Girl name · Irish Gaelic
Saoirse
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: freedom, libertySaoirse is a girl's name that comes from Irish Gaelic and means "freedom, liberty". It is used in Irish.
- Meaning
- Freedom, liberty
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Girl
- Say it
- SEER-sha
Meaning and origin of Saoirse
As a girl's name, Saoirse comes from Irish Gaelic and means "freedom, liberty". It is used in Irish.
Say it SEER-sha. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Saoirse on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Saoirse on 6 lists.
“Irish for freedom; say SEER-sha”
From Female cat names, unique female cat names
“Irish for freedom, said SEER-sha”
From Girl dog names, unique female dog names
“Freedom; Irish Gaelic. Say SEER-sha”
From Girl middle names, unique girl middle names
“Freedom; a 20th-century Irish Gaelic name. Say SEER-sha.”
From Irish girl names, popular Irish girl names
“Freedom, liberty; Irish Gaelic. Say SEER-sha”
From Strong female names, brave and bold girl names
“Freedom, liberty; Irish Gaelic, actress Ronan's first name. Say SEER-sha”
From Unique girl names, uncommon Irish, Welsh and Cornish girl names
How popular is Saoirse?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,089
- 222 babies, 138 per million girls
- Best rank
- #735 in 2020
- 373 babies that year
- Babies since 1993
- At least 4,068
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 0 per million |
| 1940s | 0 per million |
| 1950s | 0 per million |
| 1960s | 0 per million |
| 1970s | 0 per million |
| 1980s | 0 per million |
| 1990s | 4 per million |
| 2000s | 21 per million |
| 2010s | 106 per million |
| 2020s | 182 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #970 | #962 | #822 | #819 | #735 | #812 | #894 | #959 | #1,031 | #1,089 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
- DrorFreedom, sparrow (Hebrew, boy)
- DroritFreedom, sparrow (Hebrew, girl)
- EleftheriaFreedom (Greek, girl)
- HerutFreedom (Hebrew, girl)
- LibertadLiberty (Latin, girl)
- UhuruFreedom (Swahili, boy)
Middle names for Saoirse
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Irish Gaelic
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- BridgetExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BridieExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- BrigitteExalted one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- CaseyVigilant, watchful (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- CassidyCurly-haired (Irish Gaelic, unisex)
- DymphnaLittle fawn (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- ErinOf Ireland (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KeiraDark one (Irish Gaelic, girl)
- KennedyFrom an Irish surname, from Cennétig, armoured or misshapen head (Irish Gaelic, girl)
Saoirse: common questions
What does the name Saoirse mean?
Saoirse comes from Irish Gaelic and means "freedom, liberty".
Is Saoirse a boy or girl name?
Saoirse is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Saoirse come from?
Saoirse comes from Irish Gaelic and means "freedom, liberty". Today it is used in Irish.
How do you pronounce Saoirse?
Say SEER-sha. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Saoirse?
Saoirse ranked #1,089 in the US in 2025, with 222 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Saoirse?
Middle names that flow well with Saoirse include Briar, Eliza, Hope, Jane and June. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.