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Irish girl names: 120+ Gaelic names with meanings and pronunciation

123 names · Updated · By The Nomezo Editors · Save to Pinterest

Popular Irish girl names include Éabha (AY-va), Fiadh (FEE-a) and Saoirse (SEER-sha), while English spellings like Maeve and Nora are top-100 names in the US. Most are written in Irish spelling, where a few simple rules explain the sounds.

Below are 123 Irish girl names, most in Irish spelling, each with its meaning, origin and a simple pronunciation. They are grouped into names popular in Ireland now, Celtic names from myth and history, saints' names, names with beautiful meanings, short pet forms, Irish forms of classic names, English spellings and place names. We left out famous names whose meaning is uncertain, such as Deirdre and Gráinne, rather than guess.

Can't decide? Shuffle 6 random picks

  • Peig

    Irish pet form of Margaret, from Greek for pearl. Say PEG.

  • Fionnuala

    White shoulder; Irish Gaelic, the swan daughter of Lir. Say fin-NOO-la.

  • Nóirín

    Little Nora, from Latin honor; the source of Noreen. Say NO-reen.

  • Aignéis

    Irish form of Agnes, from Greek for pure or chaste. Say AG-naysh.

  • Flannait

    Little red one, from flann, blood red; Irish Gaelic. Say FLAN-it.

  • Orla

    From ór, gold, and flaith, princess; anglicized Irish. Say OR-luh.

Irish name tools

See an Irish surname the way a man, his daughter and his wife write it, hear how Irish first names are said, and build a traditional name chain or byname.

A surname for him, her and his wife

In English: O'Brien

A manÓ Briain
A daughterNí Bhriain
A wifeBean Uí Bhriain
A wife, short formUí Bhriain

Ó, descendant, becomes Ní for a daughter and Uí for a wife, and the next word takes an h where it can (lenition).

In Ulster, a woman who takes her husband's surname often just uses Ní or Nic with it.

How to say it

  • Saoirse SEER-shuh/ˈsˠiːɾˠ.ʃə/ · freedom · source

Name chain and byname

Seán Phóil ShéamuisSeán, child of Pól, grandchild of Séamus: each older name is in the genitive and takes an h where it can.
Máire BhánAfter a woman's name the byname takes an h, as in Máire Bhán.
Want endless ideas? Try the irish name generator and generate new names in one click.

Celtic girl names from Irish myth and history

Goddesses, queens and heroines from the old Irish stories. These Gaelic girl names have been in use for more than a thousand years.

  1. Niamh Ireland #90: Bright, radiant; Irish Gaelic heroine who led Oisín to Tír na nÓg. Say NEEV.
  2. Áine Ireland #91: Radiance, brilliance; Irish goddess of love and fertility. Say AWN-ya.
  3. Brighid: Exalted one; the older spelling of Bríd, for the goddess of fire, poetry and healing. Say BREED.
  4. Fionnuala: White shoulder; Irish Gaelic, the swan daughter of Lir. Say fin-NOO-la.
  5. Bláthnaid: Little flower; Irish Gaelic heroine of the Ulster tales. Say BLAW-nid.
  6. Muireann: Sea white; Irish Gaelic, the mother of Fionn in legend. Say MWIR-an.
  7. Fianna: Band of warriors; Irish Gaelic, after Fionn's legendary troop. Say FEE-a-na.
  8. Saraid: Excellent; Irish Gaelic, a king's daughter in legend. Say SAR-id.
  9. Gormlaith: Illustrious princess; Irish Gaelic, a queen married to Brian Boru. Say GORM-la.
  10. Mór: Great; Irish Gaelic, the name of a legendary Munster queen. Say MOHR.
  11. Grian: Sun; Irish Gaelic, a Limerick goddess, now mostly given to boys. Say GREE-an.

Irish saints' names for girls

Names of early Irish saints, plus newer Irish names with a faith meaning. Many are rare today, which makes them stand out.

