Éimhín is an Irish masculine given name derived from Old Irish éim, meaning “swift” or “prompt”. The name is best known from Saint Éimhín, a 7th-century Irish saint who founded a monastery in what is now County Kildare. Little is known of his life, but he is remembered in local place names — such as the townland of Monasterevin (derived from Mainistir Eimhín, meaning “monastery of Éimhín”) — and is venerated as a minor figure in the Irish monastic tradition.
The name Éimhín follows a common pattern in early medieval Irish naming: a short, vivid root (éim) combined with a diminutive suffix -ín, often attached to names or nicknames. Over the centuries, Éimhín remained primarily confined to Ireland. In modern times, it is a rare name even in Ireland, partially due to anglicization; variants include the simpler Emin or even Kevin, through phonetic or medieval mis-association, though etymologically distinct.
- Meaning: “swift, prompt”
- Origin: Old Irish (via Irish Gaelic)
- Type: First name
- Used in: Ireland (occasionally also among the Irish diaspora)