Pronunciation
Lee-sha / Lee-shu
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Associated with Luighseach and the Lugh name family; also connected with County Laois
Fun fact
For an Irish music connection, there’s Laoise Kelly, the harper from Westport in County Mayo. She has won three All-Ireland harp competitions and performed around the world.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Laoise, 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 | 38 | #124 |
| 2024 | 48 | #98 |
| 2023 | 36 | #130 |
| 2022 | 45 | #116 |
| 2021 | 57 | #96 |
| 2020 | 46 | #111 |
| 2019 | 41 | #131 |
| 2018 | 40 | #138 |
| 2017 | 45 | #128 |
| 2016 | 37 | #150 |
| 2015 | 58 | #106 |
| 2014 | 52 | #115 |
| 2013 | 67 | #98 |
| 2012 | 66 | #97 |
| 2011 | 61 | #106 |
| 2010 | 46 | #134 |
| 2009 | 40 | #156 |
| 2008 | 56 | #116 |
| 2007 | 44 | #135 |
| 2006 | 51 | #112 |
| 2005 | 42 | #119 |
| 2004 | 45 | #113 |
| 2003 | 52 | #99 |
| 2002 | 50 | #100 |
| 2001 | 37 | #120 |
| 2000 | 43 | #101 |
| 1999 | 36 | #110 |
| 1998 | 22 | #159 |
| 1997 | 36 | #137 |
| 1996 | 27 | #174 |
| 1995 | 17 | #224 |
| 1994 | 13 | #255 |
| 1993 | 15 | #242 |
| 1992 | 8 | #338 |
| 1991 | 4 | #457 |
| 1990 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1989 | 3 | #503 |
| 1988 | 5 | #407 |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | 3 | #521 |
| 1985 | 5 | #421 |
| 1984 | 5 | #414 |
| 1983 | 6 | #401 |
| 1982 | 4 | #467 |
| 1981 | 5 | #423 |
| 1980 | 4 | #483 |
| 1979 | 6 | #391 |
| 1978 | 4 | #469 |
| 1977 | 4 | #468 |
| 1976 | 5 | #392 |
| 1975 | 3 | #503 |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | 3 | #466 |
| 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.