Find out how popular the first name Niamh has been for the last 44 years (from 1980 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Niamh by gender

Based on the last 44 years of data, Niamh is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 33 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Niamh.

The history of the first name Niamh

The name Niamh is an ancient Irish Gaelic name derived from the old Irish word "niam" meaning "bright" or "radiant". It is believed to have originated in the 5th or 6th century AD, during the early medieval period in Ireland.

The name Niamh is strongly associated with Irish mythology and folklore. In the ancient Irish legend "The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne", Niamh is the name of a beautiful princess who falls in love with the warrior Diarmuid. She is described as a goddess-like figure of great beauty and grace.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Niamh is found in the 8th century Irish text "The Annals of Ulster", which mentions a woman named Niamh ingen Chumascaigh who died in the year 748 AD. Another early reference is in the 12th century "Book of Leinster", which contains a poem praising the beauty of a woman named Niamh.

Throughout history, the name Niamh has been borne by several notable individuals. Niamh ingen Fhionnghuine was an Irish princess and the wife of the High King of Ireland, Bodb Derg, in the 5th century AD. Niamh Ní Bhruadair was a 17th century Irish poet and writer who composed poems in the Irish language.

In the 19th century, Niamh was the name of a character in the play "The Twisting of the Rope" by Irish playwright Douglas Hyde. Niamh Kavanagh, born in 1968, is a contemporary Irish poet and writer who has published several collections of poetry.

Niamh Cusack, born in 1959, is an Irish actress known for her roles in films such as "In the Name of the Father" and "Heartbeat". She is also the sister of actors Sinéad Cusack and Sorcha Cusack.

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 Niamh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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