Top 100 Irish Girls Names and Their Meanings

Some Irish girl names, like Medbh, have deep ties to ancient Ireland, while others, like Fiadh, have seen their popularity soar in recent years.

This guide has helped thousands of parents-to-be uncover Irish baby girl names that they’ve fallen in love with – it’s split into four sections:

• Popular Irish girls names: Based on info from the Central Statistics Office
• Traditional names: Like Bláithín (meaning ‘little flower’)
• Modern Irish female names: Like Fiadh
• Unique and unusual names: Like Dearbhla and Síofra

The most popular Irish girl names

Over the centuries many Irish people emigrated (most notable during the Famine), carrying Irish boys names, Gaelic girl names and Irish last names across the globe.

The first section looks at the most popular Irish girl names in Ireland today, including classics like Eimear, Róisín and Fiona, based on the CSO’s most recent records.

1. Áine

Áine (Pronunciation: Awn-yah. Meaning: Brightness, radiance or joy) is one of the most storied Irish girls names, tied to the Celtic goddess Áine of summer, wealth, and sovereignty. In folklore, she was honoured on midsummer’s night in Munster, where fires were lit to mark her connection to the land.

2. Fiona

Fiona (Pronunciation: Fee-oh-nah. Meaning: White or fair) is a relatively modern name, first coined in 18th-century Scotland by poet James Macpherson. It later gained popularity in Ireland and internationally, especially in the 20th century, thanks to its clear sound and Gaelic roots.

3. Aisling

Aisling (Pronunciation: Ash-ling. Meaning: Dream or vision) one of several Irish baby girl names that has numerous different spellings (Ashling, Ashlynn and Aislinn). Despite being one of the most popular Irish girls names over the last number of decades, it wasn’t actually used as a first name until the 20th century.

4. Deirdre

Deirdre (Pronunciation: Deer-drah. Meaning: Sorrowful, raging or fear) comes from the tragic heroine of the Ulster Cycle, Deirdre of the Sorrows. Desired by King Conchobhar but in love with Naoise, her story of betrayal and grief made her one of Ireland’s most enduring legendary figures.

5. Órla

Órla (Pronunciation: Or-lah. Meaning: Golden princess) was a name of medieval nobility, borne by Órlaith, sister of High King Brian Boru and queen to Donnchad Donn. The name declined after the Middle Ages but was revived in the 20th century and remains common today.

6. Róisín

Róisín (Pronunciation: Ro-sheen. Meaning: Little rose) has been used since the 16th century, famously appearing in the political love-song Róisín Dubh. In the song, “Dark Rosaleen” symbolised Ireland itself at a time when overt nationalist expression was banned.

7. Caragh

Caragh (Pronunciation: Car-ah. Meaning: Beloved or friend) is a modern Irish spelling of Cara, taken from the Irish word for “friend.”

8. Eimear

Eimear (Pronunciation: Ee-mer. Meaning: Swift or ready) is linked to Emer, the legendary wife of Cu Chulainn. She was famed for embodying the “six gifts of womanhood”: beauty, voice, speech, wisdom, skill in needlework, and chastity.

9. Laoise

Laoise (Pronunciation: Lee-sha. Meaning: Radiant) is a feminine form of names linked to the Celtic god Lugh, associated with skill, light, and sovereignty. A good option if you want a name with some Celtic symbolism.

10. Ríona

Ríona (Pronunciation: Ree-ona. Meaning: Queenly or queen like) is thought to stem from Rionach, though the tradition linking it to Niall of the Nine Hostages’ wife is doubtful. What is clear is that its roots lie in the old Irish word rí, meaning king or queen.

11. Éala

Éala (Pronunciation: Ay-lah. Meaning: Swan) is a modern Irish given name taken from the Irish word eala, meaning “swan.” It’s a recent adoption as a first name in Ireland (rising since the late 2010s) and appeals to parents who like the sound of Ava but want Irish roots.

12. Croía

Croía (Pronunciation: Kree-ah. Meaning: Heart) comes from croí, the Irish word for heart. It only began appearing in the 2010s but has since risen sharply in popularity, partly thanks to high-profile use by public figures.

13. Brigid

Brigid (Pronunciation: Brih-jid. Meaning: Exalted one) is among the most significant Irish baby girls names. It was borne by both the pre-Christian goddess Brigid, patron of poetry and healing, and by Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland’s patron saints.

