Pronunciation
Nye-al / Nie-al
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Often associated with a hero or champion; cloud and passion are other suggested roots
Fun fact
Niall of the Nine Hostages is one of the best-known legendary Irish kings. The stories explain his nickname through hostages taken from different kingdoms. But Nine Hostages isn't the meaning of Niall, it's a title associated with that particular king.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Niall, 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 | 19 | #244 |
| 2024 | 29 | #174 |
| 2023 | 21 | #219 |
| 2022 | 25 | #205 |
| 2021 | 38 | #151 |
| 2020 | 40 | #144 |
| 2019 | 32 | #174 |
| 2018 | 37 | #159 |
| 2017 | 46 | #134 |
| 2016 | 53 | #125 |
| 2015 | 69 | #104 |
| 2014 | 85 | #91 |
| 2013 | 87 | #88 |
| 2012 | 86 | #93 |
| 2011 | 91 | #86 |
| 2010 | 84 | #91 |
| 2009 | 113 | #69 |
| 2008 | 98 | #83 |
| 2007 | 99 | #76 |
| 2006 | 126 | #60 |
| 2005 | 147 | #53 |
| 2004 | 152 | #50 |
| 2003 | 128 | #54 |
| 2002 | 175 | #40 |
| 2001 | 179 | #41 |
| 2000 | 199 | #38 |
| 1999 | 197 | #36 |
| 1998 | 174 | #37 |
| 1997 | 254 | #35 |
| 1996 | 257 | #33 |
| 1995 | 290 | #28 |
| 1994 | 303 | #24 |
| 1993 | 342 | #19 |
| 1992 | 325 | #21 |
| 1991 | 440 | #16 |
| 1990 | 369 | #21 |
| 1989 | 310 | #26 |
| 1988 | 350 | #21 |
| 1987 | 327 | #30 |
| 1986 | 362 | #26 |
| 1985 | 346 | #26 |
| 1984 | 327 | #31 |
| 1983 | 379 | #27 |
| 1982 | 403 | #25 |
| 1981 | 410 | #24 |
| 1980 | 393 | #24 |
| 1979 | 373 | #25 |
| 1978 | 362 | #25 |
| 1977 | 370 | #23 |
| 1976 | 359 | #25 |
| 1975 | 368 | #26 |
| 1974 | 350 | #24 |
| 1973 | 319 | #28 |
| 1972 | 331 | #24 |
| 1971 | 265 | #35 |
| 1970 | 277 | #28 |
| 1969 | 252 | #32 |
| 1968 | 225 | #35 |
| 1967 | 184 | #40 |
| 1966 | 176 | #40 |
| 1965 | 184 | #39 |
| 1964 | 142 | #47 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.