Irish names have had a remarkable revival over the past two decades. Aoife, Saoirse, and Niamh are now household names across Ireland, the UK, and the Irish diaspora worldwide. But Irish has a deep well of feminine names that deserve far more attention than they currently get.
If you want an Irish name with genuine heritage, a beautiful meaning, and a lower chance of sharing it with three other children in the school class, read on. Each of these names comes from Old Irish or Gaelic mythology and carries a story worth telling.
Ten Rare Irish Girls’ Names Worth Knowing
Eithne (ETH-na or EN-ya) — Meaning "kernel" or "grain", suggesting the essential, life-giving core of something. Eithne was the mother of Saint Colmcille and the name of several mythological queens. It has an otherworldly softness that feels both ancient and fresh.
Sadhbh (SYVE or SIVE) — One of the most magical names in Irish mythology. Sadhbh was transformed into a deer by a druid and later gave birth to the hero Oisín in deer form. Her name may derive from "sadb" meaning "goodness" or "sweetness". Rare, beautiful, and deeply rooted in the landscape of old Ireland.
Lasairfhiona (LA-ser-EE-na) — Meaning "flame of wine" — a breathtaking combination. It is a medieval Irish name borne by a daughter of a King of Connacht. Admittedly a longer name, but the anglicised form Lasrina makes it more accessible for everyday use.
Muireann (MWIR-an) — From "muir" (sea) and "fionn" (fair/white): "fair one of the sea". A gentle, lyrical name associated with mermaids and sea spirits in Irish folklore. It has a quiet beauty that wears well at every age.
Ide (EE-da) — Saint Ide of Killeedy was one of the great female saints of early Christian Ireland, sometimes called the "foster-mother of the saints of Ireland". Short, clear, and ancient, Ide has a dignified simplicity that many longer names cannot match.
Cliodhna (KLEE-na or KLEE-oh-na) — The queen of the Irish fairies in Munster folklore, Cliodhna ruled the otherworld and was associated with love and beauty. Her three magical birds could lull the sick to sleep with their song. A name with genuine mythological prestige.
Aoibheann (EE-van) — From "aoibh" (beauty, radiance, pleasantness): "beautiful, radiant one". Multiple early Irish queens bore this name. It is different from Aoife but shares that same luminous quality, and the "-ann" suffix gives it warmth.
Finola (fi-NOH-la) — The anglicised form of Fionnuala (FYUN-oo-la), meaning "fair shoulder". In the legend of the Children of Lir, Fionnuala was transformed into a swan for 900 years. The name carries extraordinary endurance and grace.
Meadhbh (MAYV) — Often anglicised as Maeve, but the original Meadhbh carries more of the mythological weight. Queen Meadhbh of Connacht was one of the most formidable figures in all of Irish legend — warrior, ruler, and force of nature. If you want a name with power, this is it.
Ailbhe (AL-va) — Meaning "white" or "bright", from the old Irish word for whiteness. Several early Irish saints bore this name, as did a daughter of the god Manannán Mac Lir in mythology. The anglicised spelling Alva is simpler but loses some of the original beauty.
How to Choose
Rare Irish names reward the research. Before settling on a name, it is worth considering how the name sounds in both Irish and English, how easily family members can pronounce it, and whether there is a usable anglicised form for contexts where the original spelling might cause difficulty.
All of the names above are real Irish names with genuine heritage — not inventions or corruptions. Using them is a small way to keep that heritage alive.
You can explore many of these names on BabyName, where you will find their origins, meanings, and gender tags. Add the ones you love to your session, and see which ones your partner independently lands on too. The overlap might surprise you.