Find out how popular the first name Ireland has been for the last 31 years (from 1993 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Ireland by gender

Based on the last 31 years of data, Ireland is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 98% of people named Ireland being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 100 female babies and 5 male babies born with the name Ireland.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 5 baby boys were named Ireland in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

The history of the first name Ireland

The given name Ireland is of English origin, with its roots tracing back to the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English word "Īraland," which means "land of the Irish." This term was used to refer to the island of Ireland, which was inhabited by the Gaelic people known as the Irish.

In the 9th century, the Vikings, who had established settlements in parts of Ireland, referred to the island as "Īraland" in their old Norse language. This Viking influence on the name's spelling and pronunciation is evident in its modern form, "Ireland."

The earliest recorded use of the name Ireland as a personal name dates back to the 13th century. One of the earliest known individuals to bear this name was Ireland de Courcy, a Norman knight who lived in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. He was a prominent figure during the Norman invasion of Ireland and played a significant role in the conquest of Ulster.

Another notable historical figure with the name Ireland was Ireland Blackburne (1691-1786), an English merchant and philanthropist. He was known for his charitable works and established several schools and almshouses in his hometown of Warrington, England.

In the 18th century, Ireland Wilkinson (1728-1799) was a prominent English Methodist preacher and author. He played a significant role in the spread of Methodism throughout England and wrote several influential works on religious topics.

During the 19th century, Ireland Reginal Mulholland (1832-1885) was an Irish-American journalist and author. He was a prolific writer and contributed to numerous publications, including the New York Herald and the Irish-American newspaper, The Nation.

In more recent times, Ireland Baldwin (born 1995) is an American model and actress, best known for her work in the fashion industry and her role in the film "Grudge Match." She is the daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.

While the name Ireland has its roots in the medieval period and was initially associated with the island of Ireland, it has since been adopted as a personal name in various parts of the English-speaking world, particularly in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Ireland was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Ireland, please contact us.

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