21 Authentic Irish baby names for girls

Over the years, we've been honored to provide special gifts for expectant parents, and new arrivals. Many choose to engrave these cherished heirlooms with their child's name and date of birth. Which got us thinking about baby names.

Where to find authentic Irish baby names?

With an Irish boy's name, Liam, topping the baby name charts in the US since 2017, it seems names with gaelic and celtic origins are on the radar for many prospective parents.

Those on the hunt for an authentic and unique moniker for their little one might search the archives of the library of Ireland or check the Irish central statistics office for the most popular names in Ireland by year.

Or they could read our collection of 21 Irish names for girls and for boys. We've pulled together the most popular Irish names in Ireland as identified by the Central Statistics Office. We’ve included the origin and meaning of these lovely names as well as a helpful pronunciation guide. Some Irish names can be challenging for those not acquainted with gaelic!

21 Unique Irish names for Girls

1. Fiadh

How it's said in Ireland: Fee-ah

The gaelic word for a little deer, from the Irish for wild, Fiadh was the most popular girls name in Ireland in 2021. With the taste for gaelic names rising in Ireland, Fiadh took the No 1 spot on the list after rising to 10th in 2018. Variations on this name are also very popular - Fíadh was 69th and Fia was 204th in 2021.

2. Éabha

How it's said in Ireland: Ay-va

The Irish for Eve meaning ‘life’ or ‘living’. Like Fiadh, Éabha has rocketed up the popularity charts, rising to 5th in 2021. The english version of this name, Ava is also a very popular choice in Ireland (8th in 2021) as well as the similar sounding Aoibhe (127th in 2021).

3. Saoirse

How it's said in Ireland: Seer-sha

From the gaelic for "freedom", this name became popular in the 1920's with the establishment of the Irish state. Saoirse climbed to the top 100 in the 90's and is still climbing, no doubt helped by some famous namesakes. It was the 23rd most popular name in Ireland in 2021 but it may take some time to catch on elsewhere. Dennis Quaid got Saoirse Ronan's name horribly wrong at the Golden Globe nominations, but Ellen DeGeneres did try to help with that by making her a helpful sign to wear to the awards (also with not quite right pronunciation).

4. Caoimhe

How it's said in Ireland: Kee-va or Quee-va depending on where you are

Another popular Irish name with lovely meaning - from the gaelic for “beautiful, gentle, or kind”. Easy to pronounce but tricky to read, Caoimhe was the 25th most popular name for girls in Ireland in 2021 and anglicized versions like Keeva are also popular.

5. Aoife

How it's said in Ireland: Ee-fa

Thought to derive from the gaelic word "aoibh" which means "beauty" or "radiance," Aoife has been a consistently popular name for girls in Ireland for decades, ranking 32nd in 2021. This is an ancient Irish name with several Aoifes cropping up throughout Irish mythology, including the great warrior Aoife who did battle with Cú Chullain.

6. Cara

How it's said in Ireland: Car-ah

Cara is another Irish name with lovey meaning, that we are very familiar with here at My Irish Jeweler. It features in a romantic Irish phrase, Mo anam cara that inspired several of our designs. Roughly translated as "friend" Cara has steadily grown in popularity in Ireland rising to 33rd in 2021 as parents search for monikers with Irish origins and global appeal. Cara is certainly one of the easier Irish names to pronounce and spell and we only expect to see it grow in popularity over the coming years.

7. Róisín

How it's said in Ireland: Ro-sheen

The famous poem "Róisín Dubh" has forever linked this name to that of Ireland itself. Perhaps as a result, Róisín has been a consistently popular girls name in Ireland for decades. Roughly translated it means “little rose”. This diminutive, botanical-inspired name was Ireland's 34th most popular name in 2021.

8. Sadhbh

How it's said in Ireland: Sive

Translated from gaelic as "sweet" "lovely" or "goodness," Sadhbh crops up in Irish history and mythology as the name of several princesses, including the daughter of Queen Medb of Connacht, and of the High King Brian Boru as well as the mother of the hero Oisín. The anglicised version of the name, Sive, was also the title of a famous John B. Keane play. A popular choice in Ireland in any form, Sadhbh was 35th on the list in 2021.

9. Clodagh

How it's said in Ireland: Clo-dah

Clodagh is the name of a river that runs through Co. Waterford. One of the first people to bear this lovely name was Lady Clodagh Anson. She was so taken with it that she gave her daughter the same name. Her daughter later wrote "She called me Clodagh too and hoped, in vain, that we'd be the only two." A vain hope indeed as in 2021 there were 138 Clodaghs born, making it the 40th most popular name for girls in Ireland.

