Pronunciation
Nee-sha
Meaning
An ancient Irish name borne by Deirdre’s lover. Its literal meaning is not firmly established
Alternate spellings
Naisi; Noíse; Noisiu
Fun fact
Naoise was a hunter, singer and warrior in Irish legend. He's part of the story of Deirdre and the sons of Uisneach. It was traditionally a male name, but these days you'll hear it used for girls too.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Naoise, 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 | 65 | #88 |
| 2024 | 31 | #162 |
| 2023 | 36 | #150 |
| 2022 | 25 | #205 |
| 2021 | 26 | #201 |
| 2020 | 27 | #183 |
| 2019 | 20 | #237 |
| 2018 | 27 | #205 |
| 2017 | 21 | #244 |
| 2016 | 21 | #237 |
| 2015 | 13 | #329 |
| 2014 | 10 | #382 |
| 2013 | 22 | #245 |
| 2012 | 18 | #267 |
| 2011 | 20 | #256 |
| 2010 | 14 | #301 |
| 2009 | 15 | #292 |
| 2008 | 16 | #275 |
| 2007 | 16 | #247 |
| 2006 | 13 | #257 |
| 2005 | 13 | #239 |
| 2004 | 11 | #244 |
| 2003 | 14 | #207 |
| 2002 | 8 | #267 |
| 2001 | 6 | #297 |
| 2000 | 7 | #250 |
| 1999 | 7 | #241 |
| 1998 | 8 | #222 |
| 1997 | 5 | #303 |
| 1996 | 11 | #208 |
| 1995 | 7 | #241 |
| 1994 | 5 | #263 |
| 1993 | 5 | #275 |
| 1992 | 8 | #222 |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | 4 | #271 |
| 1987 | 5 | #249 |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | 3 | #304 |
| 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 | 3 | #333 |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | 3 | #320 |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | 4 | #278 |
| 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.