Pronunciation
Klee-uh-na
Meaning
The name of an Irish goddess. Its original literal meaning is not firmly established
Related forms: Clíodhna (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Clíodhna; Cliodhna
Fun fact
Clíona is another spelling of Clíodhna. Clíodhna is associated with love and beauty in Irish folklore. In one story, she leaves the Otherworld to be with her lover, but is swept away by a wave in Cork. There's also a story that she helped Cormac MacCarthy by telling him to kiss a stone for eloquence. That's the folklore connection with the Blarney Stone and the gift of the gab!
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Clíona, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #443 |
| 2024 | 8 | #441 |
| 2023 | 6 | #555 |
| 2022 | 4 | #747 |
| 2021 | 8 | #464 |
| 2020 | 3 | #834 |
| 2019 | 5 | #621 |
| 2018 | 11 | #387 |
| 2017 | 8 | #471 |
| 2016 | 13 | #335 |
| 2015 | 12 | #378 |
| 2014 | 13 | #353 |
| 2013 | 12 | #374 |
| 2012 | 16 | #317 |
| 2011 | 28 | #203 |
| 2010 | 35 | #179 |
| 2009 | 33 | #183 |
| 2008 | 18 | #281 |
| 2007 | 23 | #215 |
| 2006 | 21 | #210 |
| 2005 | 33 | #138 |
| 2004 | 24 | #174 |
| 2003 | 22 | #179 |
| 2002 | 36 | #123 |
| 2001 | 27 | #152 |
| 2000 | 28 | #143 |
| 1999 | 31 | #130 |
| 1998 | 43 | #83 |
| 1997 | 57 | #94 |
| 1996 | 58 | #92 |
| 1995 | 37 | #133 |
| 1994 | 46 | #114 |
| 1993 | 48 | #117 |
| 1992 | 40 | #135 |
| 1991 | 68 | #97 |
| 1990 | 47 | #118 |
| 1989 | 35 | #146 |
| 1988 | 26 | #177 |
| 1987 | 23 | #200 |
| 1986 | 23 | #198 |
| 1985 | 21 | #215 |
| 1984 | 35 | #168 |
| 1983 | 24 | #203 |
| 1982 | 43 | #151 |
| 1981 | 34 | #188 |
| 1980 | 48 | #150 |
| 1979 | 38 | #170 |
| 1978 | 50 | #140 |
| 1977 | 36 | #167 |
| 1976 | 46 | #153 |
| 1975 | 49 | #146 |
| 1974 | 36 | #175 |
| 1973 | 39 | #165 |
| 1972 | 34 | #169 |
| 1971 | 50 | #133 |
| 1970 | 41 | #141 |
| 1969 | 19 | #206 |
| 1968 | 27 | #170 |
| 1967 | 13 | #214 |
| 1966 | 8 | #256 |
| 1965 | 17 | #192 |
| 1964 | 10 | #226 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.