Pronunciation
Ee-mer
Meaning
Modern form of Emer, the heroine of Irish legend. Its literal meaning is not firmly established
Alternate spellings
Emer
Fun fact
Eimear is connected with Emer, the woman Cú Chulainn wooed in Irish legend. The story describes her as having six special gifts, including wisdom, a beautiful voice and skill with needlework. There’s a whole love story behind this name!
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Eimear, 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 | 21 | #207 |
| 2024 | 14 | #294 |
| 2023 | 17 | #237 |
| 2022 | 18 | #237 |
| 2021 | 27 | #177 |
| 2020 | 31 | #157 |
| 2019 | 38 | #141 |
| 2018 | 43 | #128 |
| 2017 | 57 | #105 |
| 2016 | 50 | #121 |
| 2015 | 67 | #94 |
| 2014 | 53 | #112 |
| 2013 | 52 | #116 |
| 2012 | 81 | #80 |
| 2011 | 89 | #84 |
| 2010 | 91 | #77 |
| 2009 | 102 | #73 |
| 2008 | 125 | #58 |
| 2007 | 137 | #51 |
| 2006 | 138 | #48 |
| 2005 | 148 | #44 |
| 2004 | 135 | #43 |
| 2003 | 125 | #46 |
| 2002 | 133 | #43 |
| 2001 | 146 | #40 |
| 2000 | 168 | #33 |
| 1999 | 148 | #35 |
| 1998 | 140 | #29 |
| 1997 | 197 | #30 |
| 1996 | 222 | #26 |
| 1995 | 156 | #35 |
| 1994 | 147 | #38 |
| 1993 | 150 | #40 |
| 1992 | 176 | #32 |
| 1991 | 110 | #62 |
| 1990 | 123 | #51 |
| 1989 | 134 | #50 |
| 1988 | 148 | #48 |
| 1987 | 117 | #69 |
| 1986 | 165 | #48 |
| 1985 | 148 | #51 |
| 1984 | 112 | #73 |
| 1983 | 166 | #54 |
| 1982 | 184 | #49 |
| 1981 | 136 | #65 |
| 1980 | 181 | #53 |
| 1979 | 124 | #74 |
| 1978 | 83 | #98 |
| 1977 | 87 | #96 |
| 1976 | 85 | #98 |
| 1975 | 64 | #119 |
| 1974 | 59 | #129 |
| 1973 | 45 | #151 |
| 1972 | 32 | #173 |
| 1971 | 38 | #158 |
| 1970 | 28 | #172 |
| 1969 | 26 | #181 |
| 1968 | 9 | #258 |
| 1967 | 18 | #189 |
| 1966 | 26 | #162 |
| 1965 | 16 | #194 |
| 1964 | 5 | #300 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.