30 Rare Irish Girls' Names and Their Beautiful Meanings

There's something special about old Irish names. Some have been passed down through families for generations, while others have almost disappeared from everyday use. And behind many of them you'll find a lovely meaning, an old legend, or a connection to Ireland's language and history.

Most people will be familiar with names like Aoife, Niamh, Saoirse and Siobhán. But there are plenty of other beautiful Irish girls' names that don't get nearly as much attention.

Some go back to early medieval Ireland, others are connected to Irish mythology, and a few are newer names formed from words in the Irish language.

So whether you're looking for an unusual Irish baby name, researching your family roots, or simply interested in our old names, here are 30 worth discovering.

We've included approximate English pronunciations to help. These can vary depending on the Irish dialect and family tradition. Some older names also have uncertain origins, so we've pointed that out where appropriate.

Rare Traditional Irish Girls' Names

1. Líadan — LEE-uh-dun

Meaning: Possibly connected to an old Irish word for grey.

Líadan is a beautiful old name associated with an early Irish tale about a poetess and her lover, Cuirithir. Their story is remembered as one of the tragic romances of early Irish literature.

It's a gentle-sounding name with a history stretching back many centuries.

2. Ailbhe — AL-vuh

Meaning: Possibly white, bright or rock.

Ailbhe is an ancient Irish name whose exact origin isn't entirely certain. It appears in Irish legend as the name of a female warrior and was also borne by an early Irish saint.

It's one of those lovely short names that sounds quite modern, despite its very old roots.

3. Bébhinn — BAY-vin

Meaning: Fair woman or beautiful woman.

Bébhinn comes from older Irish name elements associated with womanhood and fairness or beauty.

It appears in medieval Irish records and stories, although you'll rarely hear it today compared with more familiar Irish names.

4. Éadaoin — AY-deen

Meaning: Traditionally associated with the name Étaín, whose original meaning is uncertain.

Éadaoin is an Irish form associated with the legendary name Étaín. Aideen is a familiar anglicised version.

The name has a lovely connection to Irish storytelling and the old tales of the Otherworld.

5. Lasairfhíona — LASS-ar-EE-na

Meaning: Flame of wine.

Now here's an unusual one.

Lasairfhíona is a medieval Irish name combining words associated with flame and wine. It appears in historical Irish records and has survived into modern times, although it's very uncommon.

Certainly not a name you'd expect to hear called out in every school playground.

6. Sorcha — SUR-uh-kha

Meaning: Bright or radiant.

Sorcha comes from an Irish word meaning brightness or radiance.

It's an old name with a lovely meaning, and although still used in Ireland, it may be unfamiliar to many people overseas.

7. Muirenn — MWIR-in

Meaning: Often interpreted as sea-white or associated with the sea.

Muirenn is an old Irish name with connections to early Irish legend. The name is often linked to elements referring to the sea and fairness or brightness.

It has a particularly nice sound for anyone who loves Ireland's coastline.

8. Aifric — AF-rik

Meaning: Uncertain; possibly connected to an old form of the name Africa.

Aifric is a genuinely old Irish name, recorded as far back as early medieval Ireland.

It was borne by religious women in Kildare and later by women from prominent Irish and Manx families.

Despite its unusual appearance, it has a long history in Ireland.

9. Cadhla — KY-luh

Meaning: Beautiful.

A short Irish name with a straightforward and lovely meaning.

Cadhla comes from an Irish word associated with beauty. It's an appealing choice for anyone looking for something traditional but a little different.

10. Caoilfhionn — KWEEL-in

Meaning: Slender and fair.

Caoilfhionn is formed from Irish elements associated with slenderness and fairness.

You may also come across the spellings Caoileann and Caoilinn. It's an old-fashioned name with a particularly Irish sound.

Irish Girls' Names Inspired by Nature and Beauty

11. Bláthnaid — BLAW-nid

Meaning: Little flower.

Bláthnaid comes from the Irish word bláth, meaning flower, with a diminutive ending.

It's also associated with a woman in Irish mythology whose story involves Cú Roí and Cú Chulainn.

