Pronunciation
Neev / Nee-iv
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Radiance, brightness
Alternate spellings
Neve
Fun fact
Niamh is best known from the story of Tír na nÓg, the Land of Youth. She takes Oisín across the sea, where nobody ages. When he returns to Ireland, 300 years have passed and everyone he knew is gone. Niamh warns him not to get off his horse, but he does, and immediately becomes an old man. It's one of the best-known Irish legends.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Niamh, 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 | 54 | #90 |
| 2024 | 51 | #94 |
| 2023 | 75 | #73 |
| 2022 | 70 | #78 |
| 2021 | 82 | #72 |
| 2020 | 61 | #86 |
| 2019 | 106 | #54 |
| 2018 | 104 | #59 |
| 2017 | 132 | #47 |
| 2016 | 157 | #41 |
| 2015 | 143 | #42 |
| 2014 | 169 | #34 |
| 2013 | 204 | #32 |
| 2012 | 185 | #37 |
| 2011 | 249 | #30 |
| 2010 | 292 | #25 |
| 2009 | 314 | #24 |
| 2008 | 344 | #18 |
| 2007 | 340 | #18 |
| 2006 | 350 | #18 |
| 2005 | 375 | #13 |
| 2004 | 421 | #10 |
| 2003 | 370 | #11 |
| 2002 | 407 | #8 |
| 2001 | 477 | #6 |
| 2000 | 519 | #6 |
| 1999 | 571 | #5 |
| 1998 | 492 | #6 |
| 1997 | 622 | #5 |
| 1996 | 612 | #3 |
| 1995 | 645 | #2 |
| 1994 | 672 | #2 |
| 1993 | 719 | #2 |
| 1992 | 545 | #6 |
| 1991 | 550 | #6 |
| 1990 | 533 | #6 |
| 1989 | 499 | #6 |
| 1988 | 514 | #6 |
| 1987 | 443 | #11 |
| 1986 | 494 | #9 |
| 1985 | 468 | #11 |
| 1984 | 444 | #12 |
| 1983 | 426 | #14 |
| 1982 | 481 | #13 |
| 1981 | 501 | #11 |
| 1980 | 492 | #14 |
| 1979 | 469 | #12 |
| 1978 | 431 | #14 |
| 1977 | 390 | #14 |
| 1976 | 390 | #16 |
| 1975 | 327 | #23 |
| 1974 | 355 | #21 |
| 1973 | 313 | #26 |
| 1972 | 278 | #28 |
| 1971 | 238 | #32 |
| 1970 | 215 | #33 |
| 1969 | 188 | #43 |
| 1968 | 157 | #50 |
| 1967 | 129 | #56 |
| 1966 | 129 | #56 |
| 1965 | 73 | #89 |
| 1964 | 53 | #109 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.