Irish Girl Names for Your Lovely Baby Girl with Interesting Meanings

Irish Girl NamesWe found a list of unusual Irish girl names inspired by myth and legend. Here are our favorites! Find out the meanings behind the names.

If you are searching for a special name for your baby girl, we have an ultimate list of Irish names that are perfect for your unique little girl.

The Irish culture is dominant, with stories that date back many years. Moreover, Celtic mythology and folklore play a major part in the Irish names we hear today.

We found a list of unusual Irish girl names inspired by myth and legend. Here are our favorites! Find out the meanings behind the names.

How to Pronounce Irish Girl Names?

The Irish language is beautiful, with several pretty Irish names, but it can be a struggle to pronounce them correctly.

Most of these names are written in one way but pronounced in a completely different way. This can become very confusing when you pick a name for your baby girl.

Nevertheless, once you learn the different sounds that combinations of letters make, the process gets easier. Check out how these vowel combinations are pronounced:


ao is pronounced ay

aoi is pronounced ee

eo is pronounced oh

ea is pronounced awe

io is pronounced ih

ia is pronounced ee

Top 20 Irish Names for Girls

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The Irish language is full of names that have a deeper meaning. If you are one of those parents who give importance to the meaning of names, you will enjoy the list we’ve put together.

Here are the Top 20!

 

Aoife


This name means “beautiful” or “joyful.” In Irish mythology, Aoife is one of the greatest woman warriors in the world.

 

Caoimhe


Pronounced kwee-va or kee-wa, the name means “gentle,” “beautiful,” or “precious.”

 

Ciara


The feminine version of Ciaran, it means “dark.” It is pronounced kee-ra.

 

Saoirse


This name means “liberty” or “freedom.”

 

Niamh


Pronounced neev or nee-iv, Niamh means “lustre,” “radiance,” or “brightness.”

 

Cara


In Irish, the word means “a friend.”

 

Roisin


This Irish name means “little rose”, and it was used in patriotic poetry in Ireland.

 

Aisling


The name means “vision” or “dream” and is pronounced ash-ling.

 

Clodagh


Pronounced cloh-da, this name is associated with a female deity.

 

Eabha


The Irish form of Eve, Eabha means “life” but is also known as “the mother of all the living.”

 

Aine


The name is associated with prosperity and fruitfulness. It comes from the noun aine, which means “brilliance” or “splendor.”

 

Aoibhinn


Pronounced ee-van or ay-veen, the name means “pleasant.” Or “radiant beauty.”

 

Sadhbh


This name can either mean “wise” or “sweet”, and it is pronounced sive.

 

Aoibhe


Derived from the Gaelic word aoibh, this word means “beauty.”

 

Fiadh


Pronounced fee-a, Fiadh is an old name meaning “wild” as in a wild animal.

 

Laoise


This name means “radiant girl” and is pronounced lee-sha.

 

Orla


Known as the “golden princess” or “golden sovereign” in Irish, it is also spelled as Orlaith.

 

Eimear


Eimear was the name of an Irish warrior, Cuchulainn’s wife, and she was known to possess six gifts: sweet words, a gentle voice, wisdom, beauty, chastity, and needlework. The name means “swift.”

 

Shauna


The feminine version of the Irish boy’s name Sean, Shauna means “God is gracious.”

 

Irish names have gained immense popularity over the years.

Parents love Irish names because they are unique and have rich meanings. Furthermore, it is a great way of staying rooted in traditions.

Here is our list of popular Irish girl names that you are sure to love!

 

Fiona


This name comes from Gaelic and is the female version of the Irish name, Fionn. It translates to “being bright and fair.”

 

Alana


With Irish, Hawaiian, Hebrew, and German origins, the name means “beauty,” “serenity,” or “little rock.”

 

Arlene


It means “pledge” or “devotion.” Arlene is the name of a female cat who appears in the Garfield comics.

 

Brenda


The name translates to “torch” or “glowing sword.” This popular name is also shared by actress Brenda Blethyn and singer Brenda Lee.

 

Brianna


With Irish, Celtic, and English origins, this name means “from the high hill” or “noble and strong.”