A beautiful name, although the legendary story itself is rather tragic.

12. Eithne — EN-ya

Meaning: Traditionally associated with a seed or kernel, although its origin is debated.

Eithne is one of Ireland's oldest female names, appearing in mythology and early Christian history.

It has been borne by several Irish saints and legendary figures. The familiar singer Enya took her stage name from the pronunciation of Eithne.

13. Róis — ROHSH

Meaning: Rose.

Róis is an Irish form of Rose, connected with the flower.

Short, simple and lovely, it's a less familiar alternative to Róisín, which means little rose.

14. Aoibheann — EE-vun

Meaning: Associated with beauty and fairness.

Aoibheann comes from old Irish name elements connected with beauty and fairness or blessedness.

It appears in early Irish history and is one of those names that can look complicated at first but sounds very gentle when spoken.

15. Fíona — FEE-uh-na

Meaning: Wine.

Fíona is derived from the Irish word fíon, meaning wine.

Although Fiona is a familiar name in Ireland and Scotland, Fíona has its own Irish-language connection and is worth including among less familiar names.

16. Síofra — SHEE-fruh

Meaning: Elf or sprite.

Síofra comes from an Irish word associated with a fairy-like being or sprite.

Unlike some of the ancient names on this list, its use as a personal name is relatively modern.

Still, it has a lovely connection to the language and folklore of Ireland.

17. Naomh — NEEV

Meaning: Holy or saintly.

Naomh is the Irish word for holy or saint.

As a given name, it's a modern choice rather than an ancient personal name, but it has a clear Irish meaning and a beautiful simplicity.

18. Aodhnait — EE-nit

Meaning: Little fire.

Aodhnait is an old Irish feminine name related to Aodh, meaning fire.

It's a name associated with early Irish religious tradition and is rarely heard today.

19. Gobnait — GUB-nit

Meaning: Traditionally associated with smithing; the exact name origin is debated.

Gobnait is particularly well known in County Cork because of Saint Gobnait of Ballyvourney.

She is associated with bees and healing in Irish tradition, and her feast day is celebrated on 11 February.

It's a name with a strong connection to Irish local history.

20. Croía — KREE-uh

Meaning: Heart.

Croía comes from the Irish word croí, meaning heart.

This is actually a modern name that has become very popular in Ireland, rather than a genuinely rare one. But its lovely meaning makes it worth mentioning alongside the older names.

Irish Girls' Names from Mythology and History

21. Étaín — AY-teen

Meaning: Uncertain; an ancient name from Irish mythology.

Étaín is one of the best-known female figures in early Irish mythology.

Her story appears in Tochmarc Étaíne, or The Wooing of Étaín, a tale involving love, jealousy, transformation and the Otherworld.

It's a beautiful name with a fascinating story behind it.

22. Deirbhile — DER-vil

Meaning: Often interpreted as daughter of a poet, although the origin is uncertain.

Deirbhile is an old Irish name associated with Saint Deirbhile of County Mayo.

According to local tradition, she lived near the coast at Blacksod, where a church and holy well bear her name.

A lovely name with a connection to the west of Ireland.

23. Clíodhna — KLEE-uh-na

Meaning: The original meaning is uncertain.

Clíodhna is a famous name in Irish mythology, particularly in Munster.

She is associated with the Otherworld and is sometimes described as a queen of the banshees. The wave known as Tonn Chlíodhna, or Clíodhna's Wave, is also connected with her legend.

24. Gráinne — GRAWN-ya

Meaning: Uncertain; sometimes associated with grain or the sun, though these interpretations aren't firmly established.

Gráinne is remembered above all for the legend of Diarmuid and Gráinne.

Her story of love and flight from Fionn mac Cumhaill is one of the great romances of Irish mythology.

It's a familiar traditional name in Ireland, but still unusual to many people outside the country.

25. Sadhbh — SYVE

Meaning: Probably sweet.

Sadhbh is an old Irish name that appears in the Fenian stories.

