by EmailTraditional Irish Girls’ Names: M-S
Posted in: Irish First Names
The Story of a Name: Niamh
Niamh, Oisín and Embarr
Niamh of the Golden Hair was a beautiful goddess from Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth, who lured Oisín, son of the warrior Finn McCumhaill, away to marry her. He promised his father he would return and after three years in Tír na nÓg, Deirdre consented to let him go back for a short time.
She gave him her magical horse, who could not be killed and whose hooves never touched the ground, to hasten and make safe his journey, but warned him he must not dismount.
When Oisín returned to Ireland he discovered he had been away not three years, but three hundred and that his father was only remembered as a legend. He fell from the horse and himself instantly became an old man.
Niamh, having given birth to their son in his absense, came to search for him but when she arrived learned that he had died of old age.
Irish Girl’s Names Macha -Sorcha
Anyone looking for Irish names for girls starting with ‘w’, ‘v’, ‘y’ or ‘x’ will be disappointed - these letters are either very rarely or never used in Ireland and therefore no such names exist.
| Say | English | Origin/History | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macha | mock-ah | A Goddess or Queen of Irish myth, associated with battle and horses. The Irish word ‘macha’ means ‘plain’ - as in a flat area of grass, not as in ordinary looking! | |
| Maebh | may-vuh | Maeve | An ancient Irish name meaning ‘bringer of great joy’ or ‘enchanting one’. Meave was a legendary Queen of Connaught (the west of Ireland) who invaded Ulster. |
| Máire | maw-rah | Mary, Maura, Moira | Irish version of Mary. |
| Maoliosa | male-eessa | Melissa | Means follower of Jesus. The Irish version can also be used as a boys name. |
| Muadnait | Mwa-naht | Mona, Monica | Means ‘little noble one’. Is also used as the Irish version of Monica. |
| Múireann | mwir-in | Means ’sea white’ or ‘long-haired’ and was the name of a mythological mermaid who was transformed into a woman. | |
| Neasa | nessa | Nessa | Originally a Viking rather than an Irish name it became popular in the 14th century. In Irish history Nessa was the mother of Conor Mac Nessa, king of Ulster. |
| Niamh | neev | Neve | The name means ‘radiance or brilliance’. |
| Nollaig | null-ig | Noelle | The Irish word for Christmas. |
| Nora | A very Irish name but of uncertain origin. Noirín (Noreen) is the diminutive of the same name. | ||
| Oonagh Oona | oooh-nah | Una | Probably an Irish version of the Latin word for ‘one’, though it may come from the Irish word ‘uan’ meaning ‘lamb’. According to legend Oonagh was the Queen of the Fairies. |
| Orlaith, Orlagh | or-la | Orla | Or means gold and the name is taken to mean Golden Princess. |
| Rian Rhionnan | ree-an ree-an-on | Rianne | Means little King, can be used for boys also but is usually a girls name. Also found in Wales. |
| Rionach | ria-nock | Riona | Means ‘like a queen’ or regal. |
| Róisín | roe-sheen | Rosaleen | A diminutive of Rosa, the Latin for Rose, so means ‘little rose’. Rosaleen is a variant. Dark Rosaleen was a name used for Ireland in a famous poem. |
| Sadhbh | sighve | Sive | Some say it means ‘goodness’, others that is is an Irish translation from the Latin ’sabine’ as in Sabine Women. Became more popular after a hit play called ‘Sive’ was written by Irish playwright John B. Keane. |
| Saoirse | seersha | Means ‘freedom’. The name became popular after Ireland became an independent state in the early part of the 10th century. | |
| Shannon | Name of Ireland’s largest river. Not much used as a name in Ireland, but popular in coutries such as the USA to which the Irish emigrated. | ||
| Shona | show-nah | A feminisation of John or Séan. | |
| Síne | shee-nah | Sheena | Irish feminised form of John or Séan. |
| Sinéad | shin-aid |
Origin unclear but it is a very old name. Often mistakenly said to be an Irish translation of Jane.
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| Siobhán | shiv-awn | Shivaun, Joan | Again a very old name of unclear origin but enduring popularity. May be a feminisation of John. |
| Sorcha | sork-ah | A medieval name which died out for many centuries but has become used again lately. Sometimes used as the Irish for Sarah. |
I was looking for some thing a bit more feminie than Casey. I did not see a female version of the name Casey? I did find Oonagh which seems perfect for the daughter we are about to adopt, though we are of German descent. We both have a bit of Irish in our bloodline. Miles and McGuiness. Thank you
Casey is a surname, although I know it is used as a first name in many places (not really in Ireland though). It would not have a female version. Most Irish names, first or second, don’t have male and female versions.
I think Oonagh is a really beautiful name, and although it’s not common here it has increased a little in use of late.
This is so interesting. My great-grandmother’s name was Hannorah Casey, and she came over to America from Ireland on the boat when she was 18 (by herself too). I have to tell my grandmother that i found this site, she loves everything to do with Ireland. Her name is Anna Casey Black (granddad’s surname). I can’t wait to go back to Ireland, it’s so beautiful. I just wanted to let you know that I love this site!