100+ Irish Girl Names With Meanings & Beautiful Origins

There’s something magical about Irish girl names, isn’t there? They’re more than words; they’re stories sung through generations. Think of the fire in Saoirse, the light in Aoife, or the grace of Niamh—each name carries Ireland’s heart and history.

In Ireland, choosing a name isn’t just tradition—it’s love, pride, and a little bit of poetry. From ancient Gaelic legends to modern favorites loved across the world, let’s explore the most beautiful and meaningful Irish baby girl names of all time.

Ireland is home to some of the world’s most lyrical and meaningful names — each one carrying a story of beauty, strength, or heritage. We’ll explore every side of this timeless naming tradition:

• Most Popular Irish Baby Names for Girls

• Classic Gaelic Names for Irish Girls

• Unique Irish Girl Names to Stand Out 

• Authentic Gaelic Baby Names & Celtic Roots

• Irish Mythology Names for Girls

• Adorable Irish Names for Baby Girls

• Famous Irish Names Inspired by Pop Icons

• Christian and Saint-Inspired Irish Girl Names 

Let’s begin with names you’ll hear often in Ireland and increasingly around the world.

• Aoife (EE-fa) shines with the meaning “beautiful” or “radiant.” It’s the kind of name that feels both ancient and airy, like sunlight in a doorway.

• Saoirse (SEER-sha) — carries the powerful meaning “freedom,” a poetic virtue that has helped the name travel far beyond Ireland.

• Fiadh (FEE-ah) is crisp and woodland-light, often read as “wild” or “deer,” a nod to nature and quicksilver grace.

• Róisín (RO-sheen) translates to “little rose,” delicate yet grounded.

• Caoimhe (KWEE-va) is one of the gentlest names you’ll ever say, associated with “gentle” or “beautiful”.

• Aisling means “dream” or “vision,” a literary favorite that feels like a promise tucked into a name.

• Niamh (NEEV) means “bright,” a luminous choice with legendary roots.

• Nora — classic Irish-friendly favorite, global hit

• Quinn — modern, unisex energy

• Kennedy — Irish surname-as-first-name

• Hailey — bright and breezy, an Irish-rooted name that feels perfectly modern.

• Reagan — sharp, contemporary Irish-rooted style

• Rowan — warm and earthy, meaning “little redhead,” loved for its nature-inspired charm.

• Sloane — sleek, gender-neutral favorite

• Maeve / Méabh is a standout, compact, and queenly name, beloved by Irish-American families and frequently cited among popular Irish names for girls.

• Grace means “goodness” or “blessing”; elegant and timeless.

• Éabha (AY-va) – Gaelic root of Ava; short, lyrical, and beloved.

• Lily – floral and pure; blends Irish softness with global appeal.

• Harper — melodic and modern, tied to Ireland’s harp tradition and beloved worldwide.

If you love names steeped in history and tradition, traditional Irish girl names never go out of style. They connect your child to the roots of ancient Irish names for girls, often tied to legends, folklore, or saints.

• Áine (AWN-ya), meaning “radiance” or “splendor,” is associated with the goddess of summer and love in Irish mythology.

• Cara (CAR-a), meaning “friend” or “beloved,” is a sweet and timeless choice that symbolizes warmth and affection.

• Clodagh (CLO-da) comes from a river in County Waterford, and it’s elegant yet strong.

• Deirdre (DEER-dra) is a legendary name meaning “sorrowful” or “raging.” Though tragic in tale, it remains one of the most poetic names in Irish culture.

• Eimear (EE-mer) was the wife of the hero Cú Chulainn, known for her wisdom and beauty.

• Gráinne (GRAW-nya), meaning “grain,” represents abundance and fertility

• Laoise (LEE-sha), meaning “light,” reflects hope and renewal.

• Siobhán / Siobhan (shiv-AWN) means “God is gracious”, a spiritual name still beloved across generations.

• Colleen — literally “girl” in Irish; once a favorite among Irish-American families.

• Kathleen — timeless Irish classic

• Erin — “Ireland”

• Bridget — enduring Saint-linked favorite

• Molly — cheerful and timeless, rooted in Irish folk song and tradition.

Want a name that feels fresh yet deeply connected to Ireland’s charm? Rare Irish female names like Una, Tierney, Eilish, and Fia are making waves among modern parents seeking something rare yet authentic.

• Una (OO-na) means “lamb” or “unity,” and it’s gentle yet strong.

• Tierney symbolizes “lord” or “noble,” giving a touch of aristocratic flair.

• Eilish, inspired by singer Billie Eilish’s Irish roots, is a modern take on Eilis, meaning “pledged to God.”

• Fia, meaning “wild” or “deer,” is short, stylish, and perfectly Irish.

• Aoibheann (AY-veen) is elegant and lyrical, all velvet vowels on the tongue.

• Bláthnaid (BLAW-nid) means “little flower,” a meadow-soft image framed by a strong, dignified shape.

• Fionnuala (fin-OO-la) carries the grace of swans in legend

• Nuala - friendly short form of Fionnuala

• Muireann (MWIR-in) evokes the sea, “sea white” or “of the sea,” perfect if your heart is tugged by coastal imagery

• Sorcha (SUR-ka) glows with “brightness”

• Órlaith / Orla / Órla suggests a “golden princess”, a fairytale motif rendered in Irish music and meaning.

• Sadhbh (SOWV) offers “sweet” or “lovely”

• Aoibhinn (EE-van) – “radiant” or “pleasant”; elegant and fresh.

• Ciara (KEE-ra) – linked to Saint Ciara; short, classic, and melodic.