  1. Bríd: Exalted one; Irish Gaelic, for Saint Brigid of Kildare. Say BREED.
  2. Damhnait: Little fawn; Irish Gaelic, the saint also called Dymphna. Say DOW-nit.
  3. Dymphna: Another form of Damhnait, little fawn; patron saint of mental health. Say DIMF-na.
  4. Caoilfhionn: Slender and fair; Irish Gaelic, borne by several early saints. Say KEE-lin.
  5. Deirbhile: Daughter of a poet; Irish Gaelic, a 6th-century Mayo saint. Say DER-vil-a.
  6. Odharnait: Little dun-colored one; Irish Gaelic, an early saint. Say OR-nit.
  7. Rathnait: Grace, prosperity; Irish Gaelic, an early saint. Say RAH-nit.
  8. Gobnait: Feminine of Gobán, smith; an Irish saint linked with bees. Say GUB-nit.
  9. Brónach: Sorrowful; Irish Gaelic, a 6th-century saint of County Down. Say BRO-nakh.
  10. Muadhnait: Little noble one; Irish Gaelic, a 6th-century saint. Say MOO-nit.
  11. Aodhnait: Little fire; feminine of Aodhán, an Irish saint's name. Say AY-nit.
  12. Naomh: Holy; a 20th-century Irish Gaelic name. Say NEEV or NAYV.
  13. Nollaig: Christmas; Irish Gaelic, for a baby born around Christmas. Say NUL-ig.
  14. Pádraigín: Feminine of Pádraig, nobleman; honors Saint Patrick. Say PAW-drig-een.

Irish girl names with beautiful meanings

Gaelic girl names that mean bright, beautiful, golden or free, with the Irish words behind each meaning.

  1. Sorcha: Bright, radiant; Gaelic, used in Ireland and Scotland. Say SOR-ka.
  2. Aoibheann: Fair beauty; Irish Gaelic, from aoibh, beauty, and fionn, fair. Say EE-van.
  3. Aoibhe: Beauty; Irish Gaelic, a sister name of Aoife. Say EE-va.
  4. Órlaith: Golden princess; Irish Gaelic, from ór, gold, and flaith. Say OR-la.
  5. Saorlaith: Free princess; Irish Gaelic, from saor, free, and flaith. Say SEER-la.
  6. Muirgheal: Bright sea; Irish Gaelic, the root of Muriel. Say MUR-ee-al.
  7. Síomha: Good peace; Irish Gaelic, from síth, peace, and maith, good. Say SHEE-va.
  8. Lasairfhíona: Flame of wine; Irish Gaelic, from lasair and fíon. Say LASS-ar-EE-na.
  9. Dearbhla: Daughter of Fál, a poetic name for Ireland; Irish Gaelic. Say DER-vla.
  10. Cara Ireland #52: Friend in Irish Gaelic; also beloved in Italian. Say KAR-a.
  11. Nóinín: Daisy; the Irish Gaelic word for the flower. Say NO-neen.
  12. Sláine: Health, safety; Irish Gaelic, once a legendary king's name. Say SLAWN-ya.
  13. Flannait: Little red one, from flann, blood red; Irish Gaelic. Say FLAN-it.
  14. Ciannait: Ancient, enduring; Irish Gaelic feminine of Cian. Say KEE-a-nit.
  15. Aoibhinn: Delightful; Irish Gaelic, a form of Aoibheann. Say EE-vin.
  16. Aisling: Dream, vision; a 20th-century Irish Gaelic name. Say ASH-ling.
  17. Ríona: Queenly; Irish Gaelic, a form of Ríoghnach. Say REE-na.
  18. Lasair: Flame; Irish Gaelic. Say LASS-ar.

Short and sweet Irish girl names

Pet forms and short names. The Irish ending -ín means little, so a name ending in -ín is a loving diminutive.

