Traditional Irish Names: Girls
If you haven't done so already, non-Irish speakers please see the the pronunciation guide.
| name | approx. pronounciation | other forms* | meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailbhe (m/f) | AL vyeh | Alvy; Ailbe | Either from ail, "rock," albho, "white" or Gaulish albiorix "world king." |
| Aillean | AL yan | - | meaning is unknown |
| Áine | AW nya | Anya | "radiance; splendour; brilliance" |
| Áinfean | AWN f'yun | Ainbthech | "storm;" "fury; violence" |
| Ainnir | AN nyir | Ainder | "young woman" |
| Aithche | AH h'yeh | Atty | meaning is unknown |
| Álmhath | AWL uh va | Alva | meaning is unknown |
| Ana | A na | Ana; Dana; Anu | "wealth" or "abundance" |
| Ainfean | AN fun | - | "storm; fury" |
| Aodhamair | AY mur | - | derived from Aed (see Aodh) |
| Aodnait | AY nut | Enat | Aodh + feminine ending |
| Aoibheann | EE vyin; EE van | Eavan; Aoibhínn | "beautiful radiance" |
| Aoibhegréine | eev GRAIN yeh | Evgren; Aíbgréine | "radiance of the sun" |
| Aoife | EE fa; WEE fa | - | "beautiful; radiant" |
| Athracht | AH rakht | Attracta | meaning is unknown |
| Báine | BAWN yeh | - | "paleness; whiteness" |
| Banbha | BAN uh va | Banba | the name of an early goddess, and was also used as name for Ireland |
| Beag (m/f) | B'YAG | Becc | "little; small" |
| Bébhinn | BAY vin | Bevan; Bébhionn | "fair-haired lady" |
| Bearach (m/f) | BAR akh | Berach; Berrach | "pointed; sharp" |
| Bláthín | BLAW heen | - | "little flower" |
| Bláthnaid | BLAW nid | Blánaid; Bláthnait | "little flower" |
| Blinne | BLI nyeh | Monina; Moninne | form of Monnine (see also) |
| Bríghid | BREED | Bríd; Brigid; Breda ; Bríde | "high goddess" |
| Brónach | BRO nakh | Brona; Bronagh | "sorrowful" |
| Caoilfhionn | KEE lin; KWAY linn | Keelin; Kaylin; Caoilinn; Caoileann | caol "slender" + fionn "white; fair-haired" |
| Caoimhe | KEE va; KWEE va | Keeva; Keavy | from caem "beautiful; beloved" |
| Cathán (m/f) | CA hawn | Cahan; Kane;Cahán | battler |
| Ceallach (m/f) | KAL ukh | Kelly | possibly "bright-headed" or "strife; contention" |
| Ceara | KYAR a | Cara; Carra | "fiery red" |
| Ciar | KEE ir | Keir; Kira;Ciara | "black" |
| Clíona | KLEE uh na | Cliona; Cleana; Clíodhna | from Celtic mythology; meaning is possibly "shapely." |
| Clothra | KLO ra | Clora | possibly, "famous" |
| Cobhlaith | KUV uh la | Cowley | cob "victory" + flaith "princess; lady; soverign" |
| Coinneach (m sometimes f) | CON yach | Cainneach, Canice, Charles, Kenny | possibly from caoin "beautiful" |
| Craobhnait | CREEV nit | Cróeb | "branch; garland" |
| Cróine | CRO in yeh | Crón | crón "yellow; saffron-colored, swarthy" |
| Cróinseach | CRONE shakh | Crónsech | crón "yellow; saffron-colored, swarthy" + feminine ending |
| Cúach | KOO akh | - | meaning is unknown |
| Daghain | DEIN | Dagain | possibly from dag "good" |
| Dáirine | DAW rin yeh | Darina | "fruitful; fertile" |
