Irish Names for Girls

Irish surnames are hot, and this one can successfully cross the line to work for girls, replacing the outdated Casey. And only a dozen girls were named Clancy in the US in one recent year (along with 27 boys), making it one of those rare Irish names that are both accessible and distinctive, classic and cool. Clancy is a winner for either gender.

Clancy

Dari

Nela is a pretty if slight name that ranks among the Top 1000 for girls in the UK. It is commonly used throughout Europe as a short form for any range of names ending in -nela including Cornelia and Fenella, though it is widely used on its own.

Nela

This name may be interpreted as an offbeat Anglicized form of the Gaelic Rathnait, though it could also be considered a diminutive of Renee, Renata, Lorenza, Lauren, Lorena, and similar. Influencers Bella and Dallin Lambert named their daughter Renny Lin in 2025, sister to Story.

Renny

A surname style choice, familiarly used in the UK, Darcey is a variation of Darcy and Darcie. Popularized by ballerina Darcey Bussell, it currently ranks in the Top 400 in the UK, below the aforementioned -y and -ie spellings. 
 
A name with two meanings, it may be derived from the Irish O'Dorchaidhe, meaning "dark one", or the French d'Arcy, meaning "from the town of Arcy".

Darcey

Kady, though it has an authentic Irish meaning, may also be a variation of Katy short form of Kadence, or combination of initials K. and D. Though Kady is more distinctive, everyone will just hear it as Katy.  

Kady

Kieran is a boys' name that could cross over, as an update of outmoded Karen or a variation on trendy Kiera (or Keira or Kyra).  Keren Ann is an Israeli-born singer.  The proportion of babies named Kieran who are girls is less than ten percent, but is slowly growing. Kieran had an increase in use for girls in 2022.

Kieran

One of the best known of the <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish girls' names</a>, 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.
 This name increased in popularity in Ireland via Sinéad de Valera, the wife of president Éamon de Valera, who was born with the name Jane, but later chose to use its Irish form Sinéad. Actress Sinead Cusack is the wife of Jeremy Irons.

Sinead

Brennan is an Irish last name that could join the group of similar names now ranking among the top Irish names for baby girls in the US: Riley, Kennedy, and Quinn. Currently, only 16 baby girls were named Brennan versus over 200 boys, but those numbers could well become more equal. 

Brennan

Cathleen

Eilish is one of those Irish names that, thanks to a celebrity, has suddenly become much more familiar outside of Ireland. Irish-American singer Billie Eilish (Eilish is actually one of her middle names) introduced the wider world to this Irish name as actress Saoirse Ronan did with hers. 

Interestingly, Saoirse Ronan's character in Brooklyn, based on the novel by Colm Toibin, was named Eilis, pronounced AY-lish in the movie (although usually EYE-lish or EYE-leesh with the fada).

While the Anglicized version of Eilish or Eilís is usually given as Elizabeth, it is sometimes translated to Alice, which is closer to the AY-lish pronunciation.

Eilish

Talullah or Talulla, the old Irish name of two early saints, is almost identical to the Native-American Tallulah. A modern hipster favorite, however it's spelled.

Talullah

A popular choice in Ireland, Clodagh was the name of a river and later a saint. The "cloddy" aspect of the name has prevented it from spreading beyond Ireland, but that could change with the rise of other Irish choices like Maeve and Orla.
 
The name was first used back in the 19th century, when it was chosen by the Marquess of Waterford, the County through which the river runs. The first bearer, Lady Clodagh Anson, a philanthropist and writer, also gave the name to her daughter, and hoped it would stay a rarity. 
 
It has gone on to rank in the Top 50 in Ireland and the Top 25 in Northern Ireland and in a recent year, ranked just outside the England and Wales Top 1000. Pronounced as KLAW-duh or KLO-duh depending on region, it shares similarities with Chloe, Clara, Cleo, and Clover.
 
While the exact meaning of the name is unknown, it has been suggested it means "stony river" or "muddy banks".
 
Famous namesakes are singer Clodagh Rodgers and chef Clodagh McKenna.

Clodagh

A name that's on the rise for boys but rarely used -- though possible -- for girls. 

Grady

Kiernan Shipka, aka Sally Draper on Mad Men, brings this Irish surname into the girls' column. And, like Kieran and Tierney and Tiernan, it's one of the perfectly <a href="https://nameberry.com/unisex-names">unisex baby names</a>. Only 14 girls were named Kiernan in the US in a recent year...and three times as many boys. If you want to move beyond Riley and Kennedy to one of the more unusual surname-based <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish names for girls</a>, this may be a good choice.

Kiernan

The sweet and stylish Maeve, paired with that enduring -lynn suffix, in the style of Emberlynn, Jazlynn, and Kaylynn. It has a variety of meanings depending on which of Lynn you follow, but options include: "intoxicating beauty", "intoxicating lake", or "flexible, tender, and intoxicating".
 Alternative spelling Maevelyn is currently more popular (albeit only used quietly for now), and was given to 14 girls in a recent count. Maevelynn was used for 9 babies in the same year.

Maevelynn

Aidan is an ancient Irish saint's name with a fire meaning that's mega popular for boys, most often spelled as Aiden. The name is occasionally used for girls, sometimes as Aidyn or Ayden, as well. Aidan was the name of a famous seventh-century Irish saint, and is related to the Irish word for fire.

Aidan

This Anglicized spelling makes the pronunciation of Ailís or Aileas — the Irish and Scottish forms of Alice, respectively — slightly more obvious to English-speakers. Ailis or Aileas are more authentic spellings, but may be fighting a losing battle against the influence of Billie Eilish.

Ailish

How can a strong simple name like Cera remain so uncommon? Only five baby girls were named Cera in the US last year.

Cera is a respelling of Sera, which might be short for the angel name Seraphina or another spin on Sarah.

Saint Cera was a seventh century Irish abbyess.

Cera

Chrystal is a feminine name representing a variant spelling of Crystal, which derives from the Greek word "krystallos" meaning "ice" or "clear, transparent stone." This alternative spelling with "Ch" instead of "C" gives the name a slightly more elaborate appearance while maintaining the same melodic pronunciation. Chrystal reached modest popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s but has since become less common. The name evokes qualities of clarity, purity, and natural beauty. Like its standard spelling counterpart, Chrystal suggests brilliance and a pristine quality, while the less conventional spelling adds a touch of distinctiveness to an otherwise familiar name.

Chrystal

 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 8)

Irish Names for Girls: The Complete List