Aodhla
Say it: AY-la
GirlIrish6 letters2 syllables
#141
in Ireland (2025)
32
babies in 2025
#141
best rank (2025)
127
babies since 2017
Aodhla through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 | #141 |
| 2024 | 26 | #171 |
| 2023 | 19 | #220 |
| 2022 | 17 | #257 |
| 2021 | 11 | #364 |
| 2020 | 8 | #437 |
| 2019 | 5 | #613 |
| 2018 | 3 | #872 |
| 2017 | 6 | #580 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Aodhla mean?
Uncertain
Irish, a modern name that appears to be built on Aodh (fire).
Say it right
AYla
"Aodh" is said "ay" in Munster and "ee" further north, so some say EE-la. The "dh" is silent.
Not:AWD-laOD-la
The story of Aodhla
Aodhla is a new name, and the reference books we can use have little to say about it. It looks as if it is built on Aodh, one of the oldest Irish names, which comes from the Old Irish word áed, meaning fire. That would make it a feminine companion to names such as Aodhán. We have not found a reliable source that confirms this, though, so its meaning is best treated as uncertain.
The spelling follows the same pattern as Cadhla, with a silent “dh” in the middle of the name. Because “Aodh” is said differently across Ireland, the name may be heard as AY-la in the south and EE-la in the north.
Aodhla first appears in the CSO records in 2017. It has grown every year since 2019, and in 2025 it reached its best rank so far, number 141, with 32 girls. It is still very rare in Northern Ireland.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Aodh (Irish proper noun)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Aodhla | 32 | 127 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #407 (2024); 3 babies since 2024.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.