Pronunciation
Or-la
Meaning
Golden princess
Related forms: Órlaith (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Órlaith; Orlaith; Orfhlaith; Orlagh
Fun fact
Orla is an anglicised spelling of Órlaith. Órlaith was a name used in medieval Ireland, then had a revival in the late twentieth century. Orla is a simpler anglicised spelling, and I think it's a great option if you want people to know how to pronounce it straight away. Ór is the Irish word for gold, and flaith means ruler or sovereign, often interpreted as princess in this name. So Órlaith means golden princess.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Orla, 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 | 23 | #189 |
| 2024 | 19 | #223 |
| 2023 | 26 | #179 |
| 2022 | 15 | #284 |
| 2021 | 19 | #242 |
| 2020 | 30 | #160 |
| 2019 | 24 | #201 |
| 2018 | 31 | #169 |
| 2017 | 37 | #152 |
| 2016 | 60 | #95 |
| 2015 | 57 | #109 |
| 2014 | 51 | #117 |
| 2013 | 52 | #116 |
| 2012 | 80 | #82 |
| 2011 | 92 | #74 |
| 2010 | 81 | #83 |
| 2009 | 112 | #67 |
| 2008 | 98 | #72 |
| 2007 | 118 | #59 |
| 2006 | 124 | #52 |
| 2005 | 115 | #53 |
| 2004 | 116 | #52 |
| 2003 | 113 | #53 |
| 2002 | 141 | #40 |
| 2001 | 149 | #38 |
| 2000 | 167 | #34 |
| 1999 | 144 | #36 |
| 1998 | 138 | #31 |
| 1997 | 172 | #36 |
| 1996 | 171 | #36 |
| 1995 | 181 | #32 |
| 1994 | 193 | #25 |
| 1993 | 172 | #33 |
| 1992 | 237 | #22 |
| 1991 | 230 | #24 |
| 1990 | 207 | #24 |
| 1989 | 197 | #27 |
| 1988 | 194 | #30 |
| 1987 | 241 | #26 |
| 1986 | 238 | #25 |
| 1985 | 262 | #27 |
| 1984 | 236 | #34 |
| 1983 | 226 | #37 |
| 1982 | 298 | #29 |
| 1981 | 261 | #36 |
| 1980 | 361 | #22 |
| 1979 | 313 | #30 |
| 1978 | 305 | #29 |
| 1977 | 279 | #33 |
| 1976 | 250 | #35 |
| 1975 | 247 | #33 |
| 1974 | 226 | #38 |
| 1973 | 223 | #38 |
| 1972 | 256 | #32 |
| 1971 | 209 | #39 |
| 1970 | 201 | #39 |
| 1969 | 224 | #30 |
| 1968 | 164 | #46 |
| 1967 | 186 | #38 |
| 1966 | 171 | #39 |
| 1965 | 186 | #39 |
| 1964 | 120 | #52 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.