Irish Gaelic Names for Girls
Here, our full roster of Irish Gaelic girl names. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.
- Niamh
Origin:
Irish GaelicMeaning:
"bright"Description:
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.
- Aoife
Origin:
Irish GaelicMeaning:
"beautiful, radiant"Description:
Aoife, pronounced EE-fa, is derived from the Irish word aoibh, meaning "beauty." Aoife was borne by several different heroines of ancient Irish legend. In one tale, she was the fiercest woman warrior in the world and enemy of her twin sister, Scathach.
- Caoimhe
Origin:
Irish, ScottishMeaning:
"beautiful"Description:
Caoimhe, pronounced (more properly) kwee-va or kee-va, is a pretty and distinctive Gaelic name but one that could well lead to no end of confusion outside the Irish community. Even in its native habitat, it is sometimes spelled Keeva.
- Aobh
Origin:
Irish GaelicMeaning:
"beauty, radiance"Description:
Also spelled Aoibh, this rare Irish Gaelic name is pronounced just like Eve. Given to 3 babies in Ireland in a recent year, it shares the same root as the more popular Aoife, giving it a radiant meaning.
- Ferelith
Origin:
ScottishMeaning:
"true sovereignty"Description:
Ferelith is an unusual yet deeply-rooted Scottish girl's name, also found in ancient Ireland and drawn from the Gaelic Forbhlaith or Forbflaith. While it went through a period of dormancy after the Middle Ages, there are some modern women named Ferelith, including actress Ferelith Young and Princess of Denmark Anne Ferelith Fenella Bowes-Lyon.
- Nainsí
Description:
Nainsí is the Irish Gaelic form of Nancy, showcasing the distinctive spelling conventions of the Irish language. The original name Nancy developed as a medieval diminutive of Anne, which comes from the Hebrew Hannah meaning 'grace.' In Irish form, Nainsí maintains the same pronunciation as Nancy while connecting the bearer to Irish linguistic heritage. The name represents the beautiful adaptation of imported names into traditional Irish spelling patterns, a process that helped preserve cultural identity through centuries of external influence. Though not among the most common Irish names today, Nainsí might appeal to families with Irish roots seeking to honor their heritage while using a name that remains recognizable across cultures.
- Ailbhe
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"world, light, white; rock"Description:
Ailbhe is a unisex Irish name that has appeared throughout Irish history, borne by a 6th-century (male) saint, and by a female warrior of Fianna, a legendary group of women warriors, led by Fionn MacCumhaill. Today, the name is predominantly used for girls, likely because it sounds similar to Alma, Ava, and Alba.
- Roisin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"little rose"Description:
No, the pronunciation--ro-SHEEN--isn't immediately obvious to the non-Gaelic viewer, but the sound of this shiny Irish version of Rose is pretty enough to make it worth considering. Very popular in its native Ireland, it's one of many Irish girl names finding a wider audience. Earlier generations Anglicized at as Rosaleen, but we stay stick to the original.
- Aoibh
Origin:
Celtic, Short Form Of aoibheannMeaning:
"beautiful, radiant"Description:
One of many Irish names that, despite pronunciation challenge, are beginning to be taken into consideration here as authentic Celtic versions of familiar English names.
- Sina
Origin:
Samoan, English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, DanishMeaning:
"gray or white haired; god is gracious; new victory"Description:
Short, sweet, and perhaps misleadingly simple, Sina is in fact a multicultural choice with a wide range of origins. In Samoan mythology, Sina is used for a number of figures, and notably appears in the creation story of the coconut tree, Sina and the Eel. In this case, the name means "white or gray haired" and appears in the Disney movie Moana.
- Sinead
Origin:
Irish form of JanetMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
One of the best known of the Irish girls' names, thanks to singer Sinead O'Connor. Though it's still in the Irish Top 100, it's no longer quite as fashionable in Ireland as Aoife or Aisling. But by now everyone in the Western World knows it's pronounced shin-aid and so would have no trouble fitting in on an American playground.
