Niamh

NEEV, NEE-uv

Irish Gaelic

"bright"

Niamh Origin and Meaning

The name Niamh is a girl's name of Irish, Irish Gaelic origin meaning "bright".

Niamh, derived from the Old Irish Niam, is an ancient Irish name that was originally a term for a goddess. In Irish myth, one who bore it was Niamh of the Golden Hair, daughter of the sea god, who falls in love with Finn's son Oisin and takes him to the Land of Promise, where they stayed for three hundred years. Niamh can be Anglicized as Neve, Nieve, or Neave.

Niamh is particularly popular choice in Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales. Niamh Cusack is part of the acting family that also includes Sinead (wife of Jeremy Irons), Sorcha and Padraig. Americans have recently become better acquainted with Niamh via the heroine of Christina Baker Kline's bestselling novel Orphan Train.

Here, the Anglicized Neve would undoubtedly prove simpler, if less intriguing. Actress Neve Campbell pronounces her name (a family name) "NEV", and Neve is the daughter of Conan O'Brien.

Niamh Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

# 241 on Nameberry

Popularity of the name Niamh

• 241 Nameberry 2025
• 173 England 2023
• 77 Scotland 2024
• 95 Ireland 2024

20 Names Similar to Niamh

These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Niamh.

• Eira
• Aoife
• Eowyn
• Caoimhe
• Linnea
• Bryony
• Cerys
• Saskia
• Seren
• Anwen
• Calla
• Saoirse
• Ione
• Anais
• Aisling
• Anaise
• Tamsin
• Aurelie
• Eilidh
• Fia

Famous People Named Niamh

• Niamh Cusack Irish actress
• Niamh Kavanagh Irish singer
• Niamh McGrady Northern Irish actress
• Niamh O'Brien Irish dancer, wife of Riverdance costar Michael Flatley
• Niamh Wilson Canadian actress
• Niamh Perry Northern Irish actress and singer
• Niamh Fahey Irish footballer
• Niamh Ní Charra Irish fiddler
• Niamh Nicole Rippin British gymnast

The name Niamh in Pop Culture

• Niamh heroine of Christina Baker Kline's novel "Orphan Train"
• Niamh of the Golden Hair princess of Tir na nOg, a fanatical island to the west of Ireland where nobody ever grows old