If you’re searching for a unique baby name like no other, look no further than this list of epic baby girl names inspired by Irish mythology.
Ireland has been shaped in many ways by its mythology. Irish mythology is deeply rooted in the land of Ireland itself, and from it has come many fascinating stories and figures.
In this article, we will talk about ten beautiful baby girl names from Irish mythology that will be sure to inspire you.
- If you’re searching for a unique baby name like no other, look no further than this list of epic baby girl names inspired by Irish mythology.
- 10. Maeve – Queen Maeve of Connacht
- 9. Morrígan – goddess of death
- 8. Brigid – goddess of spring, life, and fertility
- 7. Ériu – the goddess of Ireland
- 6. Danu – goddess of nature and fertility
- 5. Aife – a warrior queen
- 4. Gráinne – the most beautiful woman in Ireland
- 3. Áine – the goddess of love, summer, and wealth
- 2. Clíodhna – queen of the banshees
- 1. Macha – sovereignty goddess
10. Maeve – Queen Maeve of Connacht
Maeve is a beautiful Irish name that has deep roots in Irish history and mythology. Queen Maeve, also known as Medb, was believed to have reigned over the west of Ireland for 60 years, sometime between 50 BCE and 50 CE.
In Celtic mythology, Maeve is considered the goddess of fertility. While she is believed to have been a real person, there is no solid proof that Queen Maeve ever really existed.
Learn about Queen Maeve and more in this article on the top 10 Celtic Gods and Goddesses.
9. Morrígan – goddess of death
One of the most prominent figures in Irish mythology is the seductress of death, the Morrígan. The Morrígan had a powerful lust for war and death that gave her quite a reputation in Celtic mythology.
She was known as a relentless and fearsome character who was associated strongly with war and battle.
She was a symbol of death and destruction and was known for her shapeshifting qualities, most prominently as a crow. The Morrígan name means ‘great queen’ or ‘phantom queen’.
8. Brigid – goddess of spring, life, and fertility
Brigid has been a popular name in Ireland for centuries. The name comes from one of the most well-known Celtic deities in Ireland today, with St Brigid’s Day marking the beginning of spring – or Imbolc – every year at the start of February.
While everyone celebrates St Patrick’s Day every year, as of 2023, St Brigid’s Day has also been recognised as a public holiday. The name and occasion are symbolised by Brigid’s Cross, a woven cross with four arms and a patterned square in the middle.
7. Ériu – the goddess of Ireland
A list of epic baby girl names from Irish mythology wouldn’t be complete without Ireland’s namesake, Ériu.
As a representation of Ireland, Ériu is considered the personification of the Emerald Isle and everything it entails and represents. In Irish mythology, she was a queen and a goddess of sovereignty who represented the land she lived on.
6. Danu – goddess of nature and fertility
Danu is a Celtic goddess of nature and fertility. If you’re searching for a beautiful name inspired by Irish mythology, Danu is certainly one of the more unique ones that few people hold as their given name.
She represented magic, nature, wisdom, motherhood, and abundance. She was believed to be the mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann, a supernatural race in Irish mythology.
5. Aife – a warrior queen
Spelt Aoife in modern Irish, Aife is a prominent figure in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology.
Aife held a reputation as a deadly warrior queen who was the archenemy of her sister Scathnach. Scathnach trained Cú Chulainn in the arts of war, and Cú Chulainn would eventually end up going on to defeat Aife in single combat.
As the story goes, Aife would go on to be the mother of Connla, Cú Chulainn’s only son.
4. Gráinne – the most beautiful woman in Ireland
Gráinne was the daughter of High King Cormac Mac Airt in the Fianna Cycle of Irish mythology. She was considered the most beautiful woman in Ireland.
Among her many suitors, which included princes and chieftains, was Fionn MacCool. However, utterly repulsed by his age, Gráinne formed a relationship with one of his warriors, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne. The pair went on to have five children together until Diarmuid’s death.
It is believed that Fionn MacCool didn’t come to his aid when he was dying, so in some reports, Gráinne set her songs to avenge their father’s death.
3. Áine – the goddess of love, summer, and wealth
One of the most epic baby names from Irish mythology is Áine. Áine was an integral character in Celtic mythology, so much so that the name went on to become one of the most prominent in Ireland.
The goddess Áine is often associated with midsummer and the sun and has strong ties to County Limerick. As such, Cnoc Áine (The hill of Knockainey) was actually named after her.
2. Clíodhna – queen of the banshees
In Irish mythology, Clíodhna was a queen of the banshees of the Tuatha Dé Danann. She was said to be a banshee goddess who ruled over the sidheog, the fairy women of the hills in south Munster.
In other segments of Irish mythology, she was said to be the patron of County Cork and a goddess of love and beauty.
1. Macha – sovereignty goddess
One of the greatest baby girl names from Irish mythology is Macha, the goddess of sovereignty. Macha has strong ties to the province of Ulster, with sites like the Navan Fort (Eamhain Mhacha) and Armagh (Ard Mhacha) being named after her.
There are actually several Machas that appear in Irish mythology, but all of them are said to derive from one goddess. Macha is also the sister of the Morrígan.