 

Bridget


A popular character from the comedy novel-turned-movie Bridget Jones’s Diary, this name means “powerful,” “virtuous”, or “of high status.”

 

Caitlin


The meaning of this name is “pure”, and it has various spelling variations, including Caitlyn, Kaitlin, Catelyn, etc.

 

Casey


This name means “vigilant,” “watchful,” and “brave.” Famous namesakes include actress Casey Wilson and Casey Burke.

 

Cassidy


Perfect name for a girl with curly hair, this name literally means “having curly hair” or “clever.”

 

Deirdre


With Irish and Gaelic origins, the meaning of this name is “sorrowful” or “fear.”

 

Delaney


This popular name means “child” or “dark defiance.” Some alternate spellings include Delanie, Dalaney, and Delane.

 

Eileen


This name has Irish, Gaelic, French, German, and Latin origins, and it literally means “light.”

 

Finley


This unisex name means “fair,” “hero,” or “holy.” Interestingly, Finley is also the name of Elvis Presley’s granddaughter.

 

Keira


With Irish, Gaelic, and Greek origins, this name means “little dark one.”

 

Molly


It means “bitter,” “of the sea,” or “wished for.” Famous namesakes include comedian and actress Molly Shannon and Molly Ringwald.

 

Unique Irish Girl Names

While all Irish names are unique, some are more uncommon than the rest.

All parents want to select a name that stands out and makes their child outshine the others. Have a look at these unique girl names for your little bundle of joy!

 

Afric


Pronounced ah-frick, this name means “pleasant.”

 

Aileen


It means “shining light” and is pronounced ay-leen.

 

Cadhla


This name means “beautiful” and is pronounced k-eye-la or k-ay-la.

 

Dearbhla


Meaning “true desire,” this name is pronounced dur-vlah.

 

Erin


Derived from the word eireann, Erin means “Ireland.”

 

Liadh


This unique name is pronounced lee-ah, and it means “grey.”

 

Mallaidh


Pronounced molly, the name means “star of the sea.”

 

Meadbh


This name means “pearl” or “happiness” and is pronounced mayve.

 

Riona


Riona is pronounced ree-ohna, and the name means “queen.”

 

Shona


Pronounced show-na, this name means “God is gracious.”

 

Sorcha


The name means “brightness” and is pronounced sur-kah.

 

Banbha


It is the name of an Irish goddess and is pronounced ban-va.

 

Boann


This mythological name was shared by the Goddess of the River Boyne.

 

Clothru


Pronounced cluh-roo, this Irish name is related to the Princess of Connacht.

 

Eireann


It is the ancient Celtic name for the country Ireland.

 

Eithne


The name of an ancient pagan goddess, it means “grain.”

 

Maoliosa


The meaning of Maoliosa is “follower of God”, and it is pronounced may-leesa.

 

Neasa


Pronounced nya-sah, this name means “gentle” and “nice.” It’s also the name of a legendary Queen Mother of Ulster.

 

Saorla


The unique Irish name means “free-born princess.”

 

Traditional Irish Baby Girl Names

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We love traditional Irish names because they remind us of our original Irish roots. These names were popular years ago, but the meaning and beauty behind them are timeless.

You can choose a name that’s sweet and more vintage instead of modern Irish names. Here is our list of traditional Irish names for girls that are unique and meaningful.

 

Aideen


Pronounced ay-deen, this name is a variation of Etain. This name means “little fire” in the old Irish language.

 

Ailbe


Ailbe is pronounced al-vah, and it means “white.”

 

Ailis


This name is the Irish version of Elizabeth and Alice and is pronounced ay-lish.

 

Alannah


This name is derived from leanbh which is the Irish word for child – it is often translated to “darling child.”

 

Betha


Pronounced bay-thah, it comes from the Irish word for “life.”

 

Bronagh


This traditional name is derived from bronach, which means “sorrowful” or “sad” in Irish.

 

Catriona


The name is another Irish variant of Katherine and is pronounced cat-rio-nah.

 

Damhnait


The name means “befitted” and is pronounced dav-net. According to legend, St Damhnait was the daughter of a pagan king who fled to Europe after converting to Christianity.

 

Dubheasa


This is a very old Irish name which is hardly used now. Pronounced duv-eesa, the name means “dark beauty.”

