Here is a list of Irish girls' names. Pronunciations are given where they might be unfamiliar; in all cases, the ch sound is like the sound in Loch. Some of these names are not usually used as first names in Ireland, these are marked with a *. Such names are usually surnames or place names or actual words.( )
NAME |
Pronunciation |
Other Spellings |
Meaning |
English |
| Aideen | AY-deen | Eadaoin, Aedín | A saint from Moylurg,Boyle. Eadaoin, goddess of beauty. | Edwina |
| Aifric | AF-ric | Aithbhreac | An old name, popular in medieval times, with a famous example being 15th century poetess Aithbhreac inghean Corcadail. | |
| Ailbhe | AL-va | Elva | Olive | |
| Ailis | AY-lish | Ailse, Ailish | Noble Rank (Teutonic) |
Adelaide |
| Aileen | AY-leen | |||
| Aine | AWN-ya | Ancient Irish name | Ann | |
| Aineen * | AY-neen | WORD - From 'Ean', meaning bird | ||
| Aiobh * | Eve | Eve | U.S. - A variant spelling of Eve. | Eve |
| Aisling | ASH-ling | Aislinn | Vision, dream | |
| Aithne * | ETH-na | Ethna, Eithne | Kernel | |
| Alannah * | Al-a-nah | Alanagh | WORD - 'Beautiful' or 'Darling' | |
| Aoibheann | ee-van | Eavan, Aoibhán | Fair form | |
| Aoife | EE-fa | Ancient Irish name | Eva | |
| Aran * | Arann | PLACE - Islands off the west coast of Ireland | ||
| Ardra * | OUR-dra | High fort | ||
| Aveleen * | AVE-leen | U.S. - Hazel | Hazel | |
| Bailey * | BAY-lee | SURNAME - Báille.Originlly an English name meaning Bailiff. | ||
| Bairbre | BAR-bre | Barbara | Strange (Greek) | Barbara |
| Benvy | ben-VEE | Bean Mhí | Lady of Meath | |
| Bevin | Bébhinn | Melodious Lady | Vivienne | |
| Bláithín | BLAW-heen | Little flower | ||
| Brady * | BRAY-dee | SURNAME - Mac Brádaigh. Means 'spirited', mainly from Cavan. | ||
| Brennan * | SURNAME - O'Braonáin, possibly meaning sorrow.Four different families, from Galway, Kerry, Westmeath and Kilkenny. | |||
| Brianna * | Female version of Brian; powerful | |||
| Brogan * | BRO-gan | SURNAME - O'Brógáin. From the Uí Fiachrach familes of North Mayo and Sligo. | ||
| Brenna | BRENN-ah | Female form of Brian OR 'Raven' OR 'Hill' | ||
| Briana | BREE-ana | Brianagh, Breena, Brianne | Female form of Brian | Briony |
| Bríd | BREED | Brighid | Strength. Patron Saint of Ireland (with St. Patrick) | Brigid |
| Bridget | Brigid | Strength | ||
| Brigid | Bridget | Strength | ||
| Bridie | BRY-dee | Strength | From Brigid | |
| Bronagh | BRO-na | Brona | Sorrow (a Queen held captive in a castle in Rostrevor) | |
| Caelan | KEE-lin | Caoilfhionn, Keelin, Caoilin | Slender and fair | |
| Cáit | Coyt | Pure (Greek) | Kate | |
| Cáitlín | Coyt-leen | Pure (Greek) | Kathleen | |
| Caitríona | Cat-REE-ona | Catriona, Caitrín | Pure (Greek) | Catherine |
| Caoilfhionn | KEE-lin | Caoilin, Keelin | Slender and fair | |
| Caoilin | KEE-lin | Caoilfhionn, Keelin | Slender and fair | |
| Cailiosa | KEE-lisa | Girl of Jesus | ||
| Caoimhe | KWEE-va | Gentle, beauty, grace | Kevina | |
| Cara | CAR-a | Caragh | Friend | |
| Casey * | KAY-see | SURNAME - Ó Cathasaigh, meaning 'watchful' or 'vigilant'. | ||
| Cassidy * | SURNAME - O'Caiside. A Fermanagh family of physicians. | |||
| Ciara | KEY-ra | Kyra | Saint from Kilkeare, Co. Tipperary (AD 679) | |
| Cleary * | CLEE-ree | SURNAME - O'Cléirigh, meaning Clerk. One of the oldest Irish surnames, from Galway. | ||
| Clíona | CLEE-ona | Cliodhna | From an old Cork legend called 'Tonn Cliona' (Cliona's wave), which tells of a girl, Cliona, who drowned off the coast of Cork as she made to escape from her father's wrath with her beloved. | |
| Clodagh | CLO-da | Cloda | River in Tipperary |
|
| Colleen * | COL-een | WORD - 'Cailín', Irish word for girl | ||
