Learn the meaning and origins of popular and unique Irish baby names :
Irish baby names are fashionable throughout the globe, and it isn’t shocking. several of country names below originate from Gaelic or Celtic names, places, and words.
Ireland is enthralling and jam-packed with culture, history, and ancient legends. it’s well-known for its lush, inexperienced landscape and ancient symbols like the shamrock and also the cross. And, for atiny low country, eire and its folks have had an enormous influence on the globe creating contributions to art, science, literature and far a lot of.
So, whether or not you wish to honor your heritage, otherwise you love the charm, beauty, and mystery of the Ireland, take a glance at these ninety nine Irish names to think about for your infant.
Popular Irish Baby Names for Girls :
Here are some of the most popular and unique Irish baby names for girls along with their meanings, origins, and other interesting information.
Aisling
- Origin: Irish
- Pronunciation: ASH-ling or ASH-lin
- Meaning: Dream or vision
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aislinn, Aislin, Aesling, Ashlyn, Aislyn, Aislene, Ashlyn, Ashlynn, Ashley, Ashe, Ash
- Famous Namesakes: Comedian Aisling Bea, actress Aisling Franciosi
- Peak Popularity: Aisling is a unique name in the United States. However, it is popular in Ireland where it’s been in the top 100 for over 15 years.
Alana
- Origin: Irish, German, Hawaiian, Hebrew
- Meaning: Beautiful or little rock
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Alanna, Alannah, Alaina, Alaine, Alayna, Alyn, Allyn, Elaine, Alani
- Famous Namesakes: Dancer Alana Patience, surfer Alana Blanchard
- Peak Popularity: Alana appeared on the U.S. top 1,000 name list for girlsin 1944. It was the most popular in 2007 when it reached number 143, and it was number 200 in 2018.
Aoife
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic
- Pronunciation: EE-fa
- Meaning: Beautiful
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Aioffe, Aoif, Aife, Aeife, Efa, Efah, Eva, Ava
- Famous Namesakes: Olympic athlete Aoife Hoey, singer Aoife O’Donovan
- Peak Popularity: Aoife is not common in the U.S. and is not in the top 1,000. However, it’s trendy in Ireland showing up at number 17 in 2017.
Arlene
- Origin: Irish, Celtic
- Meaning: Devotion or pledge
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Arleen, Arline, Arleyne, Arleine, Arlen, Arlena, Arlyn,
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Arlene Dahl, animator Arlene Klasky
- Peak Popularity: Arlene has been a top 1,000 name for over 100 years. Its best year was 1934 when it reached a rank of 53. It has declined in recent years falling out of the top 1,000 in 2005.
Brenda
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic, Scottish, English
- Meaning: Flaming or glowing sword
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Brienda, Brendah, Brenna, Brennan, Bren, Brynn
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Brenda Blethyn, singer Brenda Lee
- Peak Popularity: Brenda became a top 1,000 name in 1925 and shot up the charts. It was a top 100 name by 1939 and remained in the top 100 until 1978. It has seen a downward trend over the last 20 years and is on the verge of dropping off the top 1,000 list.
Brianna
- Origin: Irish, Celtic, English
- Meaning: From the high hill, noble and strong
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Briana, Breanna, Bryanna, Breanne, Brianne, Breena, Brielle, Brea, Bree
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Brianna Hildebrand, actress Brianna Reed
- Peak Popularity: Brianna hit the top 1,000 in 1976 and the top 100 in 1988. It was most popular in 1999 with a rank of 14, and it was 132 in 2018.
Bridget
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Of high status, strong and powerful
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Bridgett, Bridgette, Brigit, Brigid, Brighid
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Bridget Fonda, gymnast Bridget Sloan
- Peak Popularity: Bridget is a top 1,000 name for over a century. It was number 531 in 1900 and number 718 in 2018.
Caitlin
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic, French, Greek
- Meaning: Pure
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Caitlyn, Kaitlin, Kaitlyn, Catelyn, Katelyn, Cailin, Cait, Cate, Kate
- Famous Namesakes: Musician Caitlin Crosby, actress Caitlin Thompson
- Peak Popularity: Caitlin was a top 100 name from 1985 until 2002. Its highest rank was 44 in 1988.
Caoimhe
- Origin: Irish, Celtic
- Pronunciation: KEE-va or KWEE-va
- Meaning: Charming and beautiful
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Keeva, Kivah, Keevah, Keyva, Kiva
- Famous Namesakes: Peace activist Caoimhe Butterfly
- Peak Popularity: Caoimhe is not common in the United States, but it is popular in Ireland where it was number 23 in 2017.
Cara
- Origin: Irish, Latin, Italian, and others
- Meaning: A friend
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kara, Carra, Karra, Carah, Karah, Cari, Kari
- Famous Namesakes: Writer Cara Lockwood, actress Cara Seymour
- Peak Popularity: Cara has been a consistent top 1,000 name since 1953. Its highest rank was 184 in 1985. But, its popularity has been declining, and it ranks in the 800s in recent years.
Casey
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic, English
- Meaning: Vigilant and brave
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kacie, Kasey, Casey, Kaysee, Kaycey, Caysie, Kasie, Kaysie, Cassie
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Casey Burke, actress Casey Wilson
- Peak Popularity: Casey appeared as a top 1,000 name for girls in 1967. It reached number 80 in 1986 but has been on a steady trend downward since, and is in danger of falling off the top 1,000.