| Dáirinn | DAWR inn | Derinn; Dorind, Darina, Doireann, Dorind Doreen, Dorothy, Dolly | possibly, "sullen" or more likely, "daughter of Fionn" |
| Damhnait | DAV nat | Devnet; Davnat; Damhnat, Dymphna | "fawn" |
| Daráine | dar AWN yeh | Der Áine | "daughter of Áine [Celtic goddess] |
| Dealbhnait | D'YALv nat | Delbnat | possibly from delb, "shape" + diminutuve ending. |
| Dealla | D'YAL a | Della, Dalla | meaning is unknown |
| Dearbhail | DJAR val | Derval | "Daughter of Fál" (another name of Ireland) or "true desire." |
| Deirbhile | DJIR vil a | Dervla, Dervila | "daughter of a poet" |
| Deirdre | DAIR dreh | Deirdre; Deedra; Deirdriu | perhaps "chatterer" or "woman," or could be derived from a name beginning with der- meaning "daughter (of)" |
| Draighean | DRYNE | Draigen | draigen, "blackthorn" |
| Dufach | DUFF akh | Dubhthach | dubh "dark; black; dark-haired or complectioned" |
| Dunfhlaith | DUN a la | Dunla; Donnfhlaith; Dunflaith | donn "brown (haired)" + flaith "princess" |
| Eachna | AKH na | Echna, Echnach | "steed" |
| Eadan | AH dan | Etan | possibly a form of Étaín |
| Eascrach | AS krakh | Escrach | "blooming; blossoming" |
| Easnadh | AS na | Esnad | "musical sound" |
| Éibhleann | AYV len | Evlin; Ébliu; Éblenn; Éibhliu | "beauty; radiance" |
| Éile | AYL yeh | Éle | meaning is unknown |
| Éimhín (m & f) | AY veen | Evin; Aeveen; Éimíne | prompt; ready |
| Éirne | AYR nyeh | Erne | possibly derived from the Celtic goddess name Érann |
| Eirnín (m/f) | ER neen | Ernin; Erníne | "iron" |
| Eisten | ES ten | - | meaning is unknown |
| Eithne | EN a; EN yeh | Enya | possibly "kernal" or "gorse" |
| Émer | AY mer, AY ver | Emer; Éimear; Éimer | possibly derived from eimh "swift" |
| Étaín | AY teen | Aideen; Éadaoin | from et, "jealousy" |
| Fachtna (m and f) | FACHT na | Festus, Festie, Fantasius | "malicious; hostile" |
| Fainche | FINE kha | Faenche, Fanny | "scald-crow," the name of a Celtic war goddess |
| Feidhelm | FY elm | Fidelma; Fedelm | from feidhle "constancy" |
| Feidhlim (m and f) | FEH lim | Phelim, Felim Felix, Phillip | possibly from feidhle "constant; always" |
| Feme | FE va | - | "young woman; girl" |
| Fial | FEE ul | Feale | "modest; honorable; generous" |
| Fianait | FEE uh nit | Feenat | "wild creature; deer" |
| Fionnait | FYUN it | Finnat, Fennat | "fair-haired; white" |
| Fionúir | FYUN oor | Fennore; Fionnbhair; Fionnabair | "white ghost; spirit" |
| Fionnghuala | fyun OO la | Fenella; Finola; Fionnuala; Nuala | fionn "white; fair-haired" + guala "shoulder" |
| Fíonscoth | FEEN ska | Fínscoth | Fína "wine" + scoth "blossom" |
| Flann (m/f) | FLAN | Flannacán | "fiery red" |
| Forlaith | FUR la | Farbhflaith | "overlord; soverignty" |
| Geiléis | gyel AISH | Gelace | "bright swan" |
| Gobnait | GUB nit | Gobnet, Deborah, Abbie, Dora, Webby | either a feminine form of Gobán (see above), or derived from gob, "mouth." |
| Gormán (m/f) | GUR mawn | Gorman | "dark; swarthy" |
