice people.
Clodagh, Erin comes from the Irish Gaelic 'Eireann', which means 'Irish'. Have you ever heard the phrase 'Is d'Eireann me' (sp?) It means 'I am of Ireland/I am Irish'. You are right in that 'Eire' means 'Ireland'. Erin go bragh!
I named my daughter Erin. I love the name ever since I first heard it in the 1990's. I thought it was quite a unique name when I gave birth. I then met, in her first year, 3 other Erin's all under 3 years.
The Irish word for Ireland is "Éire." The dative case (after a preposition) is "Éirinn" and the genitive (possessive) case is "Éireann." "Erin" is an English adaptation of the name. ("Erin go bragh" is properly "Éire go brách" (though the gh spelling was once used).
I've never liked the name Erin. No complex reasons, I just don't like the sound of it. But since everyone else loves it, I just thought I'd put in a minority opinion.
My name is Erinn. :) At first, I hated my name. But then I came to realize that it is actually pretty cool, and I like it. Now I know that Aaron has nothing to do with it, and that "Erin" means Ireland not "peace." I have met so many people with the names Aaron and Erin, that I am actually sort of glad my name has a slight variation. I have only met one other person who spells it like I do. In fact it was years ago in a Burger King bathroom somewhere in Oregon. I was 9 and she was 4. Our mothers were talking and at the same time they both said "But she spells it with an extra N." It was pretty funny actually. :P Okay, I will stop rambling. :)
Personally, I think that the meaning is, well, uhm, sort of weird. As in, it's a place name, which is somewhat awkward. But hey. It's a nice name. **shrugs**
I liked the name when I was younger, but now I find it dreadfully boring, plain, and too common. It's not as boring as Emma and Ella, but boring all the same. Not a bad name, but overused, and thus it has gotten really dull.
It is the kind of name that suits boys and girls - yes I know it is spelled differently depending on the sex most of the time. But let's face it, it sounds the same when you say it out loud. It can fit any kind of person as well, anyone from the most frilly girl, to the roughest boy. Or the oldest to the youngest. It is a beautiful name, yet it is very strong. A wonderful choice!
-- Anonymous User 6/27/2008
Wait a second. Someone said on here that they think it's funny that Americans pronounce the girl name Erin the same as the boy name Aaron. Isn't it? So is that pronunciation ERR-in instead of AIR-in?
-- Anonymous User 7/2/2008
Erin is pronounced in ER-in and Aaron (in Ireland, at least) is pronounced 'R'-on. The difference is the complete different emphasis in the first and second syllables (ER/'R' and IN/ON). Aaron is somtimes pronounced with an 'in' ending, but the first syllable is 'R' sounding. I know an Aaron and nobody would pronounce his name like mine!
Hate the way people try and 'jazz' it up with extra letters and different spellings. In fact I *cringe* when I see that sort of carry-on. It's beauty is in it's historical origins and simplicity. What is the point of an extra 'n'? It is a total dilution and ruination of the name.
Erin and Aaron are NOT pronounced the same! I met someone called Erin once, and I know a boy called Aron (the Welsh version of Aaron, still pronounced the same though), and it's pronounced completely differently. Americans pronounce everything weirdly.
My name's Erin, and I honestly don't like it very much. Where I live (Syracuse, NY) it's rather common, considering there's a large Irish population. I find it to be too simple, boring, and common to suit myself. But everyone who knows me tells me that they can't imagine me with a different name. I kinda wish they could haha.
My mother's name is Erin (yes, she's Irish) and even though she's from New York, which has a large Irish population, she never knew anyone else with the name. Even if it is a bit overused now, it is still one of my favorite names.
Not all Americans pronounce Erin and Aaron alike. In the east, at least, they are distinct. (See my note at "Aaron.") There are many accents in the U.S. just as there are in any country large enough. As far as "Americans pronounc[ing] everything weirdly," everyone thinks that the way they speak is normal. Anyone's accent seems weird to someone not accustomed to it.
I love the name, but it's definitely overused. I'm a high school student, and I have several friends with different versions of the same pronunciation (Several Erins, a couple Aarons, and an Aerin - we've had to make up all kinds of crazy nicknames; it's awful). It's terribly confusing. I think I could only give it as a middle name because of the sheer number of people I know that have it (or a variation).
My name is Saoirse and I was born in Ireland and have lived here all my life. To carry on the tradition of Irish names in my family I have named my daughter Erin.
It's a lovely, simple name, but too common for me to want to use it, and it makes me think of Erin Brady, the ghastly catfighting girlfriend of Steven Tyler.
I would never use it since I'm not Irish and I don't particularly like non-traditional names, but it's pretty enough. As an alternative, there is Erinna, an ancient Greek poetess's name. I added it to "Submitted Names".
There always seems to be a lot of confusion between the pronunciation differences of Erin, Aaron, and Eireann. Erin is pronounced E-rin (with "E" sounding like bet or pet and "rin" sounding like bin or pin). Aaron is pronounced A-rin (with "A" sounding like bat or cat and "rin" sounding like bin or pin). Eireann is pronounced ER-in (with "ER" sounding like air and "in" sounding like bin or pin). That said, these pronunciations are based on a Northeastern American accent.
Erin Mackey (or Nash, I'm not quite sure which one) is an American actress who has played Glinda in Wicked in many productions, including Chicago, Broadway, and Los Angeles.
As for Aaron being pronounced with the a of "bat" or "cat," I myself (a northeastern American) pronounce it with the a of "care," which is certainly a common pronunciation.
