150 Irish baby girl names - how to say them and their meanings (2024)

We know that picking a name for your new baby girl can be both overwhelming and exciting, with so many gorgeous options to sift through, so to help make it quicker and easier for you we've compiled a list of the top 150 Irish girls names. We've divided them into easy-to-digest sections such as the most popular Irish girls' names as well as traditional and old-fashioned names, pretty names and some unusual and unique options too.

To help you with that final decision we've also included the origin and meaning for each one and, as many Irish names are derived from the Gaelic language with difficult to decipher spellings, their anglicised versions and pronunciations too. Watch out for any accents, known as a fada (an Irish diacritic marking added to the top of any vowel), which means the vowel has a long sound rather than a short one.

Here's our list of 150 beautiful Irish girls names to inspire you...

Popular Irish girls names | Traditional Irish girls names | Unusual Irish girls names | Cool Irish girls names | Short Irish girls names | Pretty Irish girls names | Cute Irish girls names | Modern Irish girls names | Gender neutral Irish girls names

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Popular Irish girls names

Some of the UK's most popular girls' names have Irish origins, including Imogen, Molly and Maeve. While no Irish names make it into the top 10 most popular girl names registered in England and Wales in 2022 (the 2023 list hasn't been released yet), 6 names did appear in the top 100 according to the Office for National Statistics. Some of these names are in their more common anglicised versions, rather than the original Irish spelling, although all have original roots in the beautiful Gaelic language.

We've also included the most popular Irish names that feature in Scotland's top 100 girl names, collected by the National Records of Scotland. With Ireland and Scotland's shared Celtic language links, it's no surprise that Irish names are common in Scotland with 5 names making it onto the Scottish list. You'll also find the most popular Irish girls names chosen for babies born in Northern Ireland in 2023 according to Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), which as you can imagine, features many names with Irish origins in its top 100, including Fiadh, which comes in at number 2 and Aoife at number 8.

1. Evelyn (eve-linn)

• Origin: Norman/ Irish
• Meaning: wished for, beauty; anglicised version of Aibhilín or Éibhleann
• Trend: moving up

2. Imogen

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: maiden, innocent
• Trend: moving up

3. Erin or Éireann (air-uhn)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Ireland
• Trend: moving down

4. Orla, Orlagh or Órfhlaith (awr-la)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: golden ruler
• Trend: moving up

5. Molly or Mollie

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Bitter
• Trend: moving down

6. Maeve (may-eev)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: intoxicating; she who rules
• Trend: moving up

7. Mirren (mirr-uhn)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: drop of the sea; beloved
• Trend: moving up

8. Aoife (ee-fa)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: beautiful, radiant
• Trend: moving up

9. Niamh (neev)

• Origin: Old Irish
• Meaning: bright, radiant
• Trend: moving down

10. Fiadh (fee-a)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: wild, deer
• Trend: moving up

11. Quinn (kw-in-h)

• Origin: Old Irish
• Meaning: wise, sense, reason
• Trend: moving up

12. Rowan (row-uhn)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: red-haired
• Trend: moving up

Traditional Irish girls names

With a rich history spanning centuries, the Gaelic language and being famed for its many oral folk stories that have been passed down from generation to generation, Ireland has lots of beautiful old and traditional names to choose from for baby girls. If you like names with a classic sound or that have been tried-and-tested over many years then this is the list for you. Some names like Deirdre, Maureen and Moira have lost their popularity in recent years with pretty names like Clodagh, Siobhan, and Gráinne rising up through the ranks. Many of the names in this list are common in Ireland, but would be a little more unusual if you're looking to stand out from the crowd when used outside the Emerald Isle.

13. Aisling (ash-ling)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: dream, vision

14. Bridget or Brighid (brij-id)

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: power, strength

15. Bronagh (bro-nah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: sorrow

16. Clodagh (clo-dah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: from an Irish river in Waterford

17. Coleen (kah-leen)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: girl

18. Deirdre (deer-druh)

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: sorrowful, wanderer

19. Deirbhile or Dearbháil (der-vill-a)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: poet's daughter; anglicised version is Dervla

20. Doireann (dir-ann)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: sullen

21. Étaín (ay-tawn) or Éadaoin (aid-deen)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: jealousy, passion

22. Fidelma (fee-dell-ma)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: ever-good, enduring

23. Fiona

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: fair, pale

24. Fionnuala (Feh-noo-la)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: white shoulder

25. Gráinne or Granya (graw-nya)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: love, the sun

26. Kathleen

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: pure

27. Kelly

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: descendent of Ceallach

28. Maire (my-ra)

• Origin: Latin/ Irish
• Meaning: star of the sea; Irish version of Latin name Mary

