Pronunciation
Tur-lock / Tur-lokh
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Instigator, one who prompts or furthers
Related forms: Toirdhealbhach (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Toirdhealbhach; Toirdealbhach; Tairdelbach; Terence
Fun fact
Turlough is an anglicised spelling of Toirdhealbhach. This is one of those names that has a LOT of different pronunciations, and probably even more than the four I've given! Pronunciations depend on dialect. A well-known Toirdhealbhach was the Irish harper and composer Turlough O'Carolan. Turlough is an anglicised form of the name, and his music is still played today.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Turlough, 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 | 3 | #829 |
| 2024 | 5 | #582 |
| 2023 | 5 | #584 |
| 2022 | 5 | #572 |
| 2021 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2020 | 3 | #741 |
| 2019 | 6 | #506 |
| 2018 | 5 | #572 |
| 2017 | 6 | #495 |
| 2016 | 4 | #601 |
| 2015 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2014 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2013 | 4 | #605 |
| 2012 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2011 | 6 | #490 |
| 2010 | 11 | #354 |
| 2009 | 4 | #604 |
| 2008 | 7 | #444 |
| 2007 | 9 | #342 |
| 2006 | 3 | #596 |
| 2005 | 6 | #370 |
| 2004 | 5 | #390 |
| 2003 | 3 | #500 |
| 2002 | 4 | #393 |
| 2001 | 3 | #409 |
| 2000 | 3 | #390 |
| 1999 | 4 | #330 |
| 1998 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1997 | 3 | #382 |
| 1996 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1995 | 3 | #334 |
| 1994 | 3 | #342 |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1991 | 4 | #288 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1989 | 3 | #307 |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 |
| 1982 | 3 | #330 |
| 1981 | 5 | #260 |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | 5 | #269 |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | 5 | #273 |
| 1976 | 5 | #258 |
| 1975 | 5 | #265 |
| 1974 | 5 | #272 |
| 1973 | 6 | #254 |
| 1972 | 8 | #219 |
| 1971 | 7 | #233 |
| 1970 | 5 | #251 |
| 1969 | 8 | #206 |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | 4 | #229 |
| 1965 | 4 | #222 |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.