  1. Bláithín: Little flower; an Irish Gaelic pet form of bláth, blossom. Say BLAW-heen.
  2. Brídín: Little Bríd, the exalted one; Irish Gaelic pet form. Say BREE-deen.
  3. Méibhín: Little Méabh, she who intoxicates; Irish Gaelic pet form. Say MAY-veen.
  4. Móirín: Little Mór, meaning great; Irish Gaelic pet form. Say MO-reen.
  5. Aoibhín Ireland #62: Little Aoibhe, meaning beauty; Irish Gaelic pet form. Say EE-veen.
  6. Nóirín: Little Nora, from Latin honor; the source of Noreen. Say NO-reen.
  7. Peig: Irish pet form of Margaret, from Greek for pearl. Say PEG.
  8. Peigín: Little Peig, a pet form of Margaret: pearl. Say PEG-een.
  9. Síne: Irish form of Jane: God is gracious; Hebrew origin. Say SHEE-na.
  10. Róise: Irish form of Rose, the flower. Say RO-sha.

Irish forms of classic girl names

Familiar names in their Irish spelling. Each note gives the meaning of the original name.

  1. Mairéad: Irish form of Margaret, from Greek for pearl. Say ma-RAYD.
  2. Siobhán: Irish form of Joan: God is gracious; Hebrew origin. Say shi-VAWN.
  3. Sinéad: Irish form of Janet: God is gracious; Hebrew origin. Say shi-NAYD.
  4. Eilís: Irish form of Elizabeth: God is my oath. Say EH-leesh.
  5. Sibéal: Irish form of Isabel: God is my oath. Say shi-BAYL.
  6. Ailís: Irish form of Alice, meaning noble kind; Germanic origin. Say AL-eesh.
  7. Nóra US #20: Irish short form of Honoria, from Latin for honor. Say NOR-a.
  8. Onóra: Irish form of Honoria, meaning honor; brought by the Normans. Say oh-NOR-a.
  9. Aingeal: Irish form of Angela, from Greek for messenger or angel. Say ANG-gyal.
  10. Seosaimhín: Irish form of Josephine: he will add; Hebrew origin. Say SHO-sa-veen.
  11. Labhaoise: Irish form of Louise, meaning famous in battle; Germanic origin. Say LOU-ee-sha.
  12. Síle: Irish form of Cecilia, from a Roman family name. Say SHEE-la.
  13. Póilín: Irish form of Pauline, from Latin paulus, small. Say PO-leen.
  14. Cristíona: Irish form of Christina: follower of Christ. Say kris-TEE-na.
  15. Abaigeal: Irish form of Abigail: my father is joy; Hebrew origin. Say AB-a-gyal.
  16. Máible: Irish form of Mabel, from Latin for lovable. Say MAW-bleh.
  17. Aignéis: Irish form of Agnes, from Greek for pure or chaste. Say AG-naysh.
  18. Eimíle: Irish form of Emily, from a Roman family name. Say EM-ee-leh.
  19. Súsanna: Irish form of the Hebrew name meaning lily. Say SOO-san-a.
  20. Maitilde: Irish form of Matilda: mighty in battle; Germanic origin. Say MATCH-il-deh.
  21. Ráichéal: Irish form of Rachel, from Hebrew for ewe. Say RAW-hyal.
  22. Agata: Irish form of Agatha, from Greek for good. Say AG-a-ta.
  23. Madailéin: Irish form of Magdalene, woman from Magdala. Say MAD-a-layn.
  24. Lile: Irish form of Lily, Ireland's top girls' name in 2025; rare itself, and usually registered as Líle. Say LIL-yeh.

Irish girl names in English spelling

Anglicized forms of Gaelic names, easier to spell outside Ireland. Each note gives the Irish original.

