Ainmneacha — the names

Irish girls' names

102 names, each with how to say it out loud, what it means, and the saint, queen or legend who carried it first.

A B C D E F G I L M N O R S T U

A

Achall “AKH-al” the name of a hill by Tara, for the woman said to have died on it Aifric “AF-rick” possibly 'pleasant' or 'agreeable' Aignéis “ag-NAYSH” from Greek hagnē, 'pure' or 'sacred' Ailbhe “AL-va” possibly from albho, 'white', or from ail, 'rock' — 'noble, bright' Ailís “AY-leesh” the Irish form of Alice Áine “AW-nya” 'brightness, splendour, radiance' Aingeal “ANG-al” from Latin angelus, 'angel' Aisling “ASH-ling” 'a dream, a vision' Aodhnait “AY-nit” the feminine form of Aodh, the old word for fire Aoibhe “EE-va” from aoibh, 'beauty, radiance' Aoibheann “EE-van” from aoibhinn, 'beautiful, radiant, of pleasing form' Aoife “EE-fa” from aoibh, 'beauty' or 'radiance' — 'the beautiful one' Arlia “ar-LEE-a” not known — Macalister could only write ‘a name not found elsewhere’ Athracht “AH-rakht” the name of a Sligo saint

B

Bairbre “BAR-bra” from Greek barbaros, 'stranger' — one who does not speak your language Banba “BAN-uh-va” one of the three names of Ireland; the derivation is not settled Bébhinn “BAY-vin” 'fair lady' or 'melodious woman' Bláthnaid “BLAW-nid” from bláth, 'flower' — 'little flower' or 'flower-like' Blinne “BLIN-ya” a form of Moninne, the name of a Louth saint Bríd “BREEJ” from Brighid, probably 'exalted one' Brónach “BROH-nakh” from brón, 'sorrow' — 'sorrowful'

C

Cáit “KAWT” a pet form of Caitríona Caitlín “kat-LEEN (anglicised KAYT-lin)” the Irish form of Catherine Caoilfhionn “KEE-lin” caol + fionn, 'slender and fair' Caoimhe “KWEE-va (Munster KEE-va)” from caomh, 'gentle, beautiful, precious' Cara “KA-ra” 'friend' in modern Irish Ciannait “KEE-nit” the feminine form of Cian, 'ancient' Ciara “KEER-a” from ciar, 'dark' — 'dark-haired one' Clíodhna “KLEE-na” uncertain; borne by a figure of the Otherworld Clodagh “KLOH-da” from the River Clodiagh in Waterford Cristín “kris-TEEN” from Latin Christina, 'a Christian'

D

Damhnait “DAV-nit” from damh, 'stag' or 'ox' — 'little fawn' or 'little doe' Darragh “DA-ra” from dair, 'oak' — 'oak tree' or 'fruitful, fertile' Dearbhla “DER-vla” 'daughter of a poet' or 'true desire' Deirdre “DEER-dra” uncertain; possibly 'she who chatters' or linked to a word for sorrow Doireann “DIR-in” possibly 'sullen' or 'daughter of Finn'; disputed

E

Éabha “AY-va” the Irish form of Eve Éadaoin “AY-deen” an old name; Woulfe records no meaning for it Earnait “AR-nit” from earna, 'knowing' Eibhlín “eye-LEEN” from Norman-French Aveline Eiléanóir “EL-a-nore” a Provençal form of Helena Eilís “EL-eesh” from Hebrew Elisheba — 'God is an oath' Éimear “EE-mer” uncertain; possibly 'swift' Eithne “ETH-na (also EN-ya)” probably from eithne, 'kernel' or 'grain' Ériu “AIR-oo” the name Ireland itself comes from, with Old Norse or Old English 'land' added to it

F

Faoiltiarna “FWEEL-teer-na” faol, 'wolf', and tiarna, 'lady' — the wolf-lady Fedelm “FE-delm” borne by a prophet and a poet of the Ulster Cycle Fiadh “FEE-a” 'wild, of the wild' — also 'deer', and in older usage 'respect' Fionnabhair “FIN-oor” 'white phantom' or 'fair spirit' Fionnuala “fin-OO-la” fionn + guala, 'white shoulder' — 'the fair-shouldered one' Flidais “FLID-ish” known by the epithet Foltchaín, 'beautiful hair' Fódla “FOE-la” thought to be from Old Irish fót, 'sod' or 'land'

