200 Pretty Irish Girl Names and Their Meanings | Pampers UK (2023)

Irish girl names are steeped in history and tradition, with a name often reflecting the personality and character of the individual. The Irish are proud and independent, with a rich culture and history that has produced some of the most unique and beautiful names in the world. In this article, we will take a closer look at some of the most popular, unique, pretty, cool and traditional Irish names for baby girls, their meanings, and the stories behind them.

Popular Irish Girl Names

Here’s a list of the most popular girl names in Ireland from recent years – some of which you may even recognise from the top baby girl names in the U.K. Keep reading for some trendy and current names for your little Irish princess.

1. Fiadh. This super cool and popular Irish girls’ name means ‘wild, untamed’ and would suit an adventurous daughter! It's pronounced FYEE-eh and has been climbing the charts in Ireland since 2012, emerging as the most popular name in the country in recent years.

2. Grace. The name Grace is a beautiful and meaningful name. It’s of Latin origin, meaning ‘grace’ or ‘favour’, and is associated with the virtue of grace, which is an important part of Christian belief. Adding to this girl name’s beauty is the song Grace by the popular Irish folk band The Dubliners, and of course, the famous namesake Grace Kelly.

3. Emily. Emily is derived from the Latin name Aemilia, which is derived from the Roman family name Aemilius. You may be drawn to Emily if you’re a fan of literature, due to its namesakes, the author Emily Bronte and poet Emily Dickinson.

4. Sophie. Another name on Ireland’s top names list is the French form of Sophia. Although it’s not originally an Irish name, its sweet feminine sound and meaning of ‘wisdom’ have no doubt added to its popularity

5. Éabha. This popular Irish girls’ name is the Irish form of the common name Eve, a Hebrew name meaning ‘to breathe’. It’s pronounced EH-veh.

6. Lucy. Lucy is a popular name with origins in the Latin word lux, meaning ‘light.’ This name has been used since the Middle Ages and is still popular today. It has long been associated with royalty and femininity, making it a popular choice for many parents.

7. Mia. This sweet name is a diminutive of the classic name Maria, meaning ‘mine’. In Ireland, it’s been rising in popularity since 2001 and is also popular in many other countries around the world.

8. Ava. This popular variant of Eve is also number 4 on the top girl names list in England and Wales, as well as being in the top 10 in many countries around the world. It’s short sweet and classic.

9. Lily. If you love flower names for girls, this beauty is the name of a flower and a symbol of purity. No wonder it’s a popular girls’ name in Ireland and many other countries.

10. Ella. Last but certainly not least is the pretty and popular Ella, meaning ‘other’. Ella was introduced to England by the Normans, and found popularity again in the nineteenth century until the present day. The singer Ella Fitzgerald is a famous bearer of this name and adds to its beauty.

Unique Irish Girl Names

Naturally, Irish girl names radiate a sense of individuality and are perfect for those looking for something beautifully unique or unusual. If you’re looking for unique baby names, you might consider one that hails from the Emerald Isle.

11. Africa. As quite the unique girls’ name in Ireland, Africa is the anglicised form of Aifric, the Old Irish word for the African continent.

12. Aithne. Pronounced EH-nye, this unusual Irish girls’ name is a variant of the more traditional spelling, Eithne. It means ‘kernel, grain’ and was once quite popular among historical figures, legendary characters, and saints.

13. Eireann. Eireann (pronounced like Erin) is the rare form of the more common name Erin. This Irish girls’ name means ‘Ireland’ in Gaelic.

14. Fedelma. This is a slightly rarer form of the name Fidelma, the purely feminine version of the gender-neutral name Feidlimid. It means ‘ever good’ or ‘enduring, constant’.

15. Líadan. From the Irish word líath, meaning ‘grey’, Líadan is simply pronounced LEE-din.

16. Mavourneen. Not only is this Irish baby girls’ name unique, but it also has an adorable meaning. It comes from the Irish phrase mo mhúirnín, meaning ‘my darling’, and is pronounced mo-OOR-een.

17. Muadhnait. Unique and precious, this unusual Irish girls’ name means ‘little noble one’. It comes from the Old Irish poetic word muad, so your baby will surely be noble and poetic! The name is pronounced MOI-nets.

18. Niamh. Irish boy names and girl names are known for their unique pronunciations, and Niamh might be one of the most interesting! Pronounced NEEV, it means ‘bright’. In Irish mythology, Niamh was the daughter of Manannán mac Lir, the sea god.

19. Róis. If you’re looking for Irish flower names for girls, this option is sweet and simple. It’s the Irish form of Rose, as the word rós simply means ‘rose’ and has the same pronunciation.