 

Elan


An Irish version of Helen, the name is pronounced ell-anne.

 

Etain


It means “little enviable one.” According to Irish legend, Etain was a married woman who fell for a fairy man Midir. The man turned both of them into swans so they could escape her husband.

 

Finola


Pronounced finn-ola, Fionn means “white”, and the name means “white shoulders.”

 

Grainne


The name of Goddess of harvest and fruitfulness in Celtic lore.

 

Iseult / Isolde


Iseult was an Irish princess who married the king of Cornwall. The name is pronounced ee-sol / uh-zowl-duh.

 

Celtic Girl Names

Do you want a name that reflects the Celtic heritage? These names come from Ireland, Wales, England, Scotland, and areas of northern Spain.

The pronunciation of Celtic names can be challenging and tricky, but once you understand how different sounds are produced, the process gets easier.

Some Celtic names are more common, like Erin, while others are more exotic. Here is our list of Celtic names for girls that you’re sure to like.

 

Alys


It means “noble” and “dependable.” Alternate spellings include Alis (Welsh), Aileas (Scottish), and Ailis (Irish).

 

Avalon


With Welsh origins, this name means “apple.” Some Famous namesakes are DJ Avalon Emerson and model Avalon Dawn.

 

Boudica


An ancient Celtic name meaning “victory.” This is a rare name in the U.S.

 

Bronwen


This Celtic name means “pure heart” or “fair and blessed.” In Welsh stories, Branwen is the daughter of the sea God, Llyr.

 

Cerridwen


Pronounced keh-rid-wehn, the name means “poetry” combined with “fair” or “woman.”

 

Enid


This Celtic unisex name means “soul” or “life.” It was a popular name in the U.S during the 1920s.

 

Glenys


With Welsh origins, this name means “holy” or “clean.” It is also spelled as Glynis, Glennis, or Glynnis.

 

Gwyneth


The meaning of this name is “white,” “fair”, or “blessed.” Some famous namesakes include actress Gwyneth Paltrow and singer Gwen Stefani.

 

Gwendolyn


This name means “white ring”, and it was the most popular name in the U.S during the 1950s.

 

Iona


Derived from Scottish Gaelic origins, Iona means “island.” This name is more common in England and Wales.

 

Keely


This Irish name means “slender”, and it is also the name of a town in Northern Ireland.

 

Lean


The Greek name means “torchbearer” and is pronounced layn.

 

Maureen


The meaning of this name is “star of the sea.” It is also spelled as Mairenn, Maurine, and Moirean.

 

Nimue


This Greek name means “remembrance”, and it is pronounced ni-moo, nee-moo-eh or nim-way.

 

Common Celtic Names for Girls

The Celts were European tribes that lived around the north of the Alps in the Iron Age and occupied the British Isles in the first to second centuries B.C and the Celtic languages have survived several invasions, including the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Germanic tribes.

Have a look at these Celtic names for girls that have survived through the years.

 

Boudicca


Originating from ancient Celtic, the name means “victory.”

 

Brighid


The meaning of this name is “the exalted one.” The popular version of this name is Bridget.

 

Diedre


This Gaelic name means “sorrow” and “longing.” Another meaning for this name is “young girl.”

 

Kiera


This Celtic name means “black.” It was popular in the U.S in the 2000s, and Ciara ranked around 149 in 2005.

 

Kylie


With Gaelic origins, this name means “strait.” This name was very popular in 2004 when it reached a high point at 49.

 

Maeve


Pronounced at mayv, this Gaelic name means “entrancing.” Maeve is a popular name in Ireland, but it is climbing charts in the U.S too.

 

Morgan


A Gaelic name that means “born of the sea.” Some famous people who share this unisex name include soccer player Morgan Brian and actress Morgan Fairchild.

 

Shannon


This Irish name means “old” or “ancient.” Shannon was the most popular name in the 1970s and 1980s, which is why you will find many people with this name today.

 

Macha


It is the name of an Irish goddess according to myth, and the word macha means “plain”, like a flat area of grass.

 

Nora


The origin of this Irish name is unknown, but it is similar to the name Noirin.

 

Maire


Pronounced maw-rah, this is an Irish version of Mary.

