100 Traditional Irish Names for Girls

Fiadh is the most popular Irish-language name given to baby girls in Ireland right now. According to Ireland’s Central Statistics Office, Éabha placed second and Fiadh third among all girls’ names registered in 2025, with Croía ninth ⁽¹⁾. Lily took the overall top spot that year, and Seán O’Connor, a statistician at the Central Statistics Office, said Lily “claimed the number one position as most popular girls’ name in Ireland for the first time since our series began in 1964.” In the United States, anglicized picks like Riley, Quinn, and Kennedy rank higher because they are easier to spell, while Maeve bridges Irish tradition and modern taste.

Far more than most people expect. According to Ireland’s Central Statistics Office, 54,120 babies were born in Ireland in 2025, and their parents registered 5,488 different girls’ names between them, against 4,848 for boys ⁽²⁾. That spread is why a name can be genuinely uncommon at home and still read as unmistakably Irish. It also means a traditional Gaelic spelling still feels personal, even when the name behind it is centuries old.

Tipper, Sheelin, Liadan, and Mealla are among the hardest to find, rarely heard outside particular Irish localities. Sadhbh, pronounced Sive, was widespread in medieval Ireland and is a distinctive choice today, well suited to parents who want a name that stands apart. Croía used to belong on a list like this and no longer does: it has climbed into Ireland’s top ten, so it now reads as current rather than rare.

For a name with regal flair, Rionach (and its variant Riona) means queenly. Morrigan means great queen or phantom queen and belongs to the goddess of war and fate. Maeve, the legendary warrior Queen of Connacht, carries the sense of she who rules.

Irish orthography can trip up English speakers because the alphabet leaves out J, K, Q, V, W, X, Y, and Z and builds sounds from letter combinations. For example, bh and mh often make a v or w sound, as in Niamh or Siobhan, while dh and gh can be silent or guttural depending on placement. That is why Caoimhe is pronounced Kwee-va rather than how it looks on the page.

It comes down to authenticity versus convenience. Traditional spellings like Siobhan or Saoirse preserve the cultural history and visual beauty of the language, though they may need frequent correction. Anglicized versions like Shevaun or Seersha are easier for others to say at first glance but lose some of the connection to the name’s roots.

Ireland’s landscape inspires many lovely names. Blathnaid means little flower, Roisin means little rose, and Dara means oak tree. For water lovers, Shannon means wise river, while Muireann means sea-white or sea-fair.

Absolutely. Many Irish surnames and traditionally masculine names have crossed over into chic unisex territory. Rowan (little red one), Quinn (wise), Shea (hawk-like or majestic), and Riley (brave) are all spirited choices that suit a daughter beautifully.

Because traditional Irish names often carry complex spellings, they pair well with simple, classic one-syllable middle names that ground them. Combinations like Saoirse Rose, Niamh Grace, or Aoife Jane strike a lovely balance. You can also match a fierce Irish name with a nature middle name, like Caoimhe Fern or Aisling Wren, for a whimsical, earthy feel.