Cassidy
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic
- Meaning: Clever or having curly hair
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cassidie, Cassidi, Kassidy, Cassadee,
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Cassidy Catanzaro, singer Cassadee Pope
- Peak Popularity: Cassidy is a unisex name, but it is more common for girls. It peaked for boys in 1984 and girls in 1999.
Colleen
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic, Celtic
- Meaning: A young girl
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Coleen, Collene, Colene, Collyne, Colline
- Famous Namesakes: Journalist Colleen McEdwards, actress Colleen Camp
- Peak Popularity: Colleen has been a popular name in the United States for over a hundred years. It reached a rank of 92 in 1966 but has fallen out of favor in recent years and is now less common.
Deirdre
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic
- Meaning: Sadness
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Deirdra, Deirdrah, Deidre, Deidra
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Deidra Hall, actress Deirdre Lovejoy
- Peak Popularity: Deirdre was a top 1,000 name in the U.S. from 1944 until 1990. It was most popular in 1961 when it reached number 333.
Delaney
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic, French, English
- Meaning: From the dark challenger
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Delainie, Delanie, Dalaney, Delainny
- Famous Namesakes: Athlete Delaney Collins, singer Delaney Gibson
- Peak Popularity: Delaney made it into the top 1,000 in 1991. It reached 169 in 2004 and was 248 in 2018.
Eileen
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic
- Meaning: Light
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Ilene, Aileen, Eilene, Ailene, Eilean, Evelyn, Eveline, Aveline, Helen, Ellen
- Famous Namesakes: Astronaut Eileen Collins, actress Eileen Davidson
- Peak Popularity: Eileen has a been a top 1,000 name for well over 100 years. It was number 367 in 1900, in the top 200 from 1913 until 1969, and recently it ranks around 700.
Erin
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic, Celtic
- Meaning: From Ireland
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Erinn, Errin, Eryn, Eran, Erun, Eren, Erie
- Famous Namesakes: Sportscaster Erin Andrews, activist Erin Brockovich
- Peak Popularity: Erin became popular in the U.S. in the 1950s. It was in the top 100 from 1971 until 2005 reaching number 18 in 1983. Recently, it ranks in the 400s. In Ireland, Erin was in the top 100 in 2017.
Finley
- Origin: Irish, Scottish, Gaelic
- Meaning: Having a fair skin tone
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Finlay, Finnley, Finlea, Finleigh, Fynley, Phynley, Finnea, Finn
- Peak Popularity: Finley made it into the top 1,000 in 2005, and has exploded in popularity. It was number 163 in 2018.
Fiona
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic, Scottish, English
- Meaning: Vine
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Fionna, Fionah, Fianna, Fiana, Finola
- Famous Namesakes: Singer Fiona Apple, actress Fiona Fullerton
- Peak Popularity: Fiona appeared as a top 1,000 name in 1990. It has had a steady rise in popularity reaching a high of 181 in 2017.
Gráinne
- Origin: Irish
- Pronunciation: GRON-ya
- Meaning: The grain or crop
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Granya, Graunya, Grawnya, Gronya, Grainia, Grace
- Famous Namesakes: Musician Grainne Duffy, athlete Gráinne Murphy
- Peak Popularity: Gráinne is a rare name in the United States, and it does not appear on the top 1,000 list in the last 120 years.
Kathleen
- Origin: Irish, English, Old French, Greek
- Meaning: Pure
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cathleen, Kathline, Kathlene, Cathlean, Kathy, Kathie, Kathi
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Kathleen Turner, producer Kathleen Kennedy
- Peak Popularity: Kathleen has been extremely popular for well over 100 years. It was number 171 in 1900 and a top 200 name until the year 2000. It broke the top 10 in 1949 when it ranked number 9. It has seen a decline over the last 15 years and recently ranks in the 800s.
Keira
- Origin: Irish, Gaelic
- Meaning: A brunette, having dark hair
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Cera, Ciara, Ciarra, Cairah, Keera, Keerah, Ceara, Kierra, Kiara, Kira, Kyra
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Keira Knightley
- Peak Popularity: Keira made it into the top 1,000 in the year 2000. It reached 110 in 2006 and ranked 365 in 2018.
Kelly
- Origin: Irish, Scottish, Gaelic
- Meaning: Brave warrior or intelligent
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kelli, Kelley, Kellie, Kellee, Keleigh
- Famous Namesakes: TV host Kelly Ripa, actress Kelly Preston
- Peak Popularity: Kelly was a top 100 name from 1959 until the year 2000. Its highest rank was 10 in 1977. It has fallen to the 600s.
Kelsey
- Origin: Irish, Old English, Norse
- Meaning: Ship victory or from the fierce island
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kelsie, Kelsi, Kelsy, Kelcie, Kelcy, Kelsee, Kelci, Kellsey, Kelsay
- Famous Namesakes: Actress Kelsey Chow, comedian Kelsey Cook
- Peak Popularity: Kelsey made it as a top 1,000 name for girls in 1977. It was a top 100 name from 1987 to 2001 and continues to be popular.
Kennedy
- Origin: Irish, Scottish
- Meaning: Helmet-wearing chief
- Alternative Spellings & Variations: Kenedy, Kennedi, Kennedey, Kennedie, Kennidy, Kennedee, Kennadi, Kennady
- Famous Namesakes: Former MTV VJ Kennedy
- Peak Popularity: Kennedy is a name for both genders, although it’s used more often for girls. A top 100 name for girls since 2011, it reached a peak rank of 58 in 2017.