14. Eithne

Eithne (Pronunciation: Eth-nah. Meaning: Kernel/seed) is an ancient name with strong mythological and saintly associations. Bearers include Eithne, mother of Saint Columba, and several early saints who spread Christianity in Ireland.

15. Siobhán

Siobhán (Pronunciation: Shi-vawn. Meaning: God is gracious) is the Irish form of Joan. Its most famous bearer is Siobhán McKenna, the 20th-century actress who brought the name to international attention.

16. Eilís

Eilís (Pronunciation: Eye-lish. Meaning: God is my oath) is the Irish form of Elizabeth. It has been in steady use since the medieval period and is often anglicised as Alice or Elizabeth, though the Irish spelling preserves its distinct identity.

Traditional Irish baby girl names

The next section explores traditional Irish girls names, drawing heavily on Fr Patrick Woulfe’s Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall, one of the most trusted references on Irish surnames and first names.

Here you’ll find names like Gráinne, tied to myth and legend, Deirbhile, remembered for her 6th-century church in Mayo, and Úna, long linked to folklore and Irish traditions.

1. Bláithín

Bláithín (Pronunciation: Blah-hin. Meaning: Little flower) is a diminutive of bláth, the Irish word for flower, and has long been used as a girls name in Ireland. It appears in Irish folklore and songs, often symbolising beauty and delicacy.

2. Deirbhile

Deirbhile (Pronunciation: Derv-la. Meaning: Daughter of the poet) is a historic name most associated with Saint Deirbhile, who founded a 6th-century church in County Mayo that still carries her name today. Variants include Dearbhla and Dearbhail.

3. Doireann

Doireann (Pronunciation: Deer-in. Meaning: Stormy or hostile) is a traditional Irish girls name found in mythology, where Doireann, daughter of Bodb Derg, poisoned the warrior Fionn mac Cumhail.

4. Gráinne

Gráinne (Pronunciation: Grawn-yah. Meaning: The Sun) is one of the most storied Irish names for girls, borne by the daughter of High King Cormac mac Airt. She is most famous for the tale of Diarmuid and Gráinne, a love story with a less-than-happy-ending.

5. Muirgheal

Muirgheal (Pronunciation: Mwer-e-yaal. Meaning: Bright sea) blends muir (sea) with geal (bright), creating a name that has long appealed to families on Ireland’s coasts. It is the Irish form of Muriel and appears in ancient medieval records.

6. Shauna

Shauna (Pronunciation: Shaw-na. Meaning: God is gracious) developed as the feminine form of Seán, itself the Irish equivalent of John. Though the spelling is modern, it gained strong traction in Ireland from the 20th century onwards and remains a recognisable Irish girls name internationally.

7. Erin

Erin (Pronunciation: Air-inn. Meaning: Ireland) is drawn from the Irish word Éirinn, a poetic name for Ireland that appears often in old songs and poetry. It rose sharply in popularity in the late 20th century, both in Ireland and among the Irish diaspora.

8. Nóirín

Nóirín (Pronunciation: Nor-een. Meaning: Little honour) is a diminutive of Nóra, itself linked to Honora and ultimately the Irish Onóra.

9. Bridie

Bridie (Pronunciation: Br-eye-dee. Meaning: Exalted one) is the diminutive of Brigid, tied both to the ancient Irish goddess of poetry, healing and craft, and to Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland’s patron saints. It was a hugely common name in rural Ireland throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

10. Íde

Íde (Pronunciation: Ee-jah. Meaning: Thirst for holiness) is one of the more unique Irish girls names and it is best remembered through Saint Íde of Killeedy, a 6th-century figure celebrated as the “foster mother of the saints of Ireland.”

11. Caitríona

Caitríona (Pronunciation: Cah-tree-nah. Meaning: Pure) is the Irish form of Catherine and has been used in Ireland for centuries, both in Gaelic-speaking communities and in anglicised spellings like Katrina or Catriona.

12. Muireann

Muireann (Pronunciation: Mwur-in. Meaning: Of the sea) is steeped in legend. One tale describes Muireann as a mermaid who was turned into a woman by Saint Comgall, giving the name enduring ties to Ireland’s coasts and waterways.

13. Aoibhinn

Aoibhinn (Pronunciation: Ay-veen. Meaning: Beauty) has long been used in Ireland, derived from the old root aoibh, meaning beauty or pleasure. It carries connotations of joy and charm, and was also borne by Saint Aoibhinn of the early Irish church.