29. Maureen or Máirín (maw-reen)

• Origin: Latin/ Irish
• Meaning: beloved; wished for child

30. Moira (moy-rah)

• Origin: Greek/ Irish
• Meaning: destiny, fate

31. Muriel (myoor-ee-uhl)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: sea, bright

32. Muireann (mur-in)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: sea white

33. Myrna or Muirne (mir-ne)

• Origin: Irish/ Slavic
• Meaning: beloved, high-spirited

34. Nessa

• Origin: Greek
• Meaning: butterfly ;mother of Conor Mac Nessa, king of Ulster

35. Noreen or Nóirín (noy-rihn)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: honour

36. Oonagh (oo-nuh)

• Origin: Irish/ Scottish
• Meaning: lamb

37. Siobhan (shiv-awn)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: God is gracious

38. Sheila or Síle (shee-la)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: heavenly; the sixth one

39. Treasa (trey-sah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: strength, power

Unusual Irish girls names

These unusual Irish girls' names are as unique as your little one and will really stand out from the crowd both in terms of their spellings and how they sound. If you want an original name for your girl with a special meaning like "bringer of joy" or "my beloved" then you'll find a name to suit in this list. We've included how to pronounce these rare and unusual names too - with many being much easier to say than to spell.

40. Aithne (ay-th-ne)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: fire

41. Assumpta (uh-sump-t-uh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Assumption of the Virgin Mary

42. Aurnia (ore-nee-uh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: golden lady

43. Beibhinn (beh-vin)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: fair lady

44. Bedelia (bed-il-e-uh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: exalted one

45. Blaine (b-lain)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: yellow; thin

46. Caoilinn (kwee-linn)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: slender, fair

47. Cessair or Ceasair (suh-sair)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: sorrow, affliction

48. Gobnait (gub-net)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: bringer of joy

49. Eachna (ahk-na)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: horse; Irish goddess known for her beauty, brains and style

50. Éireann (eh-re-ann)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: belonging to the Erainn (the 2nd of the Celtic groups to come to Ireland)

51. Líadan (lee-uh-din)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: grey lady, grey poet

52. Mavourneen (ma-vour-neen)

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: my beloved

53. Móirín (mur-in)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: great

54. Muadhnait (moo-an-it)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little noble one

55. Pádraigín (paw-drig-een)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: female version of Irish for Patrick; noble

56. Rathnait (ra-net)

• Origin: Old Irish
• Meaning: grace, prosperity

57. Ríoghnach (rief-nyak)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: queen

58. Riona (ree-o-na)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: saint, queen

59. Scáthach (ska-ha)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: the shadowy one

60. Síomha (see-o-va)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: good peace

Cool Irish girls names

Many Irish baby names are rooted in history and sound quite traditional. If you're looking for something a little more modern and sleek sounding though as well as an Irish name that is easy to spell and pronounce, then this list is for you. With names inspired by Irish surnames and geographical locations and with meanings including fire goddess and courageous, they are strong choices and you'll certainly be a trend-setter if you choose one of these cool Irish names.

61. Alannah

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: O child

62. Bridget

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: power, strength

63. Bridie (bry-dee)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: exalted one; fire goddess

64. Caitlin

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: pure

65. Carey

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: dark/ black

66. Cassidy

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: clever; curly-haired

67. Dacey

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: anglicized form of Gaelic Déiseach; of the nobility

68. Fianna

• Origin: Scottish/ Irish
• Meaning: band of warriors

69. Kayleigh

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: slender; woodland clearing

70. Morrigan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: phantom queen in Irish mythology

71. Rylee or Riley

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: courageous, valiant

72. Sadhbh (sigh-ve)

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: sweet, lovely

73. Seána or Shauna (shaw-na)

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: god is gracious

74. Shannon

• Origin: Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: wise river

75. Sheridan

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: searcher

76. Tara

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: hill, star

77. Tierney (tee-uh-nee)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: lordly, noble

Short Irish girls names

Short, but sweet, these Irish names have between 3 and 5 letters and are easy to say and spell. A short name is a good choice if your baby's surname is going to be long and multisyllabic and you want to create balance to the name. It also makes life a lot easier for your child to learn to write their name and when it comes to filling out forms later in life! These Irish baby names might be short to say, but they still have lovely meanings and sound pretty and elegant.

