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Irish Baby Girl Names and Their Meanings (the Top 25 )

red haired girl This is the place to find one of the perfect Irish baby girl names for your perfect little girl. The Irish baby girl names listed here also list the meaning and origin of the name. After all, you want to pick the best name for your precious little girl. You need a name that fits her individual personality. Some names are based on Greek, Hebrew, German and Latin origins. Gaelic names are making a big come back since the turn of the 20th century. Some are heroic. Some are godlike. They are all Irish baby girl names. Based on the latest census reports (2005) from the Central Statistics Office of Ireland. The Irish baby girl names are listed from most popular on down.

The following is the traditional convention for Irish baby girl names.

  • Oldest daughter named after the mother's mother.
  • Second daughter named after the father's mother.
  • Third daughter named after the mother.
  • Fourth daughter named after the mother's oldest sister.

Now, on to the Irish baby girl names.

1. Emma (em-a) From Germanic ermen meaning "whole" or "universal". This name has been used a lot in England and Wales. It has become very popular in Ireland.

2. Sarah (ser-a) From Hebrew meaning "princess". Sometimes used to anglicise the Gaelic names Sorcha ("radiant"), Sive ("sweet"), Saraid ("excellent").

3. Katie (kay-tee) Most likely, but much debated, from the Greek katharos meaning "pure". Based on the name Katherine and Kathleen, but in this case used by itself.

4. Amy (ay-mee) From Old French meaning "beloved".

5. Aoife (ee-fa) From the Gaelic "aoibh" meaning "beauty". Aoife was a warrior princess in Celtic mythology. The Gaelic form of Eve or Eva.

6. Ciara (kee-a-ra, keer-a) Feminine form of Ciaran Based on the Gaelic word cair meaning "black". Saint Ciara was the Irish nun who established a the monastery at Kilkeary.

7. Sophie (so-fee) From Greek meaning "wisdom". French form of the name Sophia. This name is used to anglicise the Gaelic name Sive ("sweet").

8. Chloe (klo-ee) From Greek meaning "green shoot". Associated with the Greek goddess of the harvest Demeter.

9. Leah (lee-a) From the Hebrew word le'ah meaning "weary". Leah is the name of the first wife of Jacob from the Old Testament. She was the mother of his seven children. Maybe that was why she was "weary".

10. Ella (el-a) Short form of the name Ellen which is derived from the name Helen From Greek meaning "bright one". Also, from Greek mythology Helen of Troy.

11. Emily (em-i-lee) From the Latin aemulus meaning "rival" The name was presumed to be imported from Britain.

12. Rachel (ray-chel) From Hebrew meaning "ewe". Rachel was the favorite wife of Jacob from the Old Testament. This name has become well established in Ireland.

13. Niamh (neev) From Celtic mythology meaning "bright". Niamh was the daughter of the sea god and Princess of the Land of Promise. She departed with Ossian, son of Finn MacCool, for the Otherworld. The anglicised spelling is Niav.

14. Grace (grays) Derives from the Latin wordgratia meaning grace. The anglicised form of the Gaelic name Grania meaning "grain goddess" from Celtic mythology.

15. Rebecca (re-bek-a) From Hebrew possibly meaning "heifer" or "a snare". Rebecca was the wife of Isaac from the Old Testament. Mother of Esau and Jacob.

16. Hannah (han-a) From Hebrew meaning "favor" or "grace". Anna is the Latin form of this name. Also used as a pet form of the names Johanna and Nora.

17. Caoimhe (kee-va, kwee-va) From the Gaelic caomh meaning "beautiful".

18. Ava (ay-va) Derived from the name Eve. From the Hebrew meaning "to breathe".

19. Lauren (lawr-en) From the Latin laurus meaning "laurel". Feminine form of the name Laurence.

20. Jessica (jes-i-ka) From Hebrew meaning "god beholds". First used in its present form by Shakespeare in his play "The Merchant of Venice".

21. Anna (an-a) From Hebrew meaning "favor" or "grace". The Latin form of Hannah. Used to anglicise the Gaelic name Aine ("joy" or "praise").

22. Kate (kay-t) Most likely, but much debated, from the Greek katharos meaning "pure". Based on the name Katherine and Kathleen, but in this case used by itself.

23. Roisin (rosh-een) From Latin rosa meaning "rose". Pet form of the name Rois.

24. Lucy (lou-see) From the Latin lux meaning "light". Feminine form of the Name Lucius. Anglicised version of the Gaelic name Luighseach.

25. Molly (mahl-ee) The meaning for this name is not clear. It was a pet form of the name Mary. Now it seems to stand by itself. Used to translate the Gaelic names Maille and Mailse.

I hope these Irish baby girl names have given you ideas for some names. I have lists of Irish boys names, Irish last names, and Irish dog names on my other pages.

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