 

Irene


This popular name means “peace”, and it is pronounced eye-reen.

 

Gaelic Girl Names

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Check out our list of Gaelic names that are perfect for your little girl.

 

Orliath


Pronounced orl-ah, this Gaelic name means “golden princess.”

 

Sinead


A girl’s name of Irish Gaelic origins, the name means “God’s gracious gift. The name is pronounced shin-aid.

 

Aila


The name means “from the strong place.” It is pronounced eye-luh or ay-luh.

 

Allie


A Gaelic name that means “bright one” or “light.” Allie is a modern version of Eileen and Helen.

 

Cairistiona


This name is a religious choice among Gaelic names, and it means “follower of the Christ.”

 

Cameron


Cameron is one of the Gaelic names that were initially used for boys but have now become unisex over time.

 

Eibhlin


This Gaelic female name means “hazelnut”, and it is derived from the French Norman name Aveline.

 

Enda


It means “freedom of spirit.” The name was initially masculine but has become a unisex name over time. It is pronounced ay-na.

 

Fallon


This is a strong choice for Gaelic female names. It means “leader.”

 

Ide


Pronounced ee-da, this Gaelic name means “thirst.” Ide was the name of a female Irish saint who promoted knowledge.

 

Innes


Innes is a Gaelic name that means “one choice” or “from the river island.”

 

Kerrie


Kerrie is a popular unisex name that means “Ciar’s people.” While Kerrie is still considered masculine, Keri is a great option for girls.

 

Leslie


A Gaelic name that means “holly-garden.” It was a top pick in the U.S during the 60s and 70s.

 

Malvina


The meaning of this name is “smooth brow.” Unlike other names on this list, this name was invented by the 18th-century poet James Macpherson as a character in his poems.

 

Mor


An ancient name that means “great.” Several medieval queens have shared the same name.

 

Nessa


A Gaelic name for girls that means “not-gentle one.” Nessa is an attractive name by itself but can also be used for Vanessa.

 

Riley


This English and Gaelic name means “rye clearing” or “descendant of Raghallach.”

 

Gorgeous Gaelic Names for Girls

Everyone wants a beautiful name that’s befitting their precious daughter – here are a few gorgeous Gaelic names that should inspire you.

 

Caireann


This Gaelic name means “little beloved” or “little friend.”

 

Eilidh


A popular name that means “light.”

 

Fidelma


A Gaelic woman’s name that has two potential meanings “constant” or “beauty.”

 

Iseabail


The Gaelic form of Isabel means “God is my oath.”

 

Kenna


This unisex name means “born of fire” or “handsome.”

 

Kyna


It is the female version of a Gaelic boy’s name, Kyne. Kyna is derived from cadhan which means “wild goose.”

 

Lee


It is an English Gaelic and Chinese name which means “song” or “poem.” The name is also linked to the Old English Lea, meaning “wood.”

 

Mairead


Pronounced mawr-aid or mur-aid, this Gaelic name means “pearl.”

 

Meara


A girl’s name meaning “sea.” It is derived from the Irish Mara and is pronounced meer-a.

 

Murphy


A unisex name meaning “sea warrior.” Murphy is among the most common surnames in Ireland.

 

Reagan


It is one of many unisex names that are derived from a surname. This name means “the king’s child.”

 

Shay


A Hebrew and Gaelic name for “stately” or “gift.” The name is a popular unisex one which is also shared by Canadian actress Shay.

 

Sile


Sile means “heavenly” in the Gaelic language. A perfect name if you are looking for a unique option.

 

Skye


It is a Gaelic place-name that’s derived from the Isle of Skye, a picturesque island in Scotland.

 

Teagon


A unisex name meaning “beautiful.”

 

Conclusion

Ireland has rich Gaelic and Celtic roots with many different stories and legends. Many Irish girl names are also inspired by their mythology, making it a powerful name for your child.

In this article, we have listed over one hundred Irish names along with their meanings in hopes that you can find some inspiration for naming your baby girl.

David Woods Autho Bio Picture
David is the pet lover behind My Pet's Name. He is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America, holds two degrees and has studied Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. As well as writing, David has helped over 2 million people choose the best name for their pet.

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