20. Talulla. This cute and unique girls’ name is the anglicised form of several Old Irish female names, including Taileflaith, Tuileflaith and Tuilelaith. These names combine the Irish words tuile and flaith, meaning ‘abundance’ and ‘ruler, princess’, respectively.

More Unique Irish Girl Names

The Irish language is your friend when you’re looking for an unusual girls’ name! For more unusual monikers, check out our list below:

Traditional Irish Girl Names

If you want something nostalgic, Irish names go way back to simpler (and greener) times – giving us plenty of classic name choices! Here are some old-fashioned girl names from the Emerald Isle.

31. Assumpta. This name is the Latin form of Asunción, a Spanish girls’ name meaning ‘assumption’. Interestingly, this form of the name has been used in Ireland in particular.

32. Aurnia. As the Latinised form of the traditional Irish name Órlaith, Aurnia is a girls’ moniker meaning ‘golden ruler’.

33. Clodagh. If you’re familiar with Irish geography, you might associate this name with the River Clodiagh in County Waterford, Ireland. Clodagh Beresford, the daughter of the Marquess of Waterford, born in 1879, was an early bearer of the name. Pronounced KLAW-da, Clodagh is one of the most traditional Irish girl names.

34. Deirdre. Pronounced DEER-dra, this name comes from the Old Irish moniker Derdriu. This name’s meaning is unknown, though many believe it could connect to the word der, meaning ‘daughter’. What a perfect traditional name for your little Irish girl!

35. Doireann. Though it looks similar to the name Doreen, Doireann has a very different pronunciation: DEH-ryen. Scholars believe the name links to two Irish words, der for ‘daughter’ and finn for ‘fair’. Therefore, you have yourself a ‘fair daughter’.

36. Eithne. If you like the name Aithne from above but want a more old-fashioned Irish name for your girl, you could go with Eithne. Pronounced EH-nye, the name comes from the Irish word etne, meaning ‘kernel, grain’. You’ll find this word and its meaning in several names on this list.

37. Étaín. Pronounced AY-teen, this Irish female name comes from the word ét, which means ‘passion’. It’s also an Irish mythological name from the ninth-century tale The Wooing of Étaín. Étaín was Midir’s second wife, transformed into a fly by his jealous first wife. As the story goes, she was reborn in the woman who accidentally swallowed her, eventually reuniting with her love, Midir.

38. Gobnait. This is the feminine form of the name Gobán, meaning ‘smith’ after the Celtic smith god, a metalworker and weapon maker. It’s pronounced GAWB-neht.

39. Gráinne. The traditional Irish baby girls’ name Gráinne (pronounced GRAW-nye) possibly means ‘grain’. If you enjoy Irish culture, you might have heard tales of Gráinne Ní Mháille, often called Grace O’Malley, a legendary sixteenth-century landowner and seafarer sometimes considered a pirate queen.

40. Muriel. It doesn’t get much more old-fashioned than Muriel, an anglicised Irish girls’ name meaning ‘bright sea’. Traditional forms of this name include Muirgel in Irish and Muireall in Scottish.

More Traditional Irish Girl Names

If you loved those traditional Irish girl names, we’ve got even more to get your nostalgic juices flowing, along with their pronunciation and meaning:

Cute Irish Girl Names

If you want something as adorable as your little lady, these Irish girl names have the cute factor.

51. Alannah. This is a modern Irish girls’ name and one that people with Irish heritage seem to love. It might have come from the Irish Gaelic phrase a leanbh, meaning ‘oh, child’ and can also be spelt without the h as Alanna.

52. Aoibhinn. Meaning ‘delightful, pleasant’, this is a very cute Irish girls’ name with a lovely meaning. It’s pronounced EE-vyen.

53. Aoife. Pronounced EE-fa, this name comes with a lovely meaning for your little lady: ‘beauty’. The moniker originates from the old Irish girls’ name Aífe and the word oíph. You’ll find Aoife in several Irish legends, including the Children of Lir.

54. Bláthnat. Another cute flower option among Irish girl names, Bláthnat means ‘little flower’, as it comes from the word bláth, ‘flower’. It’s pronounced BLAW-nath.

55. Caitria. This is an extra-cute version of the name Caitríona, the Irish form of the French girls’ name Katherine, meaning ‘pure’. It’s pronounced KAT-ree-a.

56. Croía. With the o-í Irish diphthong, this cute baby girls’ name has the pronunciation, KREE-a. It’s a modern name from the Irish word croí, meaning ‘heart’. Of course, your baby girl will have your heart!