| Gormlaith | GUR um la | Gormley, Barbara | Either from gorm, "blue; grey" or an element meaning "illustrious" + flaith, "princess; lady" |
| Gráinne | GRAWN yeh | Grania, Grace, Gertrude, Griselda | possibly "inspiring terror" or derived from the word for "grain" |
| Grian | GREE un | - | "sun; sun-goddess" |
| Íde | EE deh | Ita; Íte | possibly, "thirst," or "the act of eating" |
| Íonait | EEN nit | Enat | "faithful; pure; sincere" |
| Laoise | LEE sha | Luighseach | "radiant girl" |
| Lasairfhiona | la sar EE na | Lasarina; Lasairíona | lassar "flame" + fíne "wine" |
| Líadan | LEE a dan | Liadan; Líadáin; Líadain | "grey lady" |
| Liamhain | LEE uh vin | - | "comely, beautiful" |
| Life | LIF yeh | Liffey | meaning is unknown |
| Líobhan | LYEE von | Lí Ban | "beauty of women" |
| Luiseach | LWEE shach | Luisech, Lucy | "radiant girl" |
| Maol Mhuire (m & f) | mal WIR eh | Murray, Miles, Milo, Myler | "servant or devotee of St. Mary" |
| Maon (m & f) | MAYN | - | "silent" |
| Marga | MAR ga | - | meaning is unknown |
| Meadhbh | MAVE | Maeve; Medb; Méabh, Marjorie, Mabel, Maud, Madge | "she who intoxicates" |
| Mealla | MY'AL a | Mell, Mella | "lightning" |
| Miach (m & f) | MEE ach | - | "honorable; proud" |
| Moinnine | muh NIN yeh | Monina; Blinne | "My ninne"-according to legend, ninne was the first word this saint spoke |
| Móirín | MOR een | Moreen | from mór, "great; tall" + diminutive ending |
| Móirne | MORN yeh | Maria, Maud | from mór, "great; tall" |
| Moncha | MUN cha | Monica | from a Celtic goddess name |
| Mór | MORE | Moreen; Móirín Martha, Mary, Agatha | from mór, "great; tall" |
| Muadhnait | MOO nit | Monat; Mona; Muadnat | "noble; good" |
| Muireann | MWIR in | Murren; Maren; Mairenn; Muirfhionn, Marion, Madge | mur "sea" + fionn "white; fair-haired" |
| Muirín | MWIR in | Miren; Muirín | mur "sea" + gein "birth" |
| Muirgheal | MWIR yal | Muriel; Muirgel | "sea-bright" or "sea-white" |
| Muirne | MWIR nyeh | Myrna | "high spirited; festive" |
| Naoise (m, sometimes f) | NEE sha | Nóise, Naois, Nyce, Noah | possibly, from nasc "a bond" |
| Naomh | NAV, NEV | - | "saint" |
| Nárbhflaith | NAR vila | Narvla, Narbflaith | "noble princess" |
| Neacht | NYACHT | - | "pure" |
| Neamhain | NYAV in | Nemon | "battle-fury; warlike frenzy" name of a Celtic war goddess |
| Neassa | NES sa | Nessa, Neas, Ness | ni "not" + assa "gentle" |
| Niamh | NEEV, NEE uv | Niav, Niam | "brightness; radiance" |
| Nuala | NOO uh la | Fionnuala, Penny, Penelope | short form of Fionnuala (white shoulders) |
| Órlaith | OR la | Orla, Órla, Orfhlaith | ór "gold" + flaith "princess; lady" |
| Órnait | OR nit | Ornat, Orna, Odharnait, Odarnait | possibly "otter" or "sallow; dark; grey-brown" |
| Osnait | US nit | Ossnat | os, "deer" + feminine ending |
| Raghnailt | RAN ult | Ragnailt, Regina | from Old Norse Ragnall, Ragnvaldr, which is derived from regin "advice, counsel" and valdr "ruler." |
| Raichbhe | RA v'yeh | Raichbe | Meaning is unknown |
| Rathnait | RAH nit | Ronit, Renny | "grace; prosperity" |
