57 Old & Traditional Irish Girl Names & Meanings

Irish is one of the oldest and most historically written languages in the world. It is a Celtic language that is closely related to Manx Gaelic and Scottish. I have selected 57 old and traditional Irish girl names. Their meanings are also included.

List Of 57 Irish Girl Names:

Brónach

Brónach comes from the Irish word brón which means ”sadness” or ”sorrow.” Brónach is the mother of Saint Mo Chóe of Nendrum.

Eithne

Eithne is pronounced “EH-nyeh” and is meaning ”kernel.” Irish singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin released the album ‘Lá Lugh in 1991.

Odharnait

Odharnait means “little tanned one.”

Dympna

”Poet” or “little fawn.”

Luíseach

Luíseach means ”light” or ”light-bringer.”

Muireann

Pronounced MWIR-ren, the old Irish name Muireann is interpreted as ”fair one of the sea.” Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh is an Irish singer who released 8 albums, including Daybreak/Fáinne an Lae and Róisín ReImagined.

Aingeal

Aingeal is a variant of the Greek Angela which comes from the word ángelos (‘messenger’ or ‘envoy’).

Iúile

”Devoted to Jupiter.”

Shayla

In Hebrew Shayla comes from the name Shailah (that means “to ask” or “to inquire”). In Irish, Shayla is from Síle.

Caoilainn

It means ”pure” or ”slender.”

READ MORE: One Syllable Middle Names For Girls

Bridie

Meaning ”lofty” or ”exalted,” Bridie has its origins in the Irish name ”Brd.”

Fionnuala

The name is anglicized as Fenella. Finnguala is symbolizing “white shoulder” or “fair-shouldered.” In Irish mythology Fionnuala was the daughter of Lir (a sea god in Irish mythology) of the Tuatha Dé Danann (a supernatural race in Irish mythology).

Mairéad

Mairéad is the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of Margaret, a name with Iranian roots (which means ”pearl”). Variations that I love include Máighréad and Máiréad. Margaret also gave the world the marguerite, the daisy. Save

Toiréasa

“Torch” or “flame.”

Boann

Boann is the Irish goddess of the River Boyne (“white cow”). It is from the word ”bainne” which means ”milk.”

Mallaidh

“Drop of the sea” or ”beloved.” Mallaidh is an Irish Gaelic diminutive form of Mary.

Eimear

Eimear symbolizes ”quick” or ”swift.” Irish composer and singer Eimear Quinn won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 with the song The Voice.

Róis

Róis is the Irish form of the name Rose, which is from the late Latin ”rosa.”

Eibhlín

Eibhlín is the Irish form of Evelyn and is meaning “desired child.” Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill wrote the poem “The Lament for Art Ó Laoghaire.”

Síofra

Meaning ”elf” or ”changeling,” Síofra is an Irish girl name that is pronounced ”SHEE-fra.”

Alastríona

Alastriona has roots in Alistair (“defender of the people”).

Isibéal

Isibeal comes from the Hebrew Elisheva which means ”God is my oath.” Isibéal Ní Cheallaigh was named Ring’s first Irish ‘Voice of the Nation.’

Éabha

From the Hebrew word ‘chavvâh,’ Éabha is meaning “living one.”

Báirbre

Baírbre is the traditional Irish Gaelic form of Barbara, which is the feminine form of the Greek word barbaros (”stranger”).

Caoimhe

”Dear” or ”kind,” Caoimhe is derived from the word caomh. It is pronounced, ”Kwee-va.”

Ríonach

Ríonach means “queenly.”

Cadhla

‘Beautiful’ or ‘graceful.’

Méabh

With origins in the word meadhbh, Méabh is symbolizing “she who intoxicates.” Variations of Méabh that I like are: Maiv, Mave, Maev, or Maeve.

Ciannait

Ciannait means “beautiful, fair.”

Croía

Croía is derived from the Irish word ”croí,” which means “heart.” Croía is ranked in the top 20 most used names in the Republic of Ireland.

Saoirse

Saoirse means ”freedom.” I find the meaning of Saoirse to be one of the strongest from this list.

Clodagh

Clodagh is the name of a river. It is pronounced Clo-dah.

Róisín

Meaning ”little rose,” Róisín comes from the Irish word ‘róis.’

Aoife

Aoife means “beauty” or “radiance.”

Sinéad

Sinéad is the feminine form of the Hebrew Yohanan, which means “God forgave.”

Aisling

Three decades ago, Aisling was the 9th most popular name for baby girls in Ireland. Today, it is not quite as popular as it used to be, though. Aisling means ”vision” or ”dream.”

Áine

Áine is the name of an Irish Celtic goddess of wealth, and is symbolizing ”radiance.” It is pronounced ‘Awn-Ya.’

Niamh

Niamh means “bright” or “radiant” and is from the Old Irish niam. In the Fenian tales, Niamh of the Golden Hair rode a white horse out of the sea.

Órlaith

“Golden princess”. Órlaith was the 4th most recorded woman’s name in the Irish annals of the 1100s.

Gráinne

Gráinne is connected to grán (“grain”).

Deirdre

Deirdre is symbolizing “sorrowful” or “daughter.”

Sadhbh

“Sweet” or “goodly.”

Fiadh

Fiadh is meaning “wild” in the sense of a wild deer.

Doireann

“Sullen” or “tempestuous.”

Gormlaith

Gormlaith is made of the elements gorm (“blue” or “illustrious”) and flaith (“sovereign”). Gormlaith ingen Murchada married 3 kings during her life.

Bláthnaid

”Blossom.”

Íde

Íde comes from ítu, “thirst.” Saint Íte of Killeedy ran a school that fostered other young saints. It is Anglicized as Ita or Ida.

Sorcha

“Brightness” or “light.” In Ireland it was swapped for Sarah.

Ailbhe

Ailbhe is made of the elements ail (“rock”) and albho (“white”).

Aoibheann

“Radiant beauty.”

Ciara

Ciara is the feminine of Ciarán (“dark”). Saint Ciara founded a monastery in Tipperary.

Líadan

Líadan is symbolizing “grey lady.”

Bébhinn

Bébhinn is composed from bé (“woman”) and finn (“fair”) and means “melodious lady.”

Laoise

“Radiant girl.”

Onóra

Onóra is the Irish form of Honora and comes from the Latin honor. Variants that I like are Nóra and Noreen.

Aifric

“Pleasant” or “agreeable.” Aifric Keogh won Olympic bronze at Tokyo in 2021. TG4 produced a teen drama around a girl called Aifric.

Sláine

Sláine has its roots in sláinte, the word you raise a glass to and is meaning “health.” One of Brian Boru’s daughters was named Sláine. She married the Norse king of Dublin, Sigtrygg.