| Crea * | CREE | WORD - From 'Croí', meaning Heart | ||
| Criodhna | CREE-ona | |||
| Críosa | KREE-osa | Christian | Christina | |
| Cristíona | Kris-TEE-ona | Christian | Christina | |
| Cullen * | Cullan | SURNAME - MacCuilinn, from the Irish word 'cuileann', holly. Mainly from Monaghan. | ||
| Curran * | SURNAME - O'Corráin.Widespread throughout Ireland. | |||
| Danann | From Dé Danann, the spirit people | |||
| Dara | Darragh | Oak? | ||
| Deirdre | DARE-dra, DEER-dra | Ancient heroine of the tale of the Sons of Uisneach | ||
| Dearbhla | Dervla | Derval, Deirbhle, Dervla |
True desire | |
| Derry * | DER-ee | PLACE - a town and county in the north of Ireland | ||
| Delaney* | Delany | SURNAME - O'Dubhshláine, from 'dubh' meaning black.From Laois and Kilkenny. | ||
| Devlin * | SURNAME - O'Doibhilin, a surname from Tyrone. | |||
| Doreen | Doireann | Sullen | Dorothy | |
| Dymphna | DIMF-na | Davnet, Damhnait | Poet |
| Eadaoin | AY-deen | Aideen | A saint from Moylurg,Boyle. Eadaoin, goddess of beauty. | Edwina |
| Eavan | Ee-van | Aoibheann | Fair form | |
| Eibhlín | Ev-LEEN | Evelyn | Fair | Evelyn |
| Eilís | EYE-leesh, AY-lish | Ailish, Eilish | 'God has sworn' (Greek) | Elizabeth |
| Eileen | EYE-leen | Eibhlin, Eilín | Sunlight (Greek) | Helen, Elene |
| Eithne | ET-na | Ethna | Kernel | |
| Emer | EE-mur | Eimear | ||
| Enda | Eanna | Bird | ||
| Erin * | AIR-in | Erinna | WORD - 'Eireann', means 'of Ireland' | |
| Erina * | AIR-in-a | Erinna, Erin | WORD - 'Eireann', means 'of Ireland' | |
| Erris * | ER-is | |||
| Etaoin | Aideen, Eadaoin | A saint from Moylurg,Boyle. Eadaoin, goddess of beauty. | Etaine | |
| Evelyn | EV-lin | Aoibheann | Fair form. | |
| Farrell * | SURNAME - O'Fearghail, meaning 'man of valour'. Originally of Longford. | |||
| Fey * | Fay | Feyth, Fay | WORD - Fey meaning ethereal, from the fairies | Fay |
| Filva * | U.S. | |||
| Fiona | Fee-O-na | Fair | ||
| Fíona | FEE-una | Fair | ||
| Fionnabhair | FIN-a-vair | Fair | Jennifer | |
| Fionnuala | Fin-NOO-la | Finola | Fair shoulder | |
| Flannery * | SURNAME - O'Flannabhra, 'red eyebrows' | |||
| Gobnait | GOB-nit | Mouth | Deborah | |
| Gráinne | GRAW-nya | Love | Grace | |
| Hibernia * | Hi-BURN-ee-a | PLACE - the Latin name for Ireland | ||
| Ide | EE-da | Ita | Thirst | Ida |
| Iesult | IS-ult, EE-sult | Isolde | ||
| Iverna * | Eye-VUR-na | PLACE - From the Latin, 'green island' | ||
| Kathleen | Caitlín | Pure (Greek) | Catherine | |
| Katelyn * | U.S. - From the Irish name Caitlín, meaing Pure | |||
| Kayla * | U.S. - | |||
| Kayley * | SURNAME - Possibly from Ó Caollaidhe, from the Irish word 'caol', meaning 'slender'. | |||
| Kaleigh * | KAY-lee | WORD - From Ceili, meaning party. | ||
| Keegan * | Keagan | SURNAME - MacAodhagáin (son of Egan). From Dublin/Wicklow or Leitrim/Roscommon | ||
| Keelia * | U.S. - | |||
| Keely * | KEE-lee | SURNAME - O'Céile (companion) or O'Cadhla (graceful). From Meath and Louth. | ||
| Kelly * | KEL-ee | Kelley | SURNAME - O'Ceallaigh, possibly meaning 'strife'. Originally from Ui Maine, around mid-Galway. | |
| Kelsey * | U.S. | |||
| Kennedy * | SURNAME - O'Cinnéide, meaning ugly head! From East Clare. | |||
| Kerrigan * | SURNAME - O'Ciaragáin. From ciar, meaning black. Of Mayo. | |||
| Kerry * | KER-ee | Keri | PLACE - a county in the southwest of Ireland | |
| Kiana * | U.S. | |||
| Killeen * | Kil-een | Little church | ||
| Kyle | KILE | Scottish? | ||
| Laoise | LEE-sha | Labhaoise | Famous battle | Louise |
| Líadán | LEE-dawn | Grey woman | ||
| Máire | Moira, Maura | Moira, Maura | Bitter (Hebrew) | Mary |