| Ríochael | REE khale, REE khul | Richella | rí "king; soverign" + an unknown element |
| Ríofach | REE uh fakh | Ríomthach, Ríomhthach | meaning is unknown |
| Ríona | REE uh na | Ríonach, Regina | from rí "king; soverign; queen" |
| Róinseach | RONE shach | Róinsech | from rón, "a seal" (animal) |
| Róisín | RO sheen | Rosheen, Rosaleen | originally comes from Norse word for "horse." Also means "little rose." |
| Rónnad | RONE it | Rónnat | rón, "seal" + feminine ending |
| Rós | ROS | Rose | "rose" is the modern meaning, but originally it came from a Norse word for "horse" |
| Rúadhnait | ROO uh nit | Rúdnat | rúad, "red haired" + feminine ending |
| Sadhbh | SIVE | Sive, Sadbh, Sophie, Sophia, Sarah, Sally, Sabia, Sabina | "sweet, goodly" |
| Saorla | SEER la, SAYR la | Saorlaith, Saoirfhlaith | sáer "noble" + flaith "princess; lady" |
| Saraid | SAR ad | Sárait, Sarah | from sár "noble; best" |
| Sárnait | SAWR nit | Sárnat | from sár "noble; best" or else from an older root meaning "chief; ruler" |
| Scáthach
|
SKAW hokh | - | "shadowy; ghostly; frightening" |
| Scoithniamh | SKUH nyee uv | Scothniam | scoth "blossom, bloom" + niam "shining; radiant" | +
| Scoth | SKUH | - | scoth "blossom, bloom" |
| Scothnait | SKUH nit | - | scoth "blossom, bloom" + feminine ending | +
| Séanait | SHAI nat | Ségnat | from sé, "hawk" + feminine ending |
| Searc | SHARK | Serc | "love; affection" |
| Séighín (m & f) | SHAY een, SHANE | Séigíne | from sé, "hawk" |
| Síomha | SHEE va | Sheeva, Síomhaith | sith, "peace" + math "good" |
| Sláine | SLAW nyeh, SLAWN ya | Slaney, Slanina | "health," derived from a Celtic goddess name |
| Sorcha | SUR a ka | Sarah, Sally | "bright, radiant" |
| Suaibhseach | SOO uv shach | Suaibsech | "gracious; kindly" |
| Suanach | SOO un ach | - | "drowsy" |
| Taillte | TAL tyeh | Teltina, Tailltiu | meaning is unknown |
| Teafa | TYAF a | Tethba, Teffia | a place name in Co. Longford, meaning is unknown |
| Teamhair | T'YA wur | Tara, Teamair | "elevated place" |
| Téide | T'YAY d'yeh | Téite | "wantonness" |
| Treasa | TRA sa | Tressa, Trása, Teresa | from treise "strength" |
| Tuamnait | TOO um nit | Tómnat | fem. of Tómmán- meaning is unknown |
| Tuathla | TOO uh la | Tuathflaith, Tuathfhlaith, Tuala | tuath "people" + flaith "princess; lady" |
| Tuileach | TIL yakh | Tailech | perhaps, "prominent forehead" |
| Tuilelaith | TIL yeh la, TILL el a | Tailefhlaith, Tallula, Twilleliah | tuile "abundance" + flaith "princess; lady" |
| Uaine | OO in yeh, WAN yeh | - | either from uaine "green" or from an older word meaning "lady." |
| Uainionn | OO in yin | Uanfind | "foam-white" |
| Uaithne (f and m) | OO in yeh, WAN yeh | - | "greenish", from a Celtic tribal name |
| Uasal | OO a sal | - | "noble" |
| Uallach | OOL akh | "proud; arrogant" the name of an 8th century Poetess of Ireland. | |
| Úna | OO na | Una, Oona, Oonagh, Agnes, Winifred, Winnie, Juno | possibly derived from uan meaning "lamb." |