Evelyn (name)
Evelyn is a given name, very common in the English language, where it can be used as a first name or a surname.
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛʌəlɪn, ˈiːvlɪn/ EV-ə-lin, EEV-lin |
|---|---|
| Gender | Unisex |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | from Norman French; Aveline; from Hebrew Eve; from Old Irish 'óiph' |
| Meaning | hazelnut; life; beauty; bird; water |
| Region of origin | English language speaking areas, Germany, Estonia, |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Evelina; Avelina; Aveline; Eve |
The name originally was used as a surname, which derived from Aveline, which means "hazelnut" in modern french, but the older origin is a feminine Norman French diminutive of the name Ava. Ava itself is a hypocoristic Germanic name, of uncertain origin., often interpreted as meaning "bird" having origins in the word 'Avis" or "Water, Island, sland" coming from the proto germanic word "aue"
Evelyn is also sometimes used as modern variation of the name Eve, which means "life". Other variation is an Anglicisation of the Irish Aibhilín or Éibhleann. Aibhilín (variant Eibhlín) is itself derived from the Norman French Aveline. Éibhleann (variant Éibhliu), on the other hand, is said to be derived from the Old Irish óiph ("beauty").
Variant forms of the feminine first name Evelyn include: Evaline, Evalyn, Eveleen, Evelien, Eveliene, Evelin, Evelina, Eveline, Evelyne, Évelyne, Ewaline and Ewelina. Some of these forms may (also) have arisen as diminutive forms of Eve.