Pronunciation
Dirr-en / Dear-in
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Fruitful, fertile (note interpretation)
Fun fact
Here’s a connection you might not expect: broadcaster Doireann Ní Bhriain presented the Eurovision Song Contest when Ireland hosted it in Dublin in 1981!
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Doireann, 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 | 26 | #171 |
| 2023 | 28 | #168 |
| 2022 | 48 | #110 |
| 2021 | 37 | #136 |
| 2020 | 45 | #115 |
| 2019 | 57 | #99 |
| 2018 | 50 | #114 |
| 2017 | 50 | #119 |
| 2016 | 46 | #128 |
| 2015 | 41 | #144 |
| 2014 | 55 | #110 |
| 2013 | 49 | #124 |
| 2012 | 54 | #114 |
| 2011 | 58 | #109 |
| 2010 | 58 | #116 |
| 2009 | 46 | #137 |
| 2008 | 45 | #136 |
| 2007 | 49 | #121 |
| 2006 | 29 | #169 |
| 2005 | 22 | #195 |
| 2004 | 19 | #207 |
| 2003 | 18 | #212 |
| 2002 | 20 | #189 |
| 2001 | 23 | #173 |
| 2000 | 16 | #213 |
| 1999 | 12 | #245 |
| 1998 | 19 | #179 |
| 1997 | 27 | #171 |
| 1996 | 22 | #197 |
| 1995 | 15 | #242 |
| 1994 | 11 | #282 |
| 1993 | 11 | #286 |
| 1992 | 13 | #269 |
| 1991 | 18 | #217 |
| 1990 | 15 | #242 |
| 1989 | 11 | #285 |
| 1988 | 21 | #200 |
| 1987 | 13 | #272 |
| 1986 | 19 | #217 |
| 1985 | 16 | #242 |
| 1984 | 14 | #267 |
| 1983 | 19 | #232 |
| 1982 | 20 | #236 |
| 1981 | 16 | #259 |
| 1980 | 9 | #337 |
| 1979 | 7 | #363 |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | 8 | #348 |
| 1976 | 6 | #360 |
| 1975 | 4 | #455 |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.