Pronunciation
Fel-im / Fay-lim
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Traditionally interpreted as steadfast or ever good
Related forms: Feidhlimidh (full form), Feilim (irish spelling).
Alternate spellings
Feilim; Feidhlimidh; Phelim
Fun fact
Feidhlim is a shorter form of Feidhlimidh, an old Irish name used by saints and ruling families. Phelim is an Anglicised spelling. So you can have quite a short, easy sound behind a spelling that might look tricky at first.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Feidhlim, 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 | 7 | #468 |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | 6 | #516 |
| 2022 | 9 | #407 |
| 2021 | 8 | #414 |
| 2020 | 9 | #402 |
| 2019 | 5 | #564 |
| 2018 | 6 | #520 |
| 2017 | 4 | #610 |
| 2016 | 17 | #272 |
| 2015 | 7 | #459 |
| 2014 | 4 | #609 |
| 2013 | 12 | #338 |
| 2012 | 7 | #457 |
| 2011 | 11 | #366 |
| 2010 | 11 | #354 |
| 2009 | 11 | #337 |
| 2008 | 9 | #386 |
| 2007 | 9 | #342 |
| 2006 | 9 | #314 |
| 2005 | 3 | #518 |
| 2004 | 3 | #506 |
| 2003 | 3 | #500 |
| 2002 | 5 | #348 |
| 2001 | 3 | #409 |
| 2000 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1999 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1998 | 3 | #369 |
| 1997 | 3 | #382 |
| 1996 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1991 | 5 | #263 |
| 1990 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | 3 | #319 |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | 3 | #317 |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1983 | 3 | #330 |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | 3 | #307 |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.
