Naming Nationalities #2: Irish Names

In honour of St. Patrick's Day, I decided to do another "Naming Nationalities" post, this time about, of course, Irish names. 

Aoife
Pronunciation: "ee-fa"
In Irish mythology, Aoife, also spelt as Aífe, was a warrior princess, who was the second wife of King Lir. The name Aoife has a charming meaning of "beauty". In it's native Ireland, Aoife ranked at #6 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in England and Wales, it was at #192 in the popularity charts. 

Meave
With associations to Queen Mab, an Irish legendary fairy queen, Maeve has a meaning of "she who intoxicates" and can also be spelt as Méabh. In France, the alternative Maeva has always been popular. In it's native Ireland, Maeve ranked at #100 on the popularity charts in 2010. 

Caoimhe
Pronunciation: "kee-va"
Spelt as Kiva in the English language, Caoimhe has a gorgeous meaning of "beautiful", though it has also been suggested that it also means "precious" and "gentle". In it's native Ireland, Caoimhe ranked at #19 on the popularity charts in 2013, whereas in England and Wales, it ranked at #639 on the popularity charts in 2013.

Orla
The Anglicised variant of the more Irish Órlaith, the meaning of Orla is connective: the "ór" part of Órlaith has a meaning of "gold", whilst "laith" has a meaning of "prince; princess; sovereign". It is considered that together, Orla has a meaning of "golden sovereign". In it's native Ireland, Orla ranked at #82 on the popularity charts in 2012, whereas in England and Wales, Orla ranked at #132 in 2013.

Saoirse
Pronunciation: "sear-sha"
With a meaning of "freedom; liberty", Saoirse was popular in Ireland at the time of it's independence in the 1920s. In it's native Ireland, it ranked at #22 in the popularity charts in 2013.

Niamh
Niamh has a long usage in Ireland, and has a beautiful meaning of "bright". In it's neighbouring England, it can also be spelt as Neve. In it's native Ireland, Niamh ranked at #20 in the popularity charts in 2014, whereas in England and Wales, it ranked at #90 in the popularity charts in 2013.

Ailbhe
Pronunciation: Like the name Alva
Ailbhe is the Irish spelling of Alva, which is also a Swedish and Norwegian name, and has a long usage in the two countries. Ailbhe has a meaning of "white". In it's native Ireland, Ailbhe ranked at #93 in the popularity charts in 2013.

Ruaidrí (Rory)

The Irish spelling of Rory has a meaning of "red king", and also has its usage in Scottish Gaelic, making it a Goidelic name (a combination of both Irish and Scottish Gaelic). In it's native Ireland, Ruaidrí or Rory ranked at #65 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in it's neighbouring England and Wales, it ranked at #96 in 2013. In Scotland, it had a much higher ranking of #27 in 2014.

Cormac

It has been suggested that Cormac is derived from corb and mac, which have a meaning of "raven; wheel" and "son" respectively. The name of an ancient Irish King, Cormac ranked at #68 on the popularity charts in it's native Ireland in 2013.

Oisin

Pronunciation: "osh-een"

Oisin has a charming meaning of "little deer", and is spelt as Oisín in Ireland.  Oisín was a legendary warrior hero and poet. In it's native Ireland, Oisin ranked at #14 on the popularity charts in 2013.

Ciaran (Kieran)

Spelt as Ciarán in Irish Gaelic, Ciaran has a meaning of "black", as it is a diminutive of Ciar. Ciarán was the name of two Irish saints, and in it's native Ireland, had a ranking of #74 on the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in England and Wales, it had a ranking of #489 in 2013.

Tadhg

Pronunciation: "tieg" ("tiger" without the 'R' sound)

Tadhg has been getting more recognition in the United Kingdom in more recent years. It has a meaning of "poet", and in 2013, ranked at #51 on it's native Irish popularity charts.

Niall

The name of 1/5 of One Direction, Niall has a meaning of "champion; cloud" as the original Irish form of Neil. In it's native Ireland, it had a ranking of #88 in 2013, whereas in England and Wales, it had a ranking of #280 in 2013.

Weekly Sightings #3

I haven't done a "weekly sightings" post for a while, and since I've heard a few names lately, I thought I'd post one. 

Ysabel
Ysabel was about 12 or 13 years old. An unusual alternative to the popular Isabel (Isabelle, Isobel), her name is of Spanish origins and is the Old Spanish name of Isabella I of Castile, the mother of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII of England. Ysabel has a meaning of "God is my oath". Ysabel has had a long usage in it's native Spain, though is very unusual in the United Kingdom and the United States, where Isabel is much more common. 

Giacomo
Giacomo was a little boy of about 4 or 5 years old. Giacomo is the Italian correspondence of James and Jacob. It has a meaning of "God has protected", and is well known in it's native Italy, though is rare in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Frederic
Frederic was a little boy who was around the same age as Giacomo. Frederic is the French spelling of Frederick, which has a meaning of "peaceful ruler". In the United States, Frederick ranked at #492 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United Kingdom, Frederick's diminutive, Freddie, ranked at #35, though Frederick itself ranked at #82. 

Theo
Theo was a little boy of about the same age as Frederic and Giacomo. Theo is a short form of Theodore, which has a meaning of "God's gift". In the United States, Theo ranked at #666 on the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United Kingdom, it ranked at #44 as of 2012. 

Francesca
The little sister of Theo, Francesca was about 2 or 3 years old. Francesca is derived from the masculine Franciscus, meaning "the Frenchman", and is of Italian origins, though is also common internationally. In the United States, Francesca ranked at #424 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United Kingdom, it ranked at #90 in 2012.

Hugo
Hugo was a little boy who was about about 5 or 6 years old. Hugo is the Latin form of Hugh, and has a meaning of "bright in mind and spirit". In the United States, it ranked at #438 in the popularity charts in 2013, whilst in the United Kingdom, it ranked at #88 in 2012.

Oliver
Oliver was a little boy who was about 9 or 10 years old. Oliver is of Norman French origins, though it has also been suggested that it is of Germanic and Latin origins, or of Old Norse origins, where it is derived from Olaf. The name of Oliver Cromwell, England's first Lord Protector, had a ranking of #52 in the United States as of 2013, whilst in the United Kingdom, it had a ranking of #2 in 2014.

Alice
Alice was a little girl who was about 7 or 8 years old. My own name, Alice has a meaning of "nobility", and is of French origins. In the United States, Alice ranked at #127 on the popularity charts, whilst in the United Kingdom, it had a ranking of #20 in 2014.