Niamh
Approximation: NEEV
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Irish names and pronunciation
Free everyday learning for people living in Ireland. Independent of ISD and the Irish Government. Practice content, not an official citizenship test, syllabus or language qualification.
The síneadh fada is the accent over a vowel. It marks a long vowel and can change pronunciation and meaning. It is part of the spelling, not decoration.
On many phones, hold the vowel and choose the accented letter. Keyboard layouts vary; use your device’s character picker or copy the letter from a trusted spelling.
English approximations are editorial drafts, not phonetic transcriptions. Native-speaker review pending. Ask the person how they say their name.
Siobhán
Approximation: shih-VAWN
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Aoife
Approximation: EE-fa
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Seán
Approximation: SHAWN
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Saoirse
Approximation: SEER-sha / SUR-sha
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Caoimhe
Approximation: KWEE-va / KEE-va
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Tadhg
Approximation: TYG (rhymes with tiger without the final er)
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Oisín
Approximation: uh-SHEEN / oh-SHEEN
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Eoin
Approximation: OH-in
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Eoghan
Approximation: OH-in
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Cian
Approximation: KEE-an
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Cillian
Approximation: KIL-ee-an
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Róisín
Approximation: roh-SHEEN
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Sinéad
Approximation: shih-NAYD
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Áine
Approximation: AWN-ya
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Aisling
Approximation: ASH-ling
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Sadhbh
Approximation: SYVE (rhymes with five)
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Gráinne
Approximation: GRAWN-ya
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Éabha
Approximation: AY-va
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Fiadh
Approximation: FEE-a
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Orla
Approximation: OR-la
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Órlaith
Approximation: OR-la
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Méabh
Approximation: MAYV
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Maeve
Approximation: MAYV
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Clodagh
Approximation: CLO-da
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Ciara
Approximation: KEER-a
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Deirdre
Approximation: DEER-dra
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Eimear
Approximation: EE-mer
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Nuala
Approximation: NOO-la
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Fionnuala
Approximation: fin-NOO-la
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Úna
Approximation: OO-na
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Máire
Approximation: MAW-ra / MOY-ra
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Mairéad
Approximation: ma-RAYD
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Bríd
Approximation: BREED / BREEJ
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Síle
Approximation: SHEE-la
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Sorcha
Approximation: SOR-kha / SUR-a-kha
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Darragh
Approximation: DA-ra
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Dáire
Approximation: DA-ra
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Cathal
Approximation: KA-hal
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Cormac
Approximation: KOR-mak
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Conor
Approximation: KON-er
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Fionn
Approximation: FYUN / FIN
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Rónán
Approximation: ROH-nawn
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Ruairí
Approximation: ROO-ree
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Séamus
Approximation: SHAY-mus
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Pádraig
Approximation: PAW-drig / PAW-rik
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Dónal
Approximation: DOH-nal
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Diarmuid
Approximation: DEER-mid
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Fergal
Approximation: FER-gal
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Aodhán
Approximation: AY-dawn
English spelling is only a listening aid. Dialect and personal preferences vary; ask the person how they say their name.
Reference check: 6 October 2026. Editorial review pending.