  1. Maeve Ireland #60 US #76: English spelling of Méabh, she who intoxicates. Say MAYV.
  2. Bridget US #724: English spelling of Bríd, the exalted one. Say BRIJ-it.
  3. Keira US #622: English spelling of Ciara, meaning dark one. Say KEER-a.
  4. Orla: From ór, gold, and flaith, princess; anglicized Irish. Say OR-luh.
  5. Neve: English spelling of Niamh, meaning bright. Say NEEV.
  6. Nuala: Short form of the Gaelic name meaning white shoulder. Say NOO-la.
  7. Finola: English spelling of Fionnuala, white shoulder. Say fi-NO-la.
  8. Keeva: English spelling of Caoimhe, gentle and beloved. Say KEE-va.
  9. Bronagh: English spelling of Brónach, sorrowful; after an Irish saint. Say BRO-na.
  10. Eavan: English spelling of Aoibheann, fair beauty. Say EE-van.
  11. Mona: English spelling of Muadhnait, little noble one. Say MO-na.
  12. Eilish: English spelling of Eilís, the Irish Elizabeth: God is my oath. Say EYE-lish.
  13. Keelin: English spelling of Caoilfhionn, slender and fair. Say KEE-lin.
  14. Sheila: English spelling of Síle, the Irish form of Cecilia; also Australian slang for a woman. Say SHEE-la.
  15. Rosheen: English spelling of Róisín, little rose. Say ro-SHEEN.
  16. Blanid: English spelling of Bláthnaid, little flower. Say BLAN-id.
  17. Noreen: English spelling of Nóirín, little Nora, from Latin honor. Say nor-EEN.
  18. Breda: English spelling of Bríd, the exalted one. Say BREE-da.
  19. Bridie: Irish pet form of Bridget, the exalted one. Say BRY-dee.
  20. Ailish: English spelling of Ailís, the Irish Alice: noble kind. Say EYE-lish or AL-ish.
  21. Orna: English spelling of Odharnait, little dun-colored one. Say OR-nuh.
  22. Sive: English spelling of Sadhbh, meaning sweet; rhymes with five.

Irish place and word names for girls

Names taken from Irish places, rivers, surnames and everyday Irish words.

  1. Clodagh Ireland #47: Named for the River Clodiagh in County Waterford. Say KLO-da.
  2. Erin Ireland #71 US #833: From Éireann, of Ireland; a poetic name for the country. Say AIR-in.
  3. Shannon: From Sionainn, Ireland's longest river. Say SHAN-un.
  4. Kerry: From Ciarraí, the county of the people of Ciar. Say KER-ee.
  5. Colleen: From cailín, the Irish word for girl; used mostly in America, rarely in Ireland. Say ko-LEEN.
  6. Casey: From Ó Cathasaigh, from cathasach, vigilant; unisex, and more often a boys' name. Say KAY-see.
  7. Reagan US #248: From Ó Riagáin; Riagán probably means little king. Say RAY-gan.
  8. Mavourneen: From mo mhuirnín, Irish for my darling. Say ma-VOOR-neen.
  9. Tara US #847: From Teamhair, the Hill of Tara, seat of Ireland's high kings. Say TAR-a.
  10. Éireann: Of Ireland, from Éire, the Irish name for the country. Say AY-run.

How to pick the right name

Say it before you spell it

In Irish spelling, bh and mh often sound like v, so Caoimhe is KEE-va and Niamh is NEEV. If you live outside Ireland, decide whether you are happy to spell the name out, or choose an English spelling like Keeva or Neve.

Keep the fada

The accent on Róisín or Éabha is part of the name and changes the sound. Check that the forms you will use, from birth records to school systems, accept it.

Balance the full name

Long names like Caoilfhionn or Fionnuala sit well with a short surname, while short names like Méabh, Áine or Bríd balance a long one.

Read the story behind it

Many Irish girl names come from legends. Niamh rides to the Land of Youth and Fionnuala is turned into a swan, so learn the tale before you choose.

Irish girl names: 123 ideas from Nomezo

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Irish girl names in Ireland and the US: the 2025 rankings, the fada, and the names nobody can translate

By The Nomezo Editors · Updated October 25, 2026 · How we research names

Four of Ireland's top 10 girls' names in 2025 were Irish-language names: Éabha, Fiadh, Croía and Éala, which jumped from 40th to 10th. Lily was No. 1, and Mary fell out of the top 100 for only the fourth time in 50 years (CSO).