14. Sinéad

Sinéad (Pronunciation: Shin-ade. Meaning: God’s gracious gift) is one of the long-established Irish names for girls and it surged in Ireland from the 1970s through the 1990s. The name went global thanks to singer Sinéad O’Connor, whose success made the Irish spelling familiar far beyond Ireland.

15. Úna

Úna (Pronunciation: Ooh-nah. Meaning: Lamb) is one of the oldest Irish girls names and appears in mythology as the Queen of the Fairies and the wife of Fionn Mac Cumhaill. The name has stayed popular in Ireland for centuries and is also found in the forms Una and Oona.

16. Fionnuala

The name Fionnuala (Pronunciation: Fin-oo-lah. Meaning: White shoulder) is best known from the legend of the Children of Lir, where Fionnuala and her brothers were cursed by their stepmother and transformed into swans for 900 years.

17. Shannon

Shannon (Pronunciation: Shan-on. Meaning: Old river or possessor of wisdom) takes its name from the River Shannon, Ireland’s longest, which itself comes from the Celtic goddess Sionann. The name became especially popular in Ireland and abroad during the late 20th century.

18. Méabh

Méabh (Pronunciation: May-v. Meaning: Intoxicating) is one of the most famous names in Irish legend, tied to Queen Medb of Connacht, the powerful ruler at the centre of the epic Cattle Raid of Cooley. Fierce, cunning, and commanding, she remains one of the best-known figures in Celtic mythology.

19. Orlaith

Orlaith (Pronunciation: Or-lah. Meaning: Golden princess) is one of the most popular Irish baby girl names. It has deep royal roots, famously borne by the sister of High King Brian Boru.

20. Máiréad

Máiréad (Pronunciation: Muh-raid. Meaning: Pearl) is the Irish form of Margaret, long associated with Saint Margaret of Scotland, remembered as the “Pearl of Scotland.”

21. Sorcha

The beautiful Irish girls name Sorcha (Pronunciation: Sor-kha. Meaning: Bright brightness) comes from the old Irish word sorchae, meaning brightness or clarity. Its use in medieval Ireland has carried through to modern times.

22. Bronagh

Bronagh (Pronunciation: Bro-nah. Meaning: Sad or sorrowful) is an old name still in steady use, best known through Saint Bronagh of Kilbroney, a 6th-century holy woman and patron saint of Rostrevor in County Down.

23. Caitlín

Caitlín (Pronunciation: Kat-leen. Meaning: Pure) is the Irish form of Catherine and gave rise to many modern variants such as Kathleen and Caitlin. It was one of the most widely used Irish female names during the 19th and 20th centuries.

24. Nóra

Nóra (Pronunciation: Nor-ah. Meaning: Honour) is a traditional first name that appears frequently in folklore and in old Irish songs.

25. Máire

Máire (Pronunciation: Maw-ra. Meaning: Beloved) is the Irish form of Mary, once the single most common Irish girl names in Catholic Ireland. Rooted in biblical tradition but distinctively Irish in spelling and sound, it dominated naming records for centuries.

26. Tara

Tara (Pronunciation: Tar-ah. Meaning: Hill or place of kings) comes from the Hill of Tara in County Meath, the ancient seat of Ireland’s High Kings. The site’s importance in myth and history gives the name a regal resonance.

27. Coleen

Coleen (Pronunciation: Col-een. Meaning: Girl) is derived from the Irish word cailín, meaning “girl.” Popularised abroad in the 20th century, especially in the United States, it carries a distinctly Irish sound.

Beautiful Irish names for girls

Below, you’ll discover some of the most beautiful Irish female names. These are popular names that people sometimes find hard to pronounce.

This section contains the likes of Aoibheann, Ailbhe, Clodagh along with some very traditional Irish baby girl names.

1. Saoirse

Saoirse (Pronunciation: Seer-sha or sur-sha. Meaning: Freedom) first appeared as a given name in Ireland in the 1920s, inspired by the struggle for national independence. It directly translates as “freedom” and became widely recognised abroad through actress Saoirse Ronan.

2. Caoimhe

Caoimhe (Pronunciation: Kwee-vaah. Meaning: Beautiful, dear, gentle or graceful) comes from caomh, meaning gentle or noble. It has been used in Ireland for centuries and was borne by early saints, remaining one of the most popular Irish girls names today.