10. Erin

How it's said in Ireland: Erin

According to Irish mythology, the gaelic word for Ireland "Éirinn" was originally given to the island after the goddess Ériu with variants including "Eirinn" or "Éire." Poets in the 19th century popularised Erin as a romantic name for Ireland but it wasn't until the 20th century that the name became a popular given name. Today this unisex name is most typically given to girls and is popular in Ireland (44th in 2021), the UK and the US.

11. Croía

How it's said in Ireland: Cree-ya

A gaelic name from the Irish croí, meaning heart. The word croí crops up in all sorts of romantic gaelic phrases like Grá Geal Mo Chroí which means bright love of my heart. The addition of the "a" to the end of this word makes it a very affectionate and diminutive term that roughly translates as little heart. A lovely and new gaelic name in Ireland that has been rocketing up the popularity charts rising to 52nd in 2021.

12. Méabh

How it's said in Ireland: May-ve

An ancient moniker straight out of Irish mythology - Méabh was the fierce warrior Queen of Connacht as well as the name of the queen of the fairies. The name translates from gaelic as “she who intoxicates” from the old Irish Medb. After a long time outside the top 100, Méabh and the anglicized Maeve have roared back in popularity, with 152 Irish babies bearing some form of the name born in 2021.

13. Ailbhe

How it's said in Ireland: Al-vah

A gender neutral name given to girls or boys in Ireland that translates as "noble" or "bright". Ailbhe is one of the few recorded banféinní, the female warrior-hunters of the Fianna and was the one time flame of the leader of the Fianna, Fionn Mac Cumhaill. The spelling of this one is sure to confuse non-Irish speakers, so despite it being the 60th most popular name for girls in Ireland in 2021, it may not travel so easily. But if you like the meaning and sound of this name, the anglicized version, Alva may be for you.

14. Ciara

How it's said in Ireland: Kir-ah

The feminine version of the Irish name Ciaran, both translate from gaelic as "little dark one." A consistently popular name in Ireland (65th in 2021) and farther afield ranking in the top 100 girls names in Canada, England, Scotland, Wales, and Australia. It has been anglicized to Keira, Kira, and Keara. Not to be confused with the name Sierra, which is how the artist 'Ciara' pronounces the name.

15. Aoibhín

How it's said in Ireland: Ee-veen

Derived from the old Irish Oébfinn or Aíbinn meaning beauty and finn meaning fair, this was the name of the mother of Saint Enda and several Irish princesses. And it is still popular in Ireland today ranking 71st in 2021, and has several variations including Aoibhinn, Aoibheann, and the anglicized Eavan.

16. Niamh

How it's said in Ireland: Neev

Niamh is one of the oldest and most popular Irish girls names ranking 72nd in 2021. In Irish mythology Niamh was the beautiful princess of Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth, and the partner of Oisín, all described in the WB Yeats epic, The Wanderings of Oisin. Roughly translated, Niamh means “bright” or "radiant" and anglicized versions including Neve, Nieve, Neave, Neavh or Neeve are popular in several countries around the globe.

17. Áine

How it's said in Ireland: Awn-ya

The name of the Celtic goddess of wealth and summer and the queen of the Munster fairies, this lovely name also has a beautiful meaning. Roughly translating from gaelic as radiance or brightness, Áine is a consistently popular name in Ireland (94th in 2021), as is the anglicized version, Anne or Ann.

18. Laoise

How it's said in Ireland: Lee-sha

The female form of the name of one of Irish mythology's most famous gods, Lugh. Laoise is another lovely gaelic name that is associated with light and brightness that has been a consistently popular choice for girls in Ireland for decades (96th in 2021).

19. Cadhla

How it's said in Ireland: Kay-la or Ky-la

The gaelic for handsome or beautiful, this unisex name was more commonly an Irish second name prior to the middle of the 20th century. It has been steadily growing in popularity as a first name ever since and was 117th in 2021 in Ireland.

20. Tara

How it's said in Ireland: Tar-ah

The Hill of Tara was the seat of Irish kings and has been a consistently popular choice for baby girls in Ireland since the 1960's (127th in 2021). It also enjoyed a peak of popularity in the US in the 1970's and is a Celtic name with global reach, cropping up as Sanskrit for "star".

21. Aisling

How it's said in Ireland: Ash-ling

The title of a poem by Seamus Heaney and a traditional form of Irish poetry and singing, Aisling is an Irish name with a strong literary and artistic pedigree. Roughly translated the name means "dream" or "vision" and it has been a consistently popular choice in Ireland (tied for 136th in 2021) for much of the 20th century.

What is your favourite Irish baby name?

Do you have a favourite? Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below.