The US prefers English spellings. Nora is No. 20 and Maeve No. 76 for US girls, while Saoirse went to 222 American girls in 2025 and Niamh to 43. The kit above shows how Irish names are said and gives a surname's woman's form; the tags show each name's rank in Ireland and the US.

  1. Step 1Check what Ireland chooses nowLily, Éabha and Fiadh led in 2025.
  2. Step 2Learn how it is saidCaoimhe is KEE-va; Sadhbh rhymes with five.
  3. Step 3Decide on the fadaFiadh and Fíadh are counted as different names.
  4. Step 4Know what is uncertainDeirdre's meaning is unknown.

Ireland's top girls' names in 2025, and their US rank

Most popular girls' names in Ireland, 2025
RankNameGirls in IrelandUS rank, 2025
1Lily302#18
2Éabha29414 girls (as Eabha)
3Fiadh27396 girls
4Grace265#38
5Sadie258#50
6 (joint)Emily, Sophie246 each#34, #55
8Olivia224#1
9Croía2117 girls (as Croia)
10Éala209Fewer than 5

Sources: CSO, Irish Babies' Names 2025, published February 27, 2026, and table VSA60; US Social Security Administration. Ríadh, Gracie, Mabel, Arabella, Nancy and Raya were new to Ireland's top 100.

The fada and other spellings

  • Each spelling counts separately. The CSO has included names with a fada since 2018, so Fiadh (3rd, 273 girls) and Fíadh (65th, 79) are different names in its tables, as are Nora (76th) and Nóra (247th) (CSO).
  • Irish public bodies must handle it. Since December 21, 2024, prescribed public bodies in Ireland must be able to record names in Irish correctly and allow the length accent (Official Languages Act, s. 9A). US baby-name data drops it: Éabha is counted as Eabha.
  • A fada can be a modern choice. Éala comes from eala, swan, with the accent added to make it sound more like Ella (Behind the Name).

Famous names with uncertain meanings

  • Meaning unknown. Behind the Name gives no known meaning for Deirdre, the tragic heroine of an Ulster legend, which is why she is not on this page; Gráinne only perhaps comes from grán, grain.
  • Ailbhe, 50th in Ireland in 2025, perhaps comes from a word for white or light (Behind the Name); the note says so.
  • Newer than they look. Saoirse, freedom, and Aisling, dream, were first used as names in the 20th century (Behind the Name), and Colleen, from cailín, girl, is used mostly in America: only 4 girls in Ireland got it in 2025.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular Irish girl name?

Lily was the most popular girls' name in Ireland in 2025, followed by Éabha, Fiadh, Grace and Sadie (CSO). Éabha, the Irish form of Eve, was the highest-ranked Irish-language name.

How do you pronounce Irish girl names?

Irish has its own spelling rules: bh and mh usually sound like v, and a fada (á, é, í, ó, ú) makes a vowel long. So Siobhán is shi-VAWN, Sadhbh is SIVE and Saoirse is SEER-sha.

What Irish girl names mean light or bright?

Niamh and Sorcha mean bright, Áine means radiance and Grian means sun. Muirgheal means bright sea.

What is a rare Irish girl name?

Gormlaith, Saraid, Deirbhile, Lasairfhíona and Muirgheal are real Irish names that few babies receive today. Each has a long history and a clear meaning.

What does Deirdre mean?

Nobody knows for sure. Deirdre is the tragic heroine of an Ulster legend, but the origin of her name is unknown, so we left it off this list along with Gráinne and Clíodhna.

Should I keep the fada on an Irish name outside Ireland?

It is part of the name and changes the sound, so many families keep it. Irish public bodies must now support it, but some systems abroad do not, and US baby-name data drops it, counting Éabha as Eabha.

Which Irish girl names are popular in the US?

Mostly English spellings and Irish surnames: in 2025 Nora was No. 20 for US girls, Riley No. 48, Maeve No. 76, Kennedy No. 85 and Quinn No. 97. Irish spellings are rare there; Saoirse went to 222 girls.

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