57. Damhnait. This adorable name comes from the Old Irish moniker Damnat, meaning ‘calf, fawn’. Any name relating to a baby animal is definitely a cute one! It’s pronounced DAW-nye.

58. Keavy. If you like the traditional Irish girls’ name Caoimhe (pronounced KEE-va) but want a cute nickname, consider Keavy. Just like Caoimhe, it means ‘dear, beloved’ and ‘gentle’.

59. Maura. Pronounced MAWR-eh, this is the anglicised version of the Irish girls’ name Máire. Experts believe it connects to the Irish word mór, meaning ‘great’.

60. Úna. Short, sweet and cute, this is a medieval Irish name meaning ‘lamb’. You can call your adorable little lamb Úna, pronounced OO-neh.

More Cute Irish Girl Names

Prepare for even more absolutely adorable Irish names for your cute little girl:

Pretty Irish Girl Names

With those lilting tones and the magic of Irish folklore, Irish girl names are particularly pretty. If you’re looking for a beautiful name, look no further than this list of the prettiest Irish Gaelic names.

71. Áine. Here’s an Irish spin on a classic name, as Áine is the Old Irish spelling of Ann or Anne and shares the same pronunciation. Meaning ‘radiance, brilliance’, this name connects to Irish mythology. Áine is the goddess of love and fertility, thought to live on Cnoc Áine, a hill in Limerick.

72. Aoibheann. Pronounced EE-vyen, this name comes from the Old Irish monikers Oébfinn and Aíbinn. All three combine two words, oíb (meaning ‘beauty’) and finn (meaning ‘fair’). This was the name of a tenth-century princess, so it makes a great option for royal baby names!

73. Caoimhe. If you liked the cute name Keavy from above, you may remember that it’s a nickname for Caoimhe, pronounced KEE-va. It’s a very beautiful Irish girls’ name and has the meaning of ‘dear, beloved’.

74. Eileen. This is the anglicised form of Eibhlín, pronounced IE-leen. It either means ‘desired’ or ‘moon’ and makes for a sweet Irish girls’ name.

75. Eilís. Pronounced IE-leesh, this is the Irish Gaelic form of the girl names Elizabeth and, occasionally, Alice. Elizabeth means ‘my God is an oath’, and Alice means ‘noble type’, so you have your choice of beautiful interpretations.

76. Laoise. As the Irish form of Lucy or Louise, this name is likely a modern version of Luigsech, meaning ‘light, brightness’ and ‘oath’. It’s pronounced LEE-sheh.

77. Moira. Moira is another anglicised form of Máire, the Irish name for Mary, which means ‘beloved’. However, it could also connect to the Greek name Μοῖρα, meaning ‘fate, destiny’. This could be a good option for a Greek mythological name, as Moira was the name for the Fates, three personifications of destiny.

78. Róisín. This pretty name is a diminutive of Róis from above and is a perfect flower name for an Irish girl, as it means ‘rose’. The famous seventeenth-century song Róisín Dubh triggered its use as a given name.

79. Sorcha. Meaning ‘radiant, bright’, Sorcha might be the most beautiful Irish name for girls, though it originates from Scottish Gaelic. In Ireland, it’s sometimes anglicised as Sarah, or as Clara in Scotland.

80. Saoirse. If you’re a fan of actress Saoirse Ronan, this name might not be too difficult to pronounce, but the actress has comically corrected the pronunciation time and time again! Meaning ‘freedom’ in Irish Gaelic, this girls’ name is pronounced SHEER-sha.

More Pretty Irish Girl Names

It’s difficult to match the beauty of a newborn baby girl – but these gorgeous Irish girl names get pretty close:

Cool Irish Girl Names

Cool names can come in many forms, from trendy sounds to interesting and fun meanings. Put your sunglasses on because you’re about to be dazzled by these cool Irish names for babies.

91. Biddy. Why not put a cool spin on the traditional name Bridget with the nickname Biddy? Like Bridget, it means ‘the exalted one’.

92. Ciara. This name is the feminine form of Ciar, which means ‘black’ in Irish. If you’re a fan of the American singer Ciara, you might recognise this name, though in Irish, it’s pronounced KEER-a.

93. Clíodhna. Though its meaning is unknown, Clíodhna -- pronounced KLEE-u-na –was the name of a beautiful and brave goddess from Irish mythology.

94. Dáirine. You can pronounce this cool Irish girls’ name DAW-reen. It was the name of king Túathal Techtmar’s daughter and means ‘fruitful’.