Many Gaelic girl names date back over a thousand years, rooted in the Celtic language that shaped much of Ireland’s history and mythology. These names often come with powerful meanings tied to nature, spirituality, and bravery.

• Caoimhe (KWEE-va) — example of mh → /v/ in Irish orthography

• Aisling, meaning “dream” or “vision”, is one of the most poetic names in Gaelic tradition, symbolizing imagination and inspiration.

• Eithne (EN-ya), meaning “kernel” or “grain”, represents the seed of life and potential.

• Brigid (or Brigit) was the Celtic goddess of poetry, healing, and fire—later Christianized as Saint Brigid, one of Ireland’s patron saints.

• Nessa, a name from ancient Irish lore, belonged to a legendary queen who embodied strength and intelligence.

• Gráinne (GRAW-nya) — Gaelic heritage staple

• Éabha (AY-va) — Irish root of Ava

If you’re drawn to magic and legend, Irish mythology names are full of ancient charm. These names come from gods, goddesses, and heroines who ruled Ireland’s earliest tales.

• Morrígan, the goddess of war and fate, represents courage and transformation.

• Ériu (pronounced AY-ree-oo) was the goddess who gave her name to Ireland itself—Éire.

• Clíodhna was known as the goddess of love and beauty, often called the “queen of the banshees”.

• Boann, the goddess of the River Boyne, symbolizes creativity and abundance.

• Bláthnat, meaning “little flower”, was a princess featured in early Irish literature.

• Ríoghnach, meaning “queenly”, was the name of a legendary king’s wife, while Saraid was another mythic daughter of royal descent.

• Sionann — river goddess association

• Saraid — daughter of a legendary king

Not every Irish name has to sound grand or mythological—some are adorable! If you’re after cute Irish girl names, you’ll find options that are as sweet as your baby’s smile.

• Alannah means “darling child”, a tender and affectionate choice.

• Rosaleen is rosy and rhythmic, an Irish beloved that feels both vintage and fresh.

• Róise is a petite petal, dainty but not delicate.

• Clíona (CLEE-na), meaning “shapely”, has a melodic, light tone.

• Léan

• Myrna

• Nollaig, meaning “Christmas”, is perfect for a festive baby girl.

• Róise or Rosaleen, both meaning “little rose”, are beautifully feminine.

• Bridie, a diminutive of Bridget, has an old-fashioned charm.

• Úna is timeless—gentle, compact, and warm

• Shayla and Úna also bring soft, lyrical energy—each easy to pronounce yet undeniably Irish.

• Keeva — a modern, phonetic twist on Caoimhe, capturing its gentle meaning of “beautiful”.

• Aileen — bright and straightforward, a beloved Irish classic with soft appeal.

The rise of Irish stars in film, music, and TV has brought many Irish names into the global spotlight.

• Saoirse (SEER-sha) — Saoirse Ronan has made her name synonymous with grace, strength, and creativity.

• Sinéad — iconic through Sinéad O’Connor

• Caitríona (ka-TREE-na) — Caitríona Balfe, star of Outlander, inspired a resurgence of the name Caitríona, pronounced.

• Enya, the world-renowned singer, carries a name that means “little fire”—a symbol of passion and artistry.

• Fionnula — as in Fionnula Flanagan

• Kiera — (Kathy Kiera Clarke)

• Kerry — (Kerry Condon)

• Maureen — (Maureen O’Hara)

• Sharon — (Sharon Horgan)

• Tara — (Tara McNeill) keep Irish soundscapes humming in the public ear.

Faith and spirituality play a significant role in Irish naming traditions. Many Christian and saint-inspired Irish girl names carry messages of virtue, grace, and divine blessing.

• Brigid / Bridget, after Saint Brigid of Kildare, symbolizes compassion, wisdom, and creativity.

• Caitlin / Kathleen, the Irish form of Catherine, means “pure” and is still used by families honoring their Catholic heritage.

• Aileen / Eileen — friendly cross-border variants

• Mary / Máire — enduring devotional classic

• Nora — often used in Catholic families historically

• Ailbhe — an early Irish saint’s name

• Clare — saintly, simple, elegant

• Mairead (mi-rade, meaning “pearl”) is also tied to saints and early Christian figures.

The beauty of Irish baby girl names is their universality. Once confined to Ireland, they’ve now charmed parents across the globe.

In the United States, names like Maeve, Nora, Kennedy, Riley, and Quinn dominate the charts. These names, while of Irish origin, blend seamlessly into English-speaking countries thanks to their simplicity and charm.

Meanwhile, in Ireland itself, the Central Statistics Office (CSO) lists top girl names such as Fiadh, Saoirse, Caoimhe, Grace, Éabha, and Aoife — showing that both modern and traditional names coexist beautifully.

It’s also fascinating how Gaelic names like Éabha (pronounced Ava) and Méabh (pronounced Maeve) have been embraced internationally. What was once considered difficult to pronounce has now become beloved for its authenticity and rhythm.

So, if you’ve been wondering how to pronounce Irish girl names, don’t let their spellings scare you off. Once you hear them aloud, you’ll understand why they’re considered among the most musical in the world.

From the ancient tales of goddesses and queens to modern silver-screen icons, Irish girl names continue to enchant parents everywhere. They carry a rare blend of melody, history, and meaning that feels both timeless and fresh.

Whether you fall in love with Aoife’s beauty, Saoirse’s freedom, or Maeve’s power, each name invites your daughter into a story that began long before her and will continue through her.

So, if you’re ready to choose a name that’s not only lovely but also legendary, the world of Irish baby girl names is waiting—with open arms and a song on its lips.