Girl's name
Áine
“AW-nya”
IPA: /ˈaːnʲə/
'brightness, splendour, radiance'
The story behind the name
Áine was a goddess of summer, wealth and sovereignty, associated with Cnoc Áine (Knockainey) in County Limerick, where midsummer fires were lit in her honour into the 19th century. She is also called a queen of the fairies in Munster folklore, and the FitzGeralds claimed descent from her.
Where the name belongs
Surnames built on this name
Meanings follow Ó Corráin & Maguire's Irish Names and Woulfe; pronunciations give the commonest Irish-English form. Know this name better — a dialect pronunciation, a family tradition? Tell us. · All Irish names A–Z