Pronunciation
Nass-a / Ness-a
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Traditionally interpreted as not gentle
Related forms: Nessa (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Nessa; Ness
Fun fact
Neasa is the mother of Conchobhar mac Neasa, the king of Ulster in Irish legend. In one explanation, she began as the gentle Assa and became Ní-assa, not gentle, after a violent change in her life. That's where the familiar Nessa story comes from.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Neasa, 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 | 8 | #443 |
| 2024 | 4 | #736 |
| 2023 | 7 | #495 |
| 2022 | 20 | #222 |
| 2021 | 17 | #258 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 8 | #457 |
| 2018 | 16 | #280 |
| 2017 | 21 | #233 |
| 2016 | 19 | #247 |
| 2015 | 21 | #244 |
| 2014 | 21 | #242 |
| 2013 | 23 | #232 |
| 2012 | 22 | #237 |
| 2011 | 22 | #240 |
| 2010 | 16 | #319 |
| 2009 | 9 | #467 |
| 2008 | 8 | #501 |
| 2007 | 17 | #267 |
| 2006 | 5 | #550 |
| 2005 | 12 | #300 |
| 2004 | 7 | #414 |
| 2003 | 7 | #403 |
| 2002 | 5 | #443 |
| 2001 | 11 | #278 |
| 2000 | 6 | #378 |
| 1999 | 8 | #294 |
| 1998 | 11 | #241 |
| 1997 | 7 | #363 |
| 1996 | 6 | #393 |
| 1995 | 10 | #296 |
| 1994 | 10 | #297 |
| 1993 | 7 | #356 |
| 1992 | 13 | #269 |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | 11 | #281 |
| 1989 | 7 | #353 |
| 1988 | 13 | #270 |
| 1987 | 8 | #348 |
| 1986 | 10 | #305 |
| 1985 | 8 | #348 |
| 1984 | 15 | #252 |
| 1983 | 9 | #331 |
| 1982 | 13 | #286 |
| 1981 | 12 | #299 |
| 1980 | 8 | #352 |
| 1979 | 15 | #273 |
| 1978 | 10 | #315 |
| 1977 | 12 | #283 |
| 1976 | 11 | #284 |
| 1975 | 16 | #238 |
| 1974 | 11 | #285 |
| 1973 | 15 | #254 |
| 1972 | 6 | #352 |
| 1971 | 7 | #326 |
| 1970 | 4 | #396 |
| 1969 | 8 | #288 |
| 1968 | 3 | #401 |
| 1967 | 4 | #354 |
| 1966 | 3 | #380 |
| 1965 | 4 | #325 |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.
