Its derived from the Gaelic word ean, meaning birdlike. This cute name is uncommon in and outside the Emerald Isle, making it a unique pick. Nevertheless, it grew to be a popular name in the mid-1900s, and its first syllable, dear, still makes it sound adorable and loving as a girls name. It is a brave yet a feminine name. It is said to have derived from the name Bridget, particularly in relation to the early Christian patron saint of Ireland. In Irish mythology, Niamh was the daughter of Manannan, the God of the sea, and rode a magical white horse named Enbarr. Its derived from the Old Irish personal name Murchadh, with muir meaning sea and cath meaning battle. Murphy is the most common surname in Ireland, so its not usually a personal name. Despite this line of names having the not-so-lovely meaning of bitterness, Moira, Mary, and all their variations continue to be popular. Pronounced dar-rawn, Daireann was a beautiful woman in Irish myths who fell in love with legendary hunter-warrior Fionn Mac Cool. This old-fashioned name has been popular in Ireland since the 16th-century when the political song Roisin Dubh, or Little Dark Rose, made its debut. There's Eileen, meaning "bright shining one," and Bridget, meaning "exalted one.". This beautiful name has been in the top 100 in Ireland since the 1960s, ranked #86 in 2020. A sweet nickname derived from Lasair could be Lassie, but were more enamored with the much longer variation Lasairfhona. For a baby born with a full head of dark hair, Ciara may just be the cutest name option! Abigail It is derived from the Hebrew name Avigail, which means "my father's joy" or "cause of joy." 2. Another unusual Irish girl name steeped in Irish mythology, Ladan was a poetess who chose to switch things up in her life and become a nun. For a bubbly, cheerful little girl, Narah would be the sweetest choice of name. Bebinn, pronounced be-veen, is derived from bean, meaning woman, and finn, meaning fair or white. Its often anglicized as Bevan or Bevin. In Hindi, nara means man, although we agree it sounds perfect as a feminine name of Gaelic origin nonetheless. However, Tierney is rare as a given name, making it an excellent option for unique name lovers. Meaning God is perfection, Bethan can be classed as a religious, heavenly name, which can easily be shortened to Beth for a simple, popular nickname. In English countries, Bronagh is often anglicized as Brona, which is how the name is pronounced. Eventually, she was captured by sailors headed to Rome, who baptized her as Muirgein, meaning sea-born., An unusual choice among our Gaelic female names, Liusaidh means light.. Adair, alternatively spelled Adare and Athdare, was first used by an Irishman named Robert Fitzgerald. However, noteworthy female bearers include The Parent Hood actress Regan Gomez-Preston and Maybe Its Me actress Reagan Dale Neis. Rona is also slang for the Coronavirus, making it a topical choice for a baby born during the pandemic. Its derived from regin, meaning advice or counsel, and valdr, meaning ruler. This mighty name has several royal bearers, including Raghnailt ingen Amhlaibh, a 12th-century princess of the Isle of Man, and Raighnailt Ni Conchobair, a 13th-century princess of Connacht and Ireland. Even in its home country of Scotland, Annag hasnt made the charts in years, whereas Anna was ranked the 41st most popular girls name in 2020. Keighley is a sweet name that comes from the same root as the Gaelic name Kealy, meaning slender or pretty. Keighley also has the added bonus of being a locational name, after a town in West Yorkshire, UK. All of these meanings are graceful and sweet, and Cara is one of those names which remains timeless and perfect throughout the years. This boy's name originates from the Irish Gaelic language but has been popular as a first name in Scotland since the 13th century. We cant promise that the name Eimear will bring your daughter all of these qualities, but were certain that the namesake will be an honorable one to live up to! Nessa is a Gaelic name for girls meaning not-gentle one.. Pronounced AY-vah, abha is a beautifully unique alternative to Ava. 30. It was a popular pick in the U.S. during the 60s, 70s, and 80s but is usually replaced by fresher S names such as Sophie and Sadie. Oona comes with a couple of different spelling choices, but all are pronounced the same. A cute Gaelic alternative to Deryn would be Derry, after the Northern Irish city. A warm name which may even be shortened to the sweet Sherry, we love Sheridan and hope you will too. Allie is a diminutive of Aileen, the Scottish version of the Irish name Eileen. Sloane is a variation of the Gaelic name Sloan, a diminutive form of Slughadhan, which comes from sluaghadh, meaning expedition or raid. This sleek name is trendy for U.S. girls, ranked #181 in 2020. Mhairi is a beautifully unique name, which is ultimately derived from Mary. Not the most common feminine name, Fergie is perhaps most related to being the stage name of the Black Eyed Peas band member, Stacy Ann Ferguson. Sile is the Gaelic form of the Latin Caelia, a Roman clan name meaning heavenly. It is often anglicized as Sheila, Shelagh, or Sheelagh. Today, many girls from her home of County Down are named in her honor. Carys, and its common variant Cerys, are derived from the Welsh word caru, which means to love. This sweet translation brought the meaning loved one to Carys, making the name a heartfelt tribute to your affection. 