Names/Eilleen/Eilleen Collins
Science & TechnologyAmerican1956 – present

Eilleen Collins

First female Space Shuttle commander at NASA

Biography

American astronaut and former Space Shuttle pilot and commander, the first female Space Shuttle commander in NASA history.

Quick Facts
Category

Science & Technology

Nationality

American

Born

1956

Thinking about the name

Eilleen

Irish origin

A double-e, double-l elaboration of Eileen, the Irish name meaning 'bright' or 'shining.' This ornate spelling emerged in early-20th-century naming practices and carries a distinctly vintage, genteel aesthetic. Eilleen evokes a particular era of American femininity and elegance.