| Máirín | MORE-een, MOY-reen | Maureen | Bitter (Hebrew) | Little Mary |
| Mairéad | Ma-RAYD | Maighréad | Pearl (Greek) | Margaret |
| Maeve | MAYV | Meadhbh, Meadbh, Medbh | The first century Queen of Connacht | |
| Maoliosa | May-LEE-sa | Servant of Jesus | ||
| Megan * |
Meghan |
A Welsh name, strong | ||
| Molly | Máille, Mallaidh | A pet form of Maire; Bitter (Hebrew) | Mary | |
| Muirinn | MWI-rin | Muireann | Of the long hair | Marion |
| Muirne | MOR-na | Myrna | Soft and gentle (mother of Finn) |
|
| Murphy * | SURNAME - Mac Murchadha, meaning sea warrior. The most common surname in Ireland. | |||
| Murray * | SURNAME - O'Muireadhaigh of Galway and MacMurray of Donegal. | |||
| Murran * | Murron | SURNAME - O'Muireáin. Of North Mayo/ Sligo |
| Neasa | NA-sa | Nessa | ||
| Niamh | NEE-uv, NEEV | Bright or lustrous. Mythical woman from Tír na nOg (Land of youth) | ||
| Noreen | Noirín | Honourable (Latin) | Nora | |
| Norita | Nor-EE-ta | A form on Noreen - Honourable | Nora | |
| Nuala | NOO-la | Fair shoulder | Fionnuala | |
| Orla | Orlaith, Orfhlaith | Golden lady | ||
| Pádraigín | PAWD-rig-een | Noble (Latin); female version of Pádraig | Patricia | |
| Peggy | Pegeen | A pet form of Margaret: Pearl (Greek) | Margaret | |
| Polly | Paili | A pet form of Maire; Bitter (Hebrew) | Mary | |
| Rathnait | Renny | Grace, prosperity (rath); Patron saint of Kilkenny | ||
| Reilly * | RYE-lee | Riley | SURNAME - O'Raghailligh. A very common name in Ireland, especially in the Cavan area. | |
| Reagan * | Regan | SURNAME - O'Riagain. One of the Tribes of Tara. From Clare, Cork and Laois. | ||
| Renny | Rathnait | Grace, prosperity (rath); Patron saint of Kilkenny | ||
| Rhiannon * | A Welsh name | |||
| Ríonach | REE-noch, REE-o-noch | Ríoghnach | Queen | Regina |
| Roan * | Rowan | WORD - Seal (the sea mammal) | Rowan | |
| Rogan * | SURNAME - O'Ruadhagáin, from 'ruadh' meaning red. From Armagh/ Monaghan. | |||
| Róisín | RO-sheen | Rosaleen | Rose | Rose |
| Ryan * | SURNAME - O'Maoilriain, often abbreviated O'Riain. Tipperary name. | |||
| Saibh | Sive (rhymes with dive) | Saidhbh, Sive | Goodness | Sonya |
| Saoirse | SEER-sha | Freedom | ||
| Seanna * | SHAUN-a | Shauna | U.S. | |
| Selma | Fair, beautiful | |||
| Seosaimhín | SHOW-siv-een | 'God shall add' (Hebrew) | Josephine | |
| Shannon | PLACE - the longest river in Ireland | |||
| Shauna | Shawna | Female form of Seán, meaning 'gracious gift of God' (Hebrew) | ||
| Shea * | Shay | Shay | SURNAME - O'Séaghdha. Means hawklike or stately. Mainly from Kerry. | |
| Sheena * | SCOTTISH - Síne, the Scottish form of Jane. | |||
| Sheridan * | SURNAME - From a literary family from Co. Longford | |||
| Sheila | SHEE-la | Síle, Sheelagh | Blind (Latin) | Cecilia, Julia |
| Shella * | SHEE-la | Síle, Sheelagh | Blind (Latin) | Cecilia, Julia |
| Shiovra * | SHE-vra | U.S. | ||
| Síle | SHEE-la | Sheila, Sheelagh | Blind (Latin) | Cecilia, Julia |
| Sinéad | Shin-AYD | Gift of God (Hebrew) |
Jane | |
| Siofra | SHEE-fra | Little elf | ||
| Siobhán | Shi-VAWN | Gift of God (Hebrew) |
Joan | |
| Sive | (rhymes with dive) | Saibh | Goodness | Sonya, Sabine, Sally |
| Sorcha | SUR-a-cha | Clear, bright | Sarah | |
| Suin | SHOO-in | Susan | ||
| Tara | TAR-a | Seat of the High King of Ireland |
||
| Taryn * | TAR-in | U.S. | ||
| Teagan * | TEE-gan | SURNAME - O'Tadhgáin, from the male name Tadhg (Timothy). From the Kildare/Laois area. | ||
| Toireasa | Tore-AH-sa | Theresa | Strength | Theresa |
| Treasa | TRA-sa | Strength | Theresa | |
| Tríona | TREE-ona | Pure (Greek) | (from Caitríona) | |
| Una | OO-na | Oona, Oonagh, Unagh | An ancient Irish name | Winifred |