I have a friend named Erin who is cute and blonde and at least partly Irish. She pronounces it EH-rin. Honestly, before I searched this name up, I never realised that anyone would pronounce it the same as Aaron. I've only ever heard it pronounced as my friend pronounces it here in Australia.
Hi, we are a family in Brittany, France. We named our third daughter Erinn. We celebrate her name day on Saint Patrick's day. When do other Erinn in the world celebrate their Name Day, since it is not a celebrated Christian name...? Thanks!
Erin means peace in Greek, so in ways it does mean peace. It also means genius and blessing in Japanese and small grey owl to aboriginal people. I personally like the name myself but when I was at primary school I really didn't like it. But the name Erin has so many different meanings in different languages and we cannot say it doesn't mean a certain thing because it is not English.
Erin does not mean peace in Greek, as another user said, but I can see where they'd make that mistake. The Greek word for peace is ειρήνη, pronounced ee-REE-nee, and to someone who didn't know the correct pronunciation, the anglicized eirene could be perceived as sounding like Erin. I've never liked this name, really. It feels too "faux-Irish", as in the Irish names invented by Irish-Americans, or often just made by "gaelicizing" an English name with extra g's, h's, and a's/e's. I'm all for being connected to your roots and honoring your heritage, but I think you should do that by choosing a name actually used in your country of origin. Maybe it is used in Ireland now, but I still feel that way. In addition to that, I just don't like the way it sounds.
Nothing says silly like naming your daughter after a country. It's as bad as any other place names like Brooklyn, Africa and London. Even if it's derived from the country's name in its own language, Erin is silly.
If you're of Irish background and want to honour your heritage, use an Irish name that's either anglicised or has a pronunciation familiar to English speakers.
-- Anonymous User 11/9/2011
I have a friend named Erin (girl) and a friend named Aaron (boy). Which, since we pronounce them both the same in America, is annoying when you try to call one over but they both show up. :) Anyway, I like this name but where I live it's really common.
I see some confusion here. Erin is the anglicized spelling of the Gaelic (Irish) Éirinn, meaning Ireland. It is neutral in sex, although strongly favors female. Aaron is Hebrew (the first High Priest of Israel and older brother of Moses) and means "mountain of strength". It is strictly male. American-English, being the bastardized language it is, has watered the pronunciation of both names down to sound like "air-ren". However, they are NOT the same name, and really are exchangeable by American pronunciation only.
This is my name. I, being male, have disliked going by this name, as it is predominately a female name. I actually started going by my over-used middle name, Michael, in 3rd grade to get away from the confusion a boy with a girl name has to put up with. However, my wife and I just had our second child earlier this June, a daughter, and I thought it would be cool to hand the name down to her. So I am Erin Michael, and she is Erin Morgan.
I love this name and am blessed my parents decided to give me such a beautiful name. Since I am part Irish, but American, they decided this was the perfect name to call their baby girl. They chose to use the actual Gaelic spelling Eireann which I think is a great way to spell it despite what other people think, especially those who feel that it's stupid to spell it any other way than Erin. I love that spelling as well and a few other ways it has been chosen to be spelled. The way I see it is like this... Parents are picking a name & spelling for their baby that they treasure and has a special meaning to them... It's always a heartfelt and loving choice. That's a beautiful thing no matter what letters are used to spell it out! Thank you all for hearing me out. Blessed be!
My middle name is Erin, and I like it! I've only ever met 1 other person with that name, she used to live next door to us and it was her first name. My first name is Cassidy, so all together I think Cassidy Erin [strange both Irish and I'm not!] sounds great together.
-- Anonymous User 3/18/2013
My name is Erin. I don't have any Irish background, but I have reddish hair and lots of freckles (UGH!) so Erin tends to fit me. I don't really care for the name though because people spell it wrong all the time. Another thing that makes me mad is that when people ask what my name is and I say "Erin" they always think I said something else... I've gotten "Ann" "Karen" "Mary" and "Heron." I wish my name was something else, but I would never change it as I feel that is disrespectful to my parents. I like Erin Elizabeth (which is my full name) but sometimes I prefer to go by Elizabeth.. because it's prettier and Biblical.
Whether people pronounce it the same as Aaron or not, depends on where you live in the United States. I'm from New England, and when I lived there, there was a clear distinction between my name, "Erin", and the masculine name, "Aaron". However, when I moved south of the Mason Dixon line, people would pronounce them the same, which irritates me to no end, but they just don't have an ear for the correct pronunciation of my name (ERR-IN).
-- Anonymous User 5/31/2013
This is my name (I am a pale, freckled and bespectacled brunette of predominantly Irish heritage), which my significant other has pointed out makes my blind hatred of names like Brooklyn and London/Londyn/Lundyn horribly hypocritical, but what can you do? This name is also a strange one, because although there were several Erins in my class when I was a child, now that I'm an adult I seldom meet anyone who shares my name; where did they all go?
Anyway. I neither love nor hate my name, but I suppose it suits me well enough, and it does give me an advantage over the Britneys, Ashleys, Sarahs and Emilys in that when someone's shouting for Erin at work, nobody has to guess which one they mean. And really, isn't that what matters?
My name is Erin and I'm not even Irish lo. I'm from Hawaii. But I still love my name! It's simple and pretty :)
-- Anonymous User 8/31/2013
My name is Erin. I was Born in the late 70's and the name was not popular at all in Toronto, Canada. When I was little I did not like my name at all. I didn't meet another Erin until I was in High School and I hated that people were always spelling my name wrong! It wasn't until I was older and learning about my family history in Ireland and the meaning of my name, did I learn to love the name! But I am a purist, I don't like the adding of letters; ERIN- short and simple.