8. Alannah. This being said, Saoirses uniqueness is perfectly memorable and pretty, and certainly a name to be cherished. Pronounced SEER-sha, Saoirse first became popular in the 1920s during the Irish War of Independence. Aoife is a name with the most desirable of positive meanings: beautiful, joyful, radiance. If those dazzling meanings werent enough to convince you of the name, Aoife is also rooted in Irish legend, known for having been the greatest female warrior in the world. Keep reading to discover 100 original Gaelic names for girls with fascinating origins, gorgeous meanings, and varying popularity levels. Adara. Adaira Many Celtic names are linked to the Queen. Kenna is an anglicized form of the Gaelic Cainnech, meaning handsome one, or Cinead, meaning born of fire. Its often used as the feminine version of Kenneth. Aoibheann is a Gaelic name for girls meaning beautiful sheen.. Many of the unique Irish girl names popular in the US are gender-neutral surname names, such as Riley, Kennedy, and Quinn. Thankfully, however, there is a shortened version to consider instead! Historically, Clan Campbell was one of the most powerful families in Scotland, first establishing their power in the 1200s. Eilidh is on-trend in Scotland, ranked #24 in 2020. Bridget, alternatively spelled Briget or Brigid, is derived from the Irish word brigh, meaning strength, vigor, or virtue. In Ireland, the names popularity is often attributed to St. Brigid of Kildare, sometimes called Mary of the Gael. Brigid was also the name of a Celtic triple-deity associated with wisdom, healing, and blacksmithing. In Welsh, Tegan is derived from the word teg, which means loved one, or darling. In Cornish, Tegan would mean special thing, also a beautiful sentiment for a child. Bronwen is a unique and pretty name for a baby girl. Other spelling options are Ally, Alli, or Alie. Its meaning God is gracious is sweet and heavenly. 23. Abigail. Branna is derived from the Gaelic masculine name Bran, which means raven. A beautiful bird known for its wisdom and loyalty, a raven makes a strong, mysterious but reassuring namesake. Pronounced AY-na, Enda is a masculine name thats become unisex over time. Jenny - English/Celtic word that means "fair spirit". Caireann means little friend or little beloved in Gaelic. Male | Pronounced OOSH-jun, this Scottish Gaelic name is rooted in the Old Norse name Eysteinn, which roughly translates to eternal island stone. It could be said that Ceri is derived from the Welsh word caru, which means love. Alternatively, Ceri could have been derived from the Irish family name Ciarraighe, which refers to those who came from the kingdom of Ciar, now known as County Kerry in the South West of Ireland. Meaning my little darling, Mavourna is a completely lovely and touching tribute to bless upon your little angel, who will be able to carry your love with them through their name. Mirren is a bubbly and sweet name with many variations, all of which are firmly rooted in Gaelic culture. de means thirst, specifically a thirst for holiness or wisdom, as demonstrated by the early Irish Saint te, the patron saint of Killeedy. 8. If you are confident in choosing a name with a spelling that may confuse people without knowledge of the Gaelic language, then we absolutely love abha as an option. Lee is a Gaelic, English, and Chinese name meaning poem or song.. Although Innes is used for both sexes, its ranked #991 for girls and #83 for boys in Scotland, so its primarily a guys name. Lilias - A popular Scottish name with Latin origin, Lilias is a beautiful variation on the Lily flower. Matilda - "battle-mighty" Niamh - which means "bright" or "radiant" Orla - "golden princess" Rona - "promise" Sorcha - which means "bright" or "radiant." Tamsin - which means "twin" Willow - a tree name that stands for "graceful" Ainsley - "one's own meadow" Blythe - "happy" Calla - "beautiful" Elspeth - "my God is bounty" Iona - "island" Liban is a Gaelic female name meaning paragon of women., Liban is derived from the Old Irish li meaning beauty and ban meaning of women. In the creation legend of Lough Neagh (the largest freshwater lake in Northern Ireland), Liban was a girl whose town flooded, killing her family. As a given name, it is less commonly heard than its variants Kealy and Keely, for instance. Risn can always be shortened to Rosie, which is equally as adorable. Maille means pearl, with valuable and stylish connotations. In Latin, it comes from carus, meaning loved. In Greece, its a shortened form of Katharina or Katherine, meaning dear. In Gaelic, Cara is a feminine name meaning friend. Cara is also prevalent in Turkey, Japan, Vietnam, and Scandinavia. Ani (Hawaiian origin) meaning "beautiful". Tegan is the sweetest name and is deeply rooted in Gaelic origins. Florence - This Latin name means "flowering or in bloom." It's super trendy in Ireland right now, ranked as the 5th most popular girl's name in 2020. An alternative spelling is Africa, leading some to believe this name originated on the wrong continent. Gabriele. Cara is a Latin, Greek, and Gaelic name meaning friend or dear one.. This traditional name is very uncommon, so it could be a winner if youre looking for something distinct. There you have it! Pronounced SHIN-aid, Sinead is derived from the French Jeanette, which comes from the Hebrew name Yohannan, meaning God forgives or God gratifies. Sinead is often anglicized as Jane, Jennifer, or Jean in English. The terms Irish and Gaelic are used interchangeably though not always accurately. However, it can be a challenge to distinguish authentic Gaelic female names from their Norse and Scottish cousins. Sienna . Pronounced key-na, Kyna is the female version of the Gaelic boys name Kyne. This ancient name reached its peak in Ireland in 1980, ranked as the 216th most popular name for girls. A kernel of what, however, would be up to you! If you are looking for a religious name inspired by the Christian faith, Cairistiona could be the one you have been searching for. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names . Oona means lamb, connoting sweet, lively innocence. Malise is a Gaelic name meaning follower of Jesus.. A real-life bearer includes singer Eimear Quinn, best known for winning the 1996 Eurovision contest with the iconic song The Voice., Eithne is a Gaelic name for girls with two possible meanings: a kernel or little fire..