Pronunciation
Graw-nya
Meaning
Often linked with grain; the name’s original derivation is debated
Alternate spellings
Grainne
Fun fact
Gráinne was meant to marry Fionn mac Cumhaill, but fell in love with his warrior Diarmuid instead. They ran away together. In the story, they're advised never to sleep in the same place twice, and old stone monuments around Ireland became known as Diarmuid and Gráinne's beds. So there are places all over Ireland connected with their story.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Gráinne, 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 | 28 | #166 |
| 2024 | 16 | #259 |
| 2023 | 12 | #316 |
| 2022 | 19 | #232 |
| 2021 | 26 | #184 |
| 2020 | 24 | #194 |
| 2019 | 19 | #247 |
| 2018 | 12 | #361 |
| 2017 | 21 | #233 |
| 2016 | 18 | #254 |
| 2015 | 32 | #177 |
| 2014 | 22 | #229 |
| 2013 | 36 | #165 |
| 2012 | 31 | #184 |
| 2011 | 42 | #145 |
| 2010 | 39 | #160 |
| 2009 | 45 | #139 |
| 2008 | 75 | #88 |
| 2007 | 59 | #102 |
| 2006 | 70 | #86 |
| 2005 | 58 | #101 |
| 2004 | 102 | #57 |
| 2003 | 74 | #68 |
| 2002 | 74 | #71 |
| 2001 | 77 | #66 |
| 2000 | 85 | #52 |
| 1999 | 94 | #49 |
| 1998 | 70 | #56 |
| 1997 | 114 | #53 |
| 1996 | 81 | #65 |
| 1995 | 85 | #63 |
| 1994 | 105 | #52 |
| 1993 | 108 | #54 |
| 1992 | 113 | #53 |
| 1991 | 121 | #52 |
| 1990 | 113 | #55 |
| 1989 | 156 | #37 |
| 1988 | 143 | #49 |
| 1987 | 128 | #62 |
| 1986 | 118 | #72 |
| 1985 | 116 | #67 |
| 1984 | 122 | #69 |
| 1983 | 163 | #56 |
| 1982 | 202 | #45 |
| 1981 | 176 | #54 |
| 1980 | 195 | #50 |
| 1979 | 163 | #56 |
| 1978 | 167 | #55 |
| 1977 | 161 | #56 |
| 1976 | 158 | #57 |
| 1975 | 144 | #61 |
| 1974 | 141 | #65 |
| 1973 | 150 | #60 |
| 1972 | 152 | #53 |
| 1971 | 121 | #74 |
| 1970 | 127 | #66 |
| 1969 | 120 | #61 |
| 1968 | 123 | #60 |
| 1967 | 122 | #58 |
| 1966 | 121 | #57 |
| 1965 | 133 | #52 |
| 1964 | 99 | #62 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.