In legend, Sadhbh was the mother of Oisín, the famous poet and warrior. She was transformed into a deer through enchantment before meeting Fionn mac Cumhaill.

The name has become popular again in Ireland, although its spelling often surprises people unfamiliar with Irish.

26. Fionnuala — fin-NOO-la

Meaning: Fair shoulder.

Fionnuala is one of the most recognisable names from Irish mythology.

She was one of the four Children of Lir, who were transformed into swans and spent centuries wandering the lakes and seas of Ireland.

The name has a beautiful sound and a strong connection to one of Ireland's best-loved legends.

27. Orlaith — OR-la

Meaning: Golden ruler or golden princess.

Orlaith is the traditional Irish form of the familiar name Orla.

It was borne by women in early medieval Ireland, including members of royal families.

A lovely old name with a meaning connected to nobility and gold.

28. Saorlaith — SEER-la

Meaning: Free ruler or free princess.

Saorlaith combines old Irish elements associated with freedom and rulership.

It's a particularly meaningful name for anyone who likes names connected to independence and strength.

29. Brónach — BROH-nakh

Meaning: Sorrowful.

Not every beautiful Irish name has a cheerful meaning.

Brónach is an old Irish name associated with sorrow, and it was also borne by an early Irish saint.

Despite its meaning, it has a gentle sound and a long place in Irish naming tradition.

30. Íde — EE-duh

Meaning: Traditionally associated with thirst or a longing, although the origin is not completely certain.

Íde is an old Irish name associated with Saint Íte, or Ita, of Killeedy in County Limerick.

Saint Ita was an important figure in early Irish Christianity and is sometimes called the foster mother of the saints.

A short name with a great deal of history behind it.

Why Are So Many Old Irish Girls' Names Unusual Today?

Irish naming traditions have changed quite a bit over the centuries.

Some names were passed down through families, while others fell out of fashion. The influence of English, changes in religious naming customs, and the decline of Irish as a community language all played a part.

Many Irish names were also anglicised, sometimes because the original spelling was difficult for English speakers to understand or record.

Names such as Éadaoin became Aideen, while Orlaith was often shortened to Orla.

In more recent generations, there has been a renewed interest in traditional Irish names, and it's lovely to see some of them being used again.

How Do You Pronounce Traditional Irish Girls' Names?

Irish spelling follows different rules from English, which is why a name can look quite different from how it sounds.

For example, the letters bh and mh can produce a sound similar to an English V or W, depending on the word and dialect. A fada, the little accent mark over a vowel, can also change its pronunciation.

And even within Ireland, pronunciations sometimes differ between regions.

So don't be surprised if you hear slightly different versions of the same name. That's part of the richness of the Irish language.

Are These Names Really Rare?

Some of the names on this list, such as Lasairfhíona, Aodhnait and Saorlaith, are genuinely uncommon today.

Others, including Sadhbh, Croía and Gráinne, are much more familiar in modern Ireland but may still be unusual in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia.

Rare is a relative term, especially when you're talking about names used across the Irish diaspora.

Celebrating Our Irish Language

Our Irish names are just one small part of a language that's been passed down through generations. And it's lovely to see more people taking an interest in Gaeilge again, whether that's learning a few words, using an old Irish saying, or simply celebrating the language in everyday life.

That's also the idea behind our Irish Language T-shirt Collection at Urban Celt. A few familiar words, a bit of Irish humour, and designs inspired by a language that's very much worth keeping alive. ☘️

Keeping Our Irish Names Alive

There's a lot more to an Irish name than how it looks written down.

Some carry memories of old saints and poets, others belong to legendary queens and warriors, and many have meanings connected to the natural world.

For Irish families living abroad, choosing an Irish name can also be a lovely way of keeping a connection to home, even generations after their ancestors left Ireland.

And whether these names become fashionable again or remain unusual, they're all part of a language and heritage worth keeping alive.

Do you have an unusual Irish name in your family? Or perhaps an old name you haven't heard in years? We'd love to hear it.

At Urban Celt, we're passionate about celebrating Irish language, history and heritage through our designs and the stories behind them.