Evelyn

Evelyn is a given name in the English language, where it can be used as a first name or a surname. The name originally was used as a surname, which derived from Aveline, a feminine Norman French diminutive of the name Ava. Ava itself is a hypocoristic Germanic name, of uncertain origin. Evelyn is also sometimes used as 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.