95. Maeve. Maeve, pronounced MAYV, is a beautiful one-syllable girls’ name with a unique meaning: ‘intoxicating’. It’s the anglicised form of the Irish girl’s name Medb, who, according to legend, was the female Celtic warrior queen of Connacht, the country’s western province.

96. Naomh. This name is pronounced just like Niamh (NEEV). It means ‘holy’ in Irish – it doesn’t get much cooler than that!

97. Saraid. Since this name means ‘excellent’, it could be the coolest moniker on this list! Plus, it has a pretty hip pronunciation as suh-RAY.

98. Síofra. If you think elves and mythical creatures are cool, this is the name for you! Pronounced SHEE-fra, it means ‘elf, sprite’ in Irish.

99. Sive. Pronounced SIEV, this is an anglicised form of the Irish girls’ name Sadhbh. This cool-sounding name means ‘sweet’.

100. Tríona. If you want to shorten the traditional Irish girls’ name Caitríona and make it a bit cooler, go with Tríona. It’s pronounced TREE-na and means ‘pure’.

More Cool Irish Girl Names

Keep the party going with even more cool Irish girl names!

Short and Long Irish Girl Names

Whether you want a short and sweet name or something longer with a sophisticated air, take a look at our list of both short and long Irish girl names.

111. Alastríona. This pretty Irish girls’ name has a romantic sound to it. It’s pronounced al-as-TREE-na and is the feminine form of Alastar, which means ‘to defend, help’.

112. Cáit. Short, sweet and meaning ‘pure’, this Irish form of Kate is a great nickname for Caitríona. However, it’s pronounced as KAT.

113. Caoilfhionn. If you’re looking for long baby names, this might be a winner with 10 letters! Though it looks intimidating, the pronunciation is actually quite simple as KEEL-een. It comes from two Old Irish elements: cáel meaning ‘slender’ and finn meaning ‘fair’.

114. Dearbháil. This name means ‘daughter of Fál’, which is the legendary name for the country of Ireland. Pronounced DYA-ra-wal, it’s an excellent option for a unique, cool and pretty Irish girls’ name.

115. Deirbhile. This long name combines some of the more complicated sounds in Irish -- it’s pronounced DYEH-rye-vye-lye. It means ‘daughter of a poet’, as in Old Irish, der means ‘daughter’ and fili means ‘poet’.

116. Ena. As the anglicised form of Eithne, Ena is pronounced EH-na. Likewise, it also means ‘kernel, grain’.

117. Fionnuala. If you like the names Finola or Nuala from above but want a longer version, consider Fionnuala. Like the other monikers, it means ‘white shoulder’, and Fionnuala is the exact spelling of one of the four children of the sea god Lir, who were transformed into swans for 900 years.

118. Íde. This short Irish name for girls means ‘thirst’ and has the pronunciation EE-da. If you’re looking for twin names for girls, perhaps the Irish monikers Ena and Íde are a good pair!

119. Orla. This short moniker is one of the more classic anglicised names for Irish girls. Like its Irish version Órlaith, Orla means ‘golden ruler’. If you’re a fan of the series Derry Girls, you may recognise the name as one of the main characters, along with her best friends, Michelle, Erin and Clare.

120. Síle. In the Irish language, an s before the letter i or e creates the sh sound, so this name is pronounced SHEE-la. As the Irish form of Cecilia, this name connects to the legendary martyr who is the patron saint of music and musicians.

More Short and Long Irish Girl Names

Here are even more short and long Irish girl names for you to enjoy:

Strong Irish Girl Names

Plenty of Irish girl names offer a sense of strength and power in their meanings and sounds. Plus, there’s no denying that Irish women are the perfect mix of gentle and strong. Here are some powerful Irish girl names to help inspire you.

131. Ailbhe. Pronounced AL-va, this Celtic girls’ name comes from the root word albiyo, meaning ‘world’ and ‘light’, and the Irish word ail, which means ‘rock’. According to legend, Ailbhe was the name of a female Celtic warrior from the Fianna, a warrior-hunter band during the Iron Age.

132. Aran. If you’ve ever visited the rocky, windswept Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland, you know how strong this name is! It’s a unisex option and a great choice for a nature-inspired baby name.

133. Brighid. Bridget (meaning ‘the exalted one’) is a classic name, but for a more traditional spelling, you could go with Brighid, pronounced BREEDG. The variant spelling Bríd has been more popular since the Irish spelling reform in 1948.

134. Treasa. For a strong Irish girls’ name in the literal sense, try Treasa, which means ‘strength’. Pronounced TRA-sa, it’s an Irish form of Theresa.

135. Scáthach. With the mysterious meaning of ‘shadowy’, this is the name of another female Celtic warrior. It’s pronounced ska-HA.

