Niamh

NEEV, NEE-uv

Irish Gaelic

"bright"

Updated Wed Apr 23 2025

Niamh Origin and Meaning

The name Niamh is a girl's name of Irish, Irish Gaelic origin meaning "bright".

Niamh, derived from the Old Irish Niam, is an ancient Irish name that was originally a term for a goddess. In Irish myth, one who bore it was Niamh of the Golden Hair, daughter of the sea god, who falls in love with Finn's son Oisin and takes him to the Land of Promise, where they stayed for three hundred years. Niamh can be Anglicized as Neve, Nieve, or Neave.

Niamh is particularly popular choice in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales. Niamh Cusack is part of the acting family that also includes Sinead (wife of Jeremy Irons), Sorcha and Padraig. Americans have recently become better acquainted with Niamh via the heroine of Christina Baker Kline's bestselling novel Orphan Train.

Here, the Anglicized Neve would undoubtedly prove simpler, if less intriguing. Actress Neve Campbell pronounces her name (a family name) "NEV", and Neve is the daughter of Conan O'Brien.

# 241 on Nameberry

Niamh Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Popularity of the name Niamh

241Nameberry2025
173England2023
77Scotland2024
95Ireland2024

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Famous People Named Niamh

Niamh Cusack
Irish actress
Niamh Kavanagh
Irish singer
Niamh McGrady
Northern Irish actress
Niamh O'Brien
Irish dancer, wife of Riverdance costar Michael Flatley
Niamh Wilson
Canadian actress
Niamh Perry
Northern Irish actress and singer
Niamh Fahey
Irish footballer
Niamh Ní Charra
Irish fiddler
Niamh Nicole Rippin
British gymnast

The name Niamh in Pop Culture

Niamh
heroine of Christina Baker Kline's novel "Orphan Train"
Niamh of the Golden Hair
princess of Tir na nOg, a fanatical island to the west of Ireland where nobody ever grows old