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Saoirse

SEER-sha, SUR-sha
Irish
"liberty"
Brynn McKeon
By Brynn McKeon
Updated Wed Apr 23 2025

Saoirse Origin and Meaning

The name Saoirse is a girl's name of Irish origin meaning "liberty".

Before the young Irish actress Saoirse Ronan made her mark in the films Ladybird and The Lovely Bones, few of us had heard this name, let alone known how to pronounce it. But now it is slowly way edging its way into the mainstream, particularly, of course, with parents who have Irish roots. It made its first appearance in the US Top 1000 in 2016, when it was the third-fastest-rising girls' name.

Saoirse originated as a baby name in 1920s Ireland as an applied use of saoirse, the Gaelic word for "freedom." The name was first adopted during the Irish War of Independence, when the Irish Republican Army fought the British Army for the liberation of Ireland from British rule. In modern times, Saoirse, as well as a host of other Gaelic names, are being revived in Ireland, the UK, and the US.

Another related name Is Sorcha, pronounced SURK-ha and meaning "radiance": in the film Willow, the character's name is spelled Sorsha – another way to pronounce it.

# 959 in the US

Saoirse Rank in US Top 1000

# 219 on Nameberry

Saoirse Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Popularity of the name Saoirse

20 Names Similar to Saoirse

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Saoirse.

Famous People Named Saoirse

  • Saoirse Úna Ronan
    Irish actress
  • Saoirse Scott
    American actress
  • Saoirse Moore
    daughter of singer Gary Moore of band Thin Lizzy
  • Saoirse Casey
    Irish singer; daughter of singer Paddy Casey
  • Saoirse Roisin Hill
    daughter of Courtney Kennedy Hill; granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy
  • Saoirse Reign Carter
    daughter of singer Nick Carter
  • Saoirse-Monica Jackson
    Irish actress

The name Saoirse in Pop Culture

  • Saoirse
    one of the main characters in "Song of the Sea," an 2014 animated film

The name Saoirse in Nameberry Blog Posts