78. Áine (awn-ya)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: radiance

79. Alva

• Origin: Anglicized version of Irish Ailbhe
• Meaning: white

80. Bree

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: noble, power

81. Cara

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: friend

82. Ena, Enya or Eithne (en-ya)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little fire, kernel, grain

83. Evan or Éimhín (eh-viy-n)

• Origin: Welsh/ Irish
• Meaning: swift, active

84. Fia (fee-uh)

• Origin: Irish, shortened version of Fiadh
• Meaning: wild

85. Íde (ee-duh)

• Origin: Old Irish
• Meaning: thirst (as in for knowledge)

86. Líle (lee-leh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: lily

87. Mona (moh-nuh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: noble, aristocratic

88. Nóra (naw-ruh)

• Origin: Latin
• Meaning: shortened form of Eleanor meaning 'torch' or Honora meaning 'honor, reputation'

89. Orna (or-nah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: anglicization of Odharnait; little pale green one

90. Saibh (sive)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: sweet

91. Shea (shay)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: hawk-like, stately

92. Úna (oo-nah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: one; queen of the fairies in mythology

Pretty Irish girls names

There's no denying that the Irish accent and Gaelic language is full of pretty melodic sounds and none so beautiful as these girls names. If you want to give your daughter a name that is as gorgeous as she looks then this is a good place to start. Many of these names end in an "a" giving them a pretty cadence when spoken, while others are made up of multiple syllables that roll off the tongue in an enjoyable way. They all have beautiful meanings to match too.

93. Alana (uh-lawn-uh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: my child

94. Alaina (aa-leyn-aa)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little rock

95. Alastríona (al-as-tree-na)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: to defend, help; female form of Alastar

96. Cadhla (ky-lah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: beautiful, graceful

97. Catriona (kuh-tree-nah)

• Origin: Irish/ Scottish
• Meaning: pure

98. Clíona (klee-ow-na)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: shapely

99. Croía (cree-ya)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little heart

100. Dáiríne (daa-ree-n-ae)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: fruitful, fertile

101. Edana (ee-dar-na)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: fire

102. Eilís or Eilish (eye-lish)

• Origin: Irish/ Hebrew
• Meaning: my God is an oath

103. Ennis (eh-nihs)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: island, one choice

104. Finola (fih-noh-lah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: white shoulder

105. Isibéal (ish-a-bell)

• Origin: Irish from Hebrew
• Meaning: God is my oath; Irish form of Isabel

106. Kiera (key-rah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: black, dark

107. Meara (mear-a)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: merry, lively, happy

108. Nuala (nu-ala)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: fair shoulder

109. Maura (mawr-uh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: anglicized form of Máire meaning star of the sea

110. Róis (raw-sh)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: rose

111. Róisin (ro-sheen)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little rose

112. Rosaleen

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little rose, anglicized form of Róisin

113. Rowyn (roh-win)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little red head; version of Rowan derived from Irish Ruadhán

114. Séarlait (shar-lat)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Irish form of Charlotte; free man

115. Sorcha (sor-aka or surk-ha)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: bright, shining

Cute Irish girls names

Choose a name that's as cute as your baby from this list of charming Irish girls' names and you won't regret it. We love the meanings of these lovely names with flower, pearl and precious perfectly reflecting the innocence and beauty of a baby girl.

116. Aoibheann (ay-veen) or Aoibhe (ee-vah)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: of radiant beauty

117. Ailbhe (al-vah)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: noble, bright, white

118. Bláthnaid (blaw-nid)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: flower, blossom

119. Caoimhe (kwee-va) or Keeva

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: gentle, beautiful, precious

120. Ciara (kee-arr-ah)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: little dark one

121. Clíodhna (klee-uhna)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: shapely

122. Dearbhla (durv-la)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: truth, desire

123. Damhnait (daw-nye)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: calf, fawn

124. Eimear (ee-mur)

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: swift

125. Laoise (lee-sha)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: famous warrior

126. Mairead (maw-raid)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: pearl

127. Saoirse (seer-sha)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: freedom

128. Saraid (sao-rihd)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: excellent

129. Sinead (shi-nayd)

• Origin: Hebrew
• Meaning: God is gracious

130. Síofra

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: elf, changeling

131. Taryn

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: the hills of Ireland

132. Teagan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: beautiful, perfect

133. Tuilelaith (til-a-la) or Talulla

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: abundance, princess

Gender neutral Irish baby names

Perhaps you want to give your baby the freedom and choice to be exactly who she wants to be when she grows up? Then a strong unisex name could be the perfect option. With names derived from surnames, places, history and folklore, this list of Irish names could be used for both baby girls and baby boys.

134. Aran

• Origin: Irish/ Scottish
• Meaning: mountain of strength

135. Bevin

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: fair lady

136. Casey

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: watchful, brave

137. Collins

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: young hound

138. Darby

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: free from envy

139. Darcy

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: dark-haired

140. Delaney

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: dark challenger

141. Fallon

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: superior; descended from a ruler

142. Kennedy

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: helmeted chief

143. Larkin

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: descendant of Lorcán; fierce

144. Lennon

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: lover, sweetheart

145. Murphy

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: sea warrior

146. Nollaig (null-ig)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Christmas, joyful, festive

147. Reagan

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: little king

148. Riley

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: valiant; rye meadow

149. Ríonach (ree-in-och)

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: queenly

150. Sloane

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: raider, warrior

Pics: Getty

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