- Laoise
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"light"Description:
Pronounced lee-sha, Laoise is the feminine form of the Irish mythological names Lugh and Lugus, which means light. Lugus was the Celtic god of commerce and craftsmanship, the equivalent of the Roman Mercury, thought to inspire the later Irish hero Lugh. Laoise is among the Top 100 Irish names for girls, but Americans will definitely have pronunciation issues.
- Fionnuala
Origin:
Irish GaelicMeaning:
"white shoulders"Description:
This lovely Gaelic name, very popular in the Emerald Isle, has inspired a whole host of diminutives (including Nuala and Nola) and variant spellings, from Finola to Finula to the Scottish and English Fenella. In Irish legend Fionnuala was one of the four children of Lir who were transformed into swans for 900 years.
- Emer
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"swift"Description:
Popular in Ireland, though not as popular as its spelling variant Eimear, Emer is a mythological name, associated with the legendary wife of the warrior hero Cuchulainn. She was said to possess the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, voice, speech, wisdom, chastity, and needlework.
- Orlaith
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"golden princess"Description:
In early, pre-Norman Ireland, this name was borne by both a sister and a niece of high king Brian Boru. Now, the English form Orla is more commonly used.
- Séarlait
Description:
Séarlait is a feminine Irish Gaelic name, functioning as the Irish equivalent of Charlotte or Scarlett. The name ultimately derives from Germanic origins meaning 'free man' or 'strong,' coming through French influences. The distinctive spelling reflects Irish orthography, with the acute accent (fada) over the 'e' indicating pronunciation emphasis. While relatively uncommon even in Ireland, Séarlait represents the preservation of traditional Irish naming patterns amid cultural revitalization efforts. The name carries a poetic, melodic quality when spoken in Irish, though non-Irish speakers may find the spelling challenging. For families with Irish heritage, Séarlait offers a genuine connection to linguistic traditions while maintaining links to the more familiar Charlotte. Its usage remains limited but meaningful within Irish-speaking communities.
- Áine
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"brilliance, wit"Description:
Similar in sound to Anya and Enya, Áine is a mythical Irish choice, associated with the goddess of summer, wealth, beauty, love, and fertility. It is a familiar choice in Ireland and Northern Ireland, where it flits in and out of the Top 100, while in England and Wales, it was a Top 1000 choice back in the 2000s.
- Siobhán
Origin:
Irish GaelicMeaning:
"God is gracious"Description:
Lovely Irish name which has inspired many Anglicized variations, but using the original form preserves the integrity of one of the most beautiful Gaelic girls' names.
- Ruairí
Description:
Ruairí is traditionally a masculine Irish name, though it's listed here as feminine. In Irish tradition, it's spelled Ruairí or Ruaidhrí and pronounced roughly as 'ROO-ree.' The name derives from the Gaelic elements 'ruadh' meaning 'red' and 'rí' meaning 'king,' thus translating to 'red king' or 'red-haired king.' It has been borne by several Irish kings and notables throughout history. While primarily used for boys in Ireland and Scottish Gaelic regions, some names cross gender boundaries in modern usage. The name carries a strong Celtic heritage and conveys strength and nobility. The fada (accent) over the final 'i' indicates a long vowel sound in Irish pronunciation, distinguishing it from anglicized versions like Rory.
- Ruaidri
Description:
Ruaidri is a feminine adaptation of the traditional Irish masculine name Ruaidrí (also spelled Ruaidhrí or anglicized as Rory). The original name combines the Gaelic elements "ruadh" meaning "red" and "rí" meaning "king," thus "red king" or "famous ruler." While traditionally a male name in Irish culture, this feminine usage represents a modern trend of adapting masculine names for girls. Ruaidri maintains its authentic Irish spelling, complete with the distinctive Irish orthography that may be challenging for non-Irish speakers. The name carries strong Celtic roots and evokes Ireland's rich cultural heritage. Ruaidri might appeal to parents with Irish ancestry or those seeking an uncommon name with historical depth and a connection to Celtic traditions.