Girl's name
Macha
“MAH-kha”
a name of disputed origin, borne by several figures who merge into one
The story behind the name
The sovereignty goddess of Ulster, and the reason two of its greatest places carry her name: Eamhain Mhacha, Navan Fort, and Ard Mhacha, Armagh. Several different Machas appear in the literature and scholars have long argued whether they are one figure or many. The cruellest story has her forced to race the king's horses while heavily pregnant, and cursing the men of Ulster as she died.
Where the name belongs
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