Irish Names for Girls

More commonly seen here as Anya, this traditional yet unique Irish name belonged to the queen of the Munster fairies and is sprinkled throughout Irish folklore as an early Celtic goddess of summer and prosperity. One of the most <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular-names">popular baby names</a> in Ireland, Aine's spelling and pronunciation might seem simple but could prove confusing in the U.S.
 When the British cracked down on authentic Irish names in the seventeenth century, Aine was "translated" as Ann. Now, the original Aine or Anya is one of the prime <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/433/goddess-baby-names">goddess names</a> for baby girls.

Aine

Aisling is currently a very popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish name for girls</a>. Pronounced variously as ASH-ling, ASH-lin or ash-LEEN, it was part of the revival of authentic <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/168/irish-names">Irish names</a> in the twentieth century, and is now being sparingly used by U.S. parents in place of the dated Ashley--though often spelled phonetically as Ashlyn or Ashlynn.
 An aisling is a poetic genre that developed in late seventeenth century Ireland, a type of patriotic-romantic poetry in which Ireland is addressed as a beautiful woman.

Aisling

This phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne was made familiar by the single-named Irish singer and composer. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.

Enya

Kaitlin is a variation of Caitlin that's on a steep decline; it dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2013, after more than three decades on the list. 


Kaitlin

This name of the final service on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is sometimes given symbolically to girls born on that day. 

Neila

Noreen's in limbo, especially now that Nora has made a comeback. 

Noreen

Almost as popular in the 1950s among the Irish in Boston as it was with those back in Bray, Maureen was once among the most prominent <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish names for girls</a> in the US but has fallen from favor along with most of her een-ending sisters such as Eileen and Colleen.

Only 27 baby girls were named Maureen in the US last year, with a little over 100 named Maura.

Maureen

Once a poetic Celtic name, that of the angel who governs the month of June, Muriel has for a time, become the mom or grandma of TV sitcoms. A Top 200 name from 1912 to 1933, Muriel might just be due for a comeback, fitting as it does with the likes of Margot, Mabel, Marjorie, and Marilyn. 
 
Traditionally written as Muirgel in Old Irish, it was also common in Medieval England (often in the form of Merial) and while it did see a decline after the Norman Conquest, it didn't disappear completely. The Muriel form remained familiar in Scotland and was eventually brought back to England in the 1850s, following its appearance in Dinah Craik's novel, John Halifax, Gentleman.

Muriel has further literary cred via Edinburgh-born author Muriel Spark, author of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and also appears as a character in l. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, in George Orwell's Animal Farm, and in Anne Tyler's The Accidental Tourist.
 
Ultimately derived from the Old Irish elements muir and gel, Muriel is an water-inspired choice meaning "sea bright" or "bright sea". Distinctive in sound (MYURE-ee-uhl in English; MUE-RHYEL in French), Muriel was given to 50 girls in the US in a recent count: the highest number recorded since the 80s!

Muriel

Historically more popular for boys and generally less familiar than its sound-alike Rowan, Roan is a name with multiple meanings, origins, and pronunciations. Given to less than 10 girls back in 2023, time will tell if singer-songwriter Chappell Roan has brought the name more exposure. 
 
On one hand, Roan — said with two syllables — is simply a spelling variation of stylish Rowan, connected to both the red-berried tree, and to the Irish Ruadhán meaning "little red head". Alternatively, it's a Frisian name that rhymes with Joan, ultimately derived from the German element hraban meaning "raven" 
 
Roan can also be considered a word name, used to describe the coats of horses and other animals that are white mixed with another tone such as red or chestnut, again said with a single syllable.

Roan

Aiden/Aidan is just beginning to wander into the girls' side of the name popularity list, but it's so huge for boys in all its spellings that it will be a long time before it can be called a unisex name.

Nearly 8000 baby boys were given the Aiden spelling alone in the US last year, and only 43 baby girls -- less than one percent of the total.

Aiden

Riona

Much fresher Irish imports available for colleens now. 

Doreen

The name of one of the most famous medieval Irish saints, who was known as "the foster-mother of the saints," and founded a nunnery in the county of Limerick. Might be of interest to someone looking for an unusual 3-letter name.

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.
 Caoimhe comes from a word with several positive meanings--beautiful, precious, beloved, gentle, and graceful. It's also the name of an Irish saint.
 Caoihme has been very popular in Ireland in recent years.

Caoimhe

Cool a few decades ago, along with Lori and Tori. Currently out of fashion but may make a retro tomboy choice as an offbeat spin on Charlie.

Corey

Upper crust-y surname Sheridan gains some energy when used for a girl. 

Sheridan

A unisex name with lots of flair and a daring spirit, Adair was first noticed as a girl's name in the 1980's, thanks to the long-running daytime drama Search for Tomorrow, with the character Adair McCleary, who had ahead-of-their-time brothers named brothers Hogan, Cagney and Quinn. Given to just 22 girls in a recent year (along with 59 boys), it remains a familiar but quietly used choice.
 
A name with several different sources, Adair may be considered a Scottish surname, derived from the name Edgar. As such, it would mean "wealthy spearman". Other possibilities are that it derives from the place name, Adare, meaning "ford of oak trees" or from the Irish Darragh, also relating to oak. In any of these cases, it is pronounced uh-DEHR. 
Adair may also be seen in Brazil, likely used as a variation on the Portuguese name, Ademar. Pronounced with three syllables ("a-du-EER"), it would mean "wealth and fame". Adair may make an appealing alternative to Addie, Ada, Blair, or Arde.

Adair

While the male Alva or Alvah relates directly to the minor Biblical character, the female version is more likely an Anglicized form of the Irish name Ailbhe, or a feminine form the name Alf (and Alf- beginning names), popular in its native Sweden and Norway. Best known as Thomas Edison's middle name, Alva has true unisex roots. 

Alva

Kerry is the name of one of the most beautiful and lush counties of Ireland was a seventies favorite. Related, updated versions might include Cerys and Keira.

Kerry

Tully is an Irish surname just waiting to be adapted as a first. Cute and lively, and reminiscent of Tilly or Tali, it's got a long history and a range of possible meanings, depending on which root you use. 
 From the surname, Ó Taithligh it could mean "quiet and peaceable", whereas from the Irish word tuile, it likely means "flood". There's also the possibility it's connected to the Scottish place name, Tullos, which comes from the Gaelic tulach meaning "hill".
 
Also used as a modernized short form of the ancient Roman name Tullia, Tully is currently a quietly used unisex option, rising in the current statistic for girls, to 38 from 30, but falling for boys, from 17 to only seven.

Tully

 in the US and other English-speaking countries. That may be because the Irish emigrated widely in the 19th and 20th centuries, seeking jobs and opportunities. 

Irish language baby names were forbidden under British rule, but were revived after the Irish fight for independence a century ago. Irish names that had been anglicized in previous generations were used again in their original form: Siobhan instead of Joan, Aine rather than Anne.

today are very different than they were a century ago. Irish surname-names are popular for baby girls in the US, including Riley, Kennedy, and Quinn.  

 other Irish girl names in the US Top 1000 include Nora, Reagan, Rowan, Finley, Cassidy, Sloane, and Teagan. 

 finding more widespread use include Saoirse, Una, and Teagan.


This list gathers our complete assortment of Irish names for girls, classic and modern, ordered according to their popularity on Nameberry.

Irish Names for Girls, with all the girl names of Irish origin on Nameberry, including popular Irish names for baby girls and unique Irish female names. (Page 6)

Irish Names for Girls: The Complete List