Irish Names for Girls: The Complete List
- Ita
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"thirst"Description:
The name of one of the most famous medieval Irish saints, who was known as "the foster-mother of the saints," and founded a nunnery in the county of Limerick. Might be of interest to someone looking for an unusual 3-letter name.
- Áine
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"brilliance, wit"Description:
Name of a fertility goddess said to confer luck on its bearer, though to avoid confusion you may want to use the phonetic spelling Anya or Enya.
- Keely
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"slender"Description:
Keely is well-used in modern Ireland, also found as Keeley and Keela. The boys' form is Keelan. Largely unknown in the US, this could make an interesting update for Kelly or Kaylie or Kylie -- though it might ultimately prove to close to one of those trendy names.
- Devin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"poet"Description:
Used far more for boys with this spelling, but still has a nice impish Irish feel for a girl.
- Reilly
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"courageous"Description:
Riley is the spelling of this lively Irish name most often picked for girls, but this version is occasionally used.
- Keeley
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"slender"Description:
Keeley is well-used in modern Ireland, also found as Keely and Keela. The boys' form is Keelan. Largely unknown in the US, this could make an interesting update for Kelly or Kaylie or Kylie. A famous bearer is actress Keeley Hawes.
- Flynn
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"descendant of the red-haired one"Description:
A winning last-name-first Celtic choice, Flynn is still mostly used for boys, such as the son of Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr. Though Flynn is definitely one of the Irish surname names, from Quinn to Flannery to Makenna, that makes one of the trendy boy names for girls".
- Dallas
Origin:
Place name, surnamed and IrishMeaning:
"skilled"Description:
A name with a bit of glamor but also cowgirl vibes, Dallas entered the US Top 1000 for girls in 1992. It fell out of style during noughties, but reappeared in 2012 when other gender neutral names like River, Sawyer, Rowan, and Blake were also climbing fast.
- Colleen
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"girl"Description:
Midcentury Irish-American favorite, never used in Ireland itself, being the generic word for "girl"; rarely given today.
- Yseult
Origin:
French variation of Iseult, CelticMeaning:
"fair, light-skinned"Description:
Variation of Isolde, the name of a great Celtic heroine. The mononymous French singer Yseult is the most notable bearer today.
- Muireann
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"sea white, sea fair"Description:
The popular Irish name Muireann comes from a mythical mermaid who was tranformed into a woman by a saint. Pronunciation is like the surname of the actress Helen Mirren, but with the spin of a w sound after the initial M.
- Eibhlin
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"shining, brilliant"Description:
Irish Gaelic form of Evelyn or Aveline, more authentically spelled Eibhlín.
- Tully
Origin:
Irish, ScottishMeaning:
"flood; quiet; hill"Description:
Tully is an Irish surname just waiting to be adapted as a first. Cute and lively, and reminiscent of Tilly or Tali, it's got a long history and a range of possible meanings, depending on which root you use.
- Bevin
Origin:
Irish GaelicMeaning:
"fair lady, white lady"Description:
The traditional Irish girl's name Bevin – an Anglicization of Bébhinn – is rarely heard outside the Emerald Isle, but could make an fresh and fashionable namesake for an Aunt Beverly.
- Flannery
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"descendant of Flannghal"Description:
Long before the vogue of using Irish surnames for girls, writer Flannery O'Connor gave this one some visibility. It has a warm (flannelly) feel and the currently popular three-syllable ee-ending sound.
- Clodagh
Origin:
Irish river nameDescription:
A popular choice in Ireland, Clodagh was the name of a river and later a saint. The "cloddy" aspect of the name has prevented it from spreading beyond Ireland, but that could change. Famous namesakes are singer Clodagh Rodgers and chef Clodagh McKenna.
- Dearbhla
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"daughter of the poet"Description:
Dearbhla along with its Anglicized form Dervla are both well-used in modern Ireland. There was a medieval Saint Dearbhla. The spelling Deirbhile is also used.
- Meara
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"pool, lake"Description:
A name that has many close, more familiar relatives, like Mira and Myra.
- Cliodhna
Origin:
IrishMeaning:
"shapely"Description:
Cliodhna and its simplified form Cliona are both well-used in modern Ireland though they are ancient mythological names. The goddess Cliodhna left the Land of Promise with a mortal but was punished for her desertion by being swept to sea by a giant wave.
- Tullia
Origin:
Feminine from of Tullius, RomanMeaning:
"meaning unknown"Description:
The unusual and intriguing Tullia has been used since Roman times and may appeal to parents who like Tallulah, Julia, and Lillia but want something that's very rarely heard.