3. Treasa

Treasa (Pronunciation: Tre-sah. Meaning: Strength or intensity) is the Irish form of Teresa. Though less common today, it appears in medieval usage and carries a straightforward meaning rooted in resilience and intensity.

4. Cara

Cara (Pronunciation: Kar-ah. Meaning: Friend) is a simple, warm name taken directly from the Irish word for “friend.” While it shares forms across Europe, in Ireland it’s valued for its positive meaning.

5. Clodagh

Clodagh (Pronunciation: Clo-dah. Meaning: Unknown) was first used as a personal name in the 20th century, inspired by the river that runs through Tipperary and Waterford. It spread in popularity thanks to writer and philanthropist Lady Clodagh Anson.

6. Ailbhe

Ailbhe (Pronunciation: Al-vah. Meaning: White, bright or noble) is one of the oldest Irish names for girls. Historically, it was unisex, most famously borne by St. Ailbhe of Emly, a 6th-century bishop. Today, it is used primarily as a girls name in Ireland.

7. Aoibheann

Aoibheann (Pronunciation: Aey-veen. Meaning: Beautiful and fair) comes from older names like Óebfinn, built on the words for beauty and fairness.

8. Niamh

Niamh (Pronunciation: Kneev. Meaning: Radiance or brightness) is deeply rooted in mythology. Niamh of the Golden Hair, daughter of the sea god Manannán, carried Oisín to Tír na nÓg, the otherworld of eternal youth.

9. Ciara

Ciara (Pronunciation: Keer-ah. Meaning: Dark haired) is the feminine of Ciarán, from the Irish ciar, meaning dark. It was popularised in Christian Ireland by St. Ciara of Kilkeary, who founded a monastery in the 7th century.

10. Éadaoin

Éadaoin (Pronunciation: Ay-deen. Meaning: Jealousy or passion) recalls the tragic heroine of the early tale Tochmarc Étaíne. Transformed into a fly and later reborn, Éadaoin’s story is one of rebirth, love, and loss in Irish saga.

11. Aoife

While Aoife (Pronunciation: Ee-fa. Meaning: Radiance or beauty) is one of the more common Irish girl names, it’s one of the most beautiful. Aoife appears in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology as a formidable fighter and the mother of Cúchulainn’s only son.

12. Siún

Siún (Pronunciation: Shoon. Meaning: God is gracious) is the Irish form of Joan, long used in Gaelic-speaking Ireland. Though less common today, it remains distinctly Irish in spelling and sound.

13. Éibhlín

Éibhlín (Pronunciation: Ev-leen. Meaning: Desired or pleasant) is a relatively rare name. One of its most famous bearers was Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill, poet and aunt of Daniel O’Connell, whose elegy Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire is a classic of Irish literature.

Modern Irish girl names

Modern Irish girl names blend ancient roots with contemporary appeal, with many seeing a surge in popularity in recent decades.

Some of these names, like Fiadh, have climbed rapidly up the CSO charts, while others revive older forms in a fresh way.

1. Fiadh

Fiadh (Pronunciation: Fee-ahh. Meaning: Deer, wildness or respect) ranked 5th on the Central Statistics Office’s list for 2024, making it one of the most chosen names for newborn girls in Ireland. The name comes directly from the Irish word for “wild” and is linked to the natural world, often evoking images of deer in Irish landscape and folklore.

2. Aoibhe

Aoibhe (Pronunciation: Ave-ah. Meaning: Beauty or life) is a modern Irish baby girls name tied to the same root as Aoife and Aoibheann. While its meaning is debated, it’s most often connected to beauty and vitality.

3. Sadhbh

Sadhbh (Pronunciation: Sigh-ve Meaning: Goodness) is one of the oldest recorded Irish female names. In legend, Sadhbh was the mother of Oisín, transformed into a deer by enchantment.

4. Iseult

Iseult (Pronunciation: Ee-sult. Meaning: Fair lady) is best known as the heroine of the Tristan and Iseult legend, which forms part of Irish, Welsh, and broader Celtic storytelling traditions.

5. Nollaig

Nollaig (Pronunciation: Null-ig. Meaning: Christmas) is the Irish word for Christmas, and it is a name given to girls born during the festive season.

6. Alannah

Alannah (Pronunciation: Ah-lah-nah. Meaning: Darling child) is believed to come from the affectionate Irish phrase a leanbh, meaning “O child.”

7. Aifric

Aifric (Pronunciation: Ah-frick. Meaning: Pleasant or agreeable) has medieval roots and appears in the annals as the name of noblewomen, including a 12th-century abbess of Kildare.

