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Niamh

NEEV, NEE-uv
Irish Gaelic
"bright"
Grace Royal
By Grace Royal
Updated Thu Mar 20 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.

# 232 on Nameberry

Niamh Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Popularity of the name Niamh

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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

The name Niamh in Nameberry Blog Posts