Pronunciation
Neev / Nee-iv
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Radiance, brightness
Alternate spellings
Neve
Fun fact
Niamh takes Oisín across the sea to Tír na nÓg, the Land of Youth. When he returns to Ireland, he discovers that 300 years have passed, a magical journey behind a radiant name.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Niamh, 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 | 54 | #90 |
| 2024 | 51 | #94 |
| 2023 | 75 | #73 |
| 2022 | 70 | #78 |
| 2021 | 82 | #72 |
| 2020 | 61 | #86 |
| 2019 | 106 | #54 |
| 2018 | 104 | #59 |
| 2017 | 132 | #47 |
| 2016 | 157 | #41 |
| 2015 | 143 | #42 |
| 2014 | 169 | #34 |
| 2013 | 204 | #32 |
| 2012 | 185 | #37 |
| 2011 | 249 | #30 |
| 2010 | 292 | #25 |
| 2009 | 314 | #24 |
| 2008 | 344 | #18 |
| 2007 | 340 | #18 |
| 2006 | 350 | #18 |
| 2005 | 375 | #13 |
| 2004 | 421 | #10 |
| 2003 | 370 | #11 |
| 2002 | 407 | #8 |
| 2001 | 477 | #6 |
| 2000 | 519 | #6 |
| 1999 | 571 | #5 |
| 1998 | 492 | #6 |
| 1997 | 622 | #5 |
| 1996 | 612 | #3 |
| 1995 | 645 | #2 |
| 1994 | 672 | #2 |
| 1993 | 719 | #2 |
| 1992 | 545 | #6 |
| 1991 | 550 | #6 |
| 1990 | 533 | #6 |
| 1989 | 499 | #6 |
| 1988 | 514 | #6 |
| 1987 | 443 | #11 |
| 1986 | 494 | #9 |
| 1985 | 468 | #11 |
| 1984 | 444 | #12 |
| 1983 | 426 | #14 |
| 1982 | 481 | #13 |
| 1981 | 501 | #11 |
| 1980 | 492 | #14 |
| 1979 | 469 | #12 |
| 1978 | 431 | #14 |
| 1977 | 390 | #14 |
| 1976 | 390 | #16 |
| 1975 | 327 | #23 |
| 1974 | 355 | #21 |
| 1973 | 313 | #26 |
| 1972 | 278 | #28 |
| 1971 | 238 | #32 |
| 1970 | 215 | #33 |
| 1969 | 188 | #43 |
| 1968 | 157 | #50 |
| 1967 | 129 | #56 |
| 1966 | 129 | #56 |
| 1965 | 73 | #89 |
| 1964 | 53 | #109 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.