136. Órlaith. You’ve seen a few anglicised forms of this Irish girls’ name on our list, but we had to include the old spelling, too. Plus, its meaning, ‘golden ruler’, connotes strength. It’s pronounced OHR-la.

137. Fianna. If you’re reading this list in full, perhaps this name sounds familiar; Fianna is the name of the band of warrior-hunters that Ailbhe belonged to. Surprisingly, it’s actually a more modern Irish girls’ name, pronounced FYEE-eh-neh and meaning ‘band of warriors’.

138. Ríoghnach. Pronounced RIEF-nyak, this strong Irish girls’ name simply means ‘queen’. Obviously, your little queen will rule your house, too!

139. Neasa. Fans of Irish mythology might already be familiar with this infamous name. According to legend, Neasa (pronounced NYA-she) was the mother of Conchobar, a young king of Ulster. She was able to establish him as a ruler, initially for just one year. But then, she helped Conchobar rule so well that the people demanded he stay as their king, ousting her husband, Fergus mac Róich, from the throne.

140. Muirgen. Meaning ‘born of the sea’ in Irish, Muirgen definitely gives us a sense of strength. In Irish mythology, Muirgen (pronounced MUHR-gen) was also the name of a woman transformed into a mermaid for 300 years.

More Strong Irish Girl Names

We’ve got even more strong Irish girl names for you, perfect for a little Gaelic queen!

Irish Forms of Common Girl Names

Irish girl names often have anglicised versions, connecting to more familiar names. In our Irish girl names list, you may have noticed names such as Áine as Ann, Róis as Rose, and Síle as Cecelia, among many others. Here are some more Irish forms of common girl names.

151. Aignéis. Pronounced AJ-nyesh, this is the Irish form of Agnes, a Greek name meaning ‘chaste’. As Agnes is a bit old-fashioned, this could be a great unique option for the moniker.

152. Aisling. This is the Irish name for Ashley and is pronounced ASH-lyeen with a soft n sound. It’s a relatively common Irish baby girls’ name that means ‘dream’ or ‘vision’.

153. Báirbre. After perusing this list of Irish girls’ names, perhaps you can guess the common moniker for this one? Pronounced BAR-brye, it’s the Irish form of Barbara, of course, which connects to the Greek word barbaros, meaning ‘foreign’.

154. Caitríona. We’ve already mentioned the Irish name Caitríona a few times in our list, as it has many short forms and fun nicknames. But it’s also a beautiful option on its own. Pronounced KA-tree-na, it’s the Irish form of Katherine, meaning ‘pure’.

155. Máiréad. A very traditional Irish Catholic girls’ name is Margaret, but you can use the Irish form to make it even more classic. Máiréad is pronounced MA-ryed, and you can also spell it Mairéad or Máighréad.

156. Isibéal. This one is easy, as it clearly mimics the name Isabel and shares its pronunciation. You can also spell it Sibéal, pronounced as SIHb-el. Isabel is a medieval form of Elizabeth, which means ‘my God is an oath’.

157. Máire. You might recognise this name from earlier in our list, as Máire is a form of Mary, another traditional Irish Catholic girls’ name. You have a few options for spelling. Máire and Muire are pronounced MAH-rye, while Máirín is pronounced MAH-ryeen. Mary means ‘beloved’ or ‘love’.

158. Ráichéal. You can probably guess that this name is the Irish form of Rachel, a Hebrew moniker meaning ‘ewe’. Interestingly, it’s pronounced more like the Mexican girls’ name Raquel, as RAH-kel.

159. Séarlait. Though the spelling might not give you any clues, the pronunciation SHAR-lat sure does! Yep, it’s the Irish form of Charlotte, the feminine diminutive of Charles, which means ‘man’.

160. Síne. Though pronounced SHEE-na, this is the Irish form of Jane, which connects to the male biblical name John, meaning ‘Yahweh (the Hebrew God) is gracious’.

More Irish Forms of Common Girl Names

There are even more Irish forms of fairly common and traditional girl names. If you feel like you’re getting used to the Gaelic spellings, try to guess these Irish names:

Even More Irish Names for Girls

We’ve included 40 more options for you, meaning you have over 200 choices of pretty, unique and strong Irish names for your little girl!

The Bottom Line

Irish names exude charm and that’s why traditional Irish names or their modern variants are becoming popular worldwide. If you were inspired by Ireland’s beautiful girl names, but you’re still looking for that perfect name, consider some more of our international names, including:

• Korean girl names

• Italian girl names

• Japanese girl names.