Erin
/ˈɛr.ɪn/noun
A poetic name for Ireland.
Did you know?Erin comes from the genitive form of the Old Irish name Ériu, the goddess associated with Ireland, so the word preserves a mythic personification of the land.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*Φīwerjon- / *Īweriū
“An ancient name for Ireland, likely meaning something like “fertile land” or “land of abundance,” though details are debated.”
Old Irish
Gaelic
Ériu
“The mythic goddess and personification of Ireland.”
Old Irish
Gaelic
Érenn
“The genitive form meaning “of Ireland.””
Middle Irish
Gaelic
Erin
“A poetic or literary name for Ireland.”
Modern English
English
Erin
“A poetic name for Ireland, especially in verse or patriotic writing.”