Pronunciation
Der-vla
Meaning
Daughter of the poet
Related forms: Dearbhla (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Dearbhla; Dearbháil; Deirbhle
Fun fact
Dervla is an anglicised spelling of Dearbhla. Dearbhla is another Irish form of Dearbháil. This name goes back to medieval Ireland. You'll hear Dur-vull or Dar-vawl, depending on spelling and dialect. The related Dearbhla is a form you may recognise more easily, but they don't always have the same sound.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Dervla, 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 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2022 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2019 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2018 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2017 | 5 | #651 |
| 2016 | 3 | #868 |
| 2015 | 5 | #660 |
| 2014 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2013 | 6 | #587 |
| 2012 | 8 | #510 |
| 2011 | 3 | #937 |
| 2010 | 4 | #758 |
| 2009 | 4 | #742 |
| 2008 | 4 | #750 |
| 2007 | 4 | #705 |
| 2006 | 10 | #367 |
| 2005 | 6 | #461 |
| 2004 | 3 | #677 |
| 2003 | 11 | #294 |
| 2002 | 9 | #331 |
| 2001 | 14 | #238 |
| 2000 | 9 | #303 |
| 1999 | 9 | #279 |
| 1998 | 8 | #293 |
| 1997 | 10 | #304 |
| 1996 | 16 | #235 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
| 1994 | 10 | #297 |
| 1993 | 11 | #286 |
| 1992 | 5 | #417 |
| 1991 | 8 | #338 |
| 1990 | 5 | #409 |
| 1989 | 7 | #353 |
| 1988 | 8 | #344 |
| 1987 | 5 | #417 |
| 1986 | 7 | #356 |
| 1985 | 13 | #267 |
| 1984 | 9 | #320 |
| 1983 | 7 | #365 |
| 1982 | 7 | #369 |
| 1981 | 8 | #351 |
| 1980 | 7 | #370 |
| 1979 | 12 | #303 |
| 1978 | 9 | #331 |
| 1977 | 11 | #296 |
| 1976 | 6 | #360 |
| 1975 | 5 | #406 |
| 1974 | 4 | #428 |
| 1973 | 4 | #449 |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | 6 | #349 |
| 1970 | 5 | #363 |
| 1969 | 4 | #393 |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | 5 | #315 |
| 1966 | 3 | #380 |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.