Traditional Irish girl names with meanings
These are Irish girls' names with roots in the Irish language, listed A to Z with their meanings and a simple respelling. Press the play button beside a name to hear it.
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111 names. Jump to: A B C D E F G I K L M N O P R S T U
A
- Aibhlinn – AV-lin (Possibly 'dream, vision')
- Ailís – AL-eesh (Noble)
- Aillinn – AL-yin (Lover of Baile)
- Áine – AWN-ya (Radiance)
- Aisling – ASH-ling (Dream, vision)
- Almha – AL-wa (Lady of Allen)
- Aoibheall – EE-vul (Beauty)
- Aoibheann – EE-van (Beautiful, radiant)
- Aoibhinn – EE-veen (Delightful)
- Aoife – EE-fah (Beauty, radiance)
B
- Badb – BYVE (Crow)
- Bairbre – BAR-bra (Foreign woman)
- Banba – BAN-ba (Poetic name for Ireland)
- Bébhinn – BAY-vin (Fair lady)
- Bébinn – BAY-vin (Fair woman)
- Béibhinn – BAY-vin (Fair woman)
- Bláithín – BLAW-heen (Little flower)
- Bláthnaid – BLAW-nid (Little flower, blossom)
- Boann – BOH-an (White cow)
- Bridget – BRIJ-it (Exalted one)
- Brigid – BRIJ-id (Exalted one, high one)
- Brónach – BROH-nakh (Sorrowful)
C
- Cadhla – KY-la (Graceful)
- Cáer – KAIR (Berry)
- Cairenn – KAH-rin (Mother of Niall)
- Cáit – KAWTCH (Pure)
- Caitlín – KAT-leen (Pure)
- Caitríona – kah-TREE-nah (Pure)
- Caoilfhionn – KEE-lin (Slender and fair)
- Caoimhe – KEE-vah (Gentle, kind, precious)
- Cara – KAR-a (Friend)
- Cessair – KESS-ir (First settler of legend)
- Ciara – KEER-ah (Dark-haired, dark one)
- Clodagh – KLOH-da (Named for a river)
- Colleen – KOL-een (Girl)
D
- Danu – DAN-oo (Mother goddess)
- Dearbhla – DER-vla (True desire, uncertain)
- Deichtire – DEKH-tir-uh (Mother of Cú Chulainn)
- Deirdre – DEER-dra (Uncertain, possibly sorrowful)
- Dervla – DER-vla (Possibly 'daughter of a poet')
E
- Éabha – AY-vah (Life, living)
- Eibhlín – ay-LEEN (Form of Aveline; also used for Helen)
- Eileen – EYE-leen (Uncertain; from a Norman name of debated origin)
- Eilís – AY-leesh (My God is an oath)
- Eimear – EE-mer (Possibly swift, quick)
- Eithne – ETH-nya (Kernel)
- Erin – ER-in (Ireland)
- Ériu – AIR-oo (Goddess of Ireland)
- Étaín – AY-deen (Shining one, uncertain)
F
- Fedelm – FEH-delm (Prophetess of legend)
- Fiadh – FEE-ah (Wild, deer)
- Fionnabhair – FIN-uh-vir (Fair phantom)
- Fionnuala – fin-NOO-la (White shoulder)
- Flidais – FLID-ish (Lady of the wild)
- Fódla – FOH-la (Poetic name for Ireland)
G
- Gobnait – GUB-nit (Saint's name)
- Gormlaith – GOR-m-la (Illustrious princess)
- Gráinne – GRAWN-ya (Uncertain, possibly grain)
I
- Ita – EE-ta (Thirst (for holiness))
K
- Kathleen – KATH-leen (Pure)
- Keira – KEER-ah (Dark, dusky)
- Kelly – KEL-ee (Bright-headed or strife (debated))
- Kerry – KER-ee (Descendants of Ciar (dark))
L
- Laoise – LEE-sha (Radiant)
- Lasairfhíona – LAS-ar-EE-na (Flame of wine)
- Líadan – LEE-uh-dan (Possibly 'grey lady')
- Líban – LEE-van (Beauty of women)
M
- Macha – MAH-kha (Uncertain, possibly plain)
- Maeve – MAYV (Intoxicating, she who intoxicates)
- Mairéad – MY-rayd (Pearl)
- Máirín – MAW-reen (Little Mary)
- Maura – MAW-ra (Form of Mary; also dark (Latin))
- Maureen – mor-EEN (Little Mary (debated))
- Moira – MOY-ra (Form of Mary)
- Mór – MOHR (Great)
- Mórrígan – MOR-ee-gan (Great queen, or possibly 'phantom queen')
- Muireall – MWIR-ul (Sea-bright)
- Muireann – MWIR-an (Sea-born, sea-white)
- Muirgheal – MUR-yal (Sea-bright)
- Muirne – MUR-nya (Beloved)
N
- Neasa – NAS-ah (Uncertain, perhaps ungentle)
- Nemain – NEV-an (Frenzy)
- Niamh – NEEV (Radiance, brightness)
- Nóinín – NOH-neen (Daisy)
- Nóirín – NOR-een (Little Nóra)
- Nuala – NOO-la (Fair shoulder)
O
P
- Peig – PEG (Pearl)
R
S
- Sadhbh – SIVE (Sweet, goodly)
- Saoirse – SEER-sha (Freedom)
- Saorlaith – SEER-la (Free princess)
- Scáthach – SKAW-hakh (Shadowy one)
- Scota – SKOH-ta (Mother of the Gaels)
- Shannon – SHAN-un (Of the River Shannon (meaning debated))
- Sheila – SHEE-la (Form of Cecilia (possibly blind))
- Síle – SHEE-la (Form of Cecilia)
- Sinann – SHIN-an (River Shannon goddess)
- Sinéad – shin-AYD (God is gracious)
- Siobhán – shi-VAWN (God is gracious)
- Síofra – SHEE-fra (Elf, sprite)
- Sláine – SLAW-nya (Health)
- Sorcha – SOR-ah-kha (Bright, radiant)
T
- Tailtiu – TAL-tyoo (Foster-mother of Lugh)
- Tara – TAR-uh (Hill with a view; Hill of Tara)
- Treasa – TRASS-uh (Uncertain; possibly harvester)
U
Choosing an Irish name
Many Irish girls' names have both an Irish spelling and an English one, for example Caitlín and Kathleen or Siobhán and Joan. Picking the Irish spelling keeps the original sound, but you may spend a while helping people say it. Press the play button to hear how each is said before you decide.
Looking for something with a story? See Irish girl names from mythology.
Frequently asked questions
What are some traditional Irish girl names?
Aoife, Niamh, Saoirse, Caoimhe, Róisín, Siobhán, Sadhbh and Gráinne are all traditional Irish names with long histories.
How do you pronounce Irish girl names?
Irish spelling differs from English, so many names sound different from how they look. Each name here has a simple respelling and a recording.