G

Gobnait “GUB-nit” from gob, 'a mouth' Gormlaith “GORM-la” gorm + flaith, 'illustrious princess' (gorm here 'splendid' rather than 'blue') Gráinne “GRAWN-ya” uncertain; long linked to grán, 'grain', and to a grain-goddess figure

I

Íde “EE-da” from íte, 'thirst' — traditionally read as 'thirst for holiness'

L

Laoise “LEE-sha” usually read as 'radiant girl'; sometimes linked to Laois Lasairfhíona “la-sir-EE-na” lasair + fíon, 'flame of wine' Léan “LAYN” a pet form of Eiléanóir Lí Ban “LEE-ban” 'paragon of women', from lí, 'beauty', and ban, 'of women' Líadan “LEE-a-din” possibly from liath, 'grey'

M

Macha “MAH-kha” a name of disputed origin, borne by several figures who merge into one Máible “MAW-bil-eh” from Latin amabilis, 'loveable' — shortened from Amabel Máire “MOY-ra” the Irish form of Mary Mairéad “ma-RAYD” the Irish form of Margaret, Greek for 'pearl' Máirín “maw-REEN” 'little Máire' — a diminutive of Máire, the Irish Mary Méabh “MAYV” 'she who intoxicates' — the same root as 'mead' Mealla “MYAL-a” an old name; Woulfe records no meaning for it Míde “MEE-de” Íde with mo, 'my', put in front of it as a term of endearment Móirín “mo-REEN” 'little Mór' — a pet form of Mór Moncha “MUN-kha” of unknown origin Mongfhionn “MONG-in” 'fair hair', from mong, 'hair', and fionn, 'fair' Mór “MORE” 'great' Muadhnait “MOO-nit” from muadh, 'noble' Muireann “MWIR-in” muir + fionn, 'sea-white' or 'sea-fair' Muirgheal “MWIR-yal” muir, 'sea', and geal, 'bright' — 'sea-bright' Muirne “MWIR-nyeh” her epithet Muncháem means 'of the beautiful neck'

N

Neasa “NASS-a” uncertain; borne in legend by the mother of a king Niamh “NEEV” 'brightness, radiance, lustre' Nóinín “no-NEEN” a pet form of Nóra — and also the Irish word for a daisy Nollaig “NUL-ig” 'Christmas' Nóra “NOH-ra” from Honora, Latin honor — 'honour'

O

Odharnait “ORE-nit” from odhar, 'pale' or 'olive-coloured' Órlaith “OR-la” ór + flaith, 'golden princess' or 'golden lady'

R

Rathnait “RA-nit” from rath, 'grace' or 'prosperity' Ríona “REE-na” from ríoghan, 'queen' Róisín “ro-SHEEN” 'little rose'

S

Sadhbh “SIVE (rhymes with 'hive')” 'sweetness, goodness' Saoirse “SEER-sha” 'freedom, liberty' Scáthach “SKAW-hakh” 'the shadowy one', from scáth, 'shadow' Síle “SHEE-la” the Irish form of Cecilia Sinéad “shi-NAYD” the Irish form of Jane / Jeanette Siobhán “shi-VAWN” the Irish form of Joan (Norman-French Jehanne) Sionann “SHUN-an” the goddess the River Shannon is named for Sláine “SLAW-nya” from slán, 'health, wholeness' Sorcha “SOR-kha (Ulster SUR-akha)” 'brightness, radiance, clarity' Súsanna “SOO-sa-na” from Hebrew shoshannah, a lily

T

Tailtiu “TAL-tyoo” the name of the goddess who gave Teltown in Meath its name Tlachtga “TLAKHT-ga” the name of a druidess, and of the Hill of Ward in Meath Treasa “TRASS-a” used as the Irish form of Teresa; sometimes read as 'strength' Tuilelaith “ta-LOO-la” 'abundance of sovereignty' or 'lady of abundance'

U

Úna “OO-na” possibly from uan, 'lamb', or úan, 'hunger'; disputed

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