Pronunciation
Moy-ra
Meaning
Irish form of Mary. Star of the sea is a traditional devotional association, rather than a settled literal translation
Fun fact
Máire is an Irish form of Mary. I feel like a lot of people already know this one, and I think we all know a Máire in Ireland! It's usually pronounced Moy-ra.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Máire, 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 | 4 | #718 |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2022 | 5 | #634 |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | 3 | #834 |
| 2019 | 6 | #551 |
| 2018 | 4 | #734 |
| 2017 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2016 | 3 | #868 |
| 2015 | 9 | #462 |
| 2014 | 6 | #584 |
| 2013 | 3 | #894 |
| 2012 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2011 | 9 | #465 |
| 2010 | 8 | #510 |
| 2009 | 5 | #641 |
| 2008 | 10 | #430 |
| 2007 | 8 | #468 |
| 2006 | 8 | #431 |
| 2005 | 10 | #347 |
| 2004 | 8 | #370 |
| 2003 | 8 | #362 |
| 2002 | 4 | #512 |
| 2001 | 13 | #254 |
| 2000 | 8 | #324 |
| 1999 | 15 | #220 |
| 1998 | 4 | #425 |
| 1997 | 9 | #326 |
| 1996 | 17 | #227 |
| 1995 | 16 | #232 |
| 1994 | 12 | #268 |
| 1993 | 16 | #234 |
| 1992 | 28 | #168 |
| 1991 | 19 | #207 |
| 1990 | 31 | #157 |
| 1989 | 22 | #192 |
| 1988 | 38 | #147 |
| 1987 | 41 | #138 |
| 1986 | 29 | #175 |
| 1985 | 28 | #187 |
| 1984 | 32 | #179 |
| 1983 | 46 | #147 |
| 1982 | 32 | #176 |
| 1981 | 41 | #162 |
| 1980 | 47 | #152 |
| 1979 | 50 | #145 |
| 1978 | 25 | #211 |
| 1977 | 34 | #171 |
| 1976 | 30 | #188 |
| 1975 | 25 | #199 |
| 1974 | 23 | #210 |
| 1973 | 31 | #184 |
| 1972 | 26 | #193 |
| 1971 | 36 | #165 |
| 1970 | 26 | #180 |
| 1969 | 34 | #162 |
| 1968 | 33 | #155 |
| 1967 | 34 | #148 |
| 1966 | 31 | #151 |
| 1965 | 42 | #127 |
| 1964 | 48 | #113 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.