8. Líobhan

Líobhan (Pronunciation: Lee-vin. Meaning: Beauty of women or, more simply, beautiful) is closely tied to the legendary mermaid Li Ban, who was said to have lived beneath Lough Neagh until captured by monks in the 6th century.

9. Eadan

Eadan (Pronunciation: Ee-din. Meaning: Little Fire) is a unique name linked to the Irish boys name Aodhán, itself derived from the old word for fire.

10. Clare

This (Pronunciation: Cl-air. Meaning: Clear or bright) name has a variety of origins in different languages, but this spelling is the Irish variation of the English name ‘Clara’. The name ‘Clare’ is most often associated with the Irish county of the same name, which is home to the famous Cliffs of Moher.

Unique and unusual Irish girl names

The next section tackles some of the more unusual Irish names for girls – and there’s plenty of them!

Many of the names below are often regarded as traditional Irish girls names, but each is also beautifully unique (and some are a little unusual).

1. Cadhla

Cadhla (Pronunciation: Kay-la. Meaning: Beautiful or graceful) is an old Irish girls name rarely heard outside Ireland today. The name appears in medieval sources, most often given to girls noted for their elegance and poise, and its soft sound has helped it endure.

2. Cliodhna

Cliodhna (Pronunciation: Klee-ow-na. Meaning: Shapely) is one of the standout names from Irish mythology. Cliodhna was a goddess of love and beauty from the Tuatha De Dannan, said to have three brightly coloured birds whose song could heal the sick.

3. Blathnaid

Blathnaid (Pronunciation: Blah-nid. Meaning: Flower or blossom) comes straight from the Irish word bláth, meaning flower. In myth, Blathnaid was the reluctant wife of Cú Roí who betrayed him to Cú Chulainn, leading to one of the more dramatic tales in the Ulster Cycle.

4. Éabha

Éabha (Pronunciation: A-vah. Meaning: Life or living) is the Irish form of Eve and, despite being pronounced “A-vah,” has a distinct Irish identity. Éabha was the 2nd most popular girls name in Ireland in 2024, with 293 registrations with the CSO.

5. Sile

Sile (Pronunciation: She-lah. Meaning: Heavenly) is the Irish form of Cecilia, though it developed its own strong roots in Ireland. Anglicised as Sheila, it became so common in the 20th century that “Sheila” was often used abroad as a generic term for an Irishwoman.

6. Dearbhla

Dearbhla (Pronunciation: Derv-la. Meaning: Daughter of the poet) is an old Irish girls name that remains in use today. It blends two older names, Deirbhile and Dearbhail, and reflects the high regard for poets and learned families in Gaelic society.

7. Bébhinn

Bébhinn (Pronunciation: Bay-veen. Meaning: Melodious or pleasant sounding woman) is a name from early Irish mythology. Bébhinn appears both as a goddess linked to childbirth and as a queen of the underworld in different strands of lore.

8. Seoidín

Seoidín (Pronunciation: Sho-deen. Meaning: Little jewel) comes from the Irish word for jewel, seoid. Though rare, it captures the affectionate style of many traditional Irish baby girls names, symbolising something precious and treasured.

9. Fidelma

Fidelma (Pronunciation: Fih-dell-mah. Meaning: Enduring or constant) is an unusual Irish girls name found in early Christian records. One of its best-known bearers is Saint Fidelma, a 6th-century abbess.

10. Étaín

‘Étaín (Pronunciation: Ee-tane. Meaning: Passion or jealousy) is one of the best-known figures in Irish mythology, remembered as a heroine of the Tochmarc Étaíne tale, where she is transformed into a butterfly before regaining human form.

11. Gobnait

Gobnait (Pronunciation: Gub-nit. Meaning: To bring joy) is remembered above all through Saint Gobnait, patron of bees and beekeepers, who founded a monastery in Ballyvourney, County Cork. Her feast day is still marked locally.

12. Síofra

Síofra (Pronunciation: Shee-if-rah. Meaning: Changeling) comes directly from folklore, where a síofra was a fairy child left in place of a human one. The name carries a distinctly mystical edge and is rarely used today.

13. Neasa

Neasa (Pronunciation: Nes-uh. Meaning: Not gentle) was a formidable figure in the Ulster Cycle, remembered as the mother of Conchobhar mac Nessa, King of Ulster.