Bronagh
Say it: BROH-na
GirlIrishMeans usually linked to brónach, "sorrowful"7 letters2 syllables
#352
in Ireland (2025)
#241 with spellings combined
18
babies in 2025
#126
best rank (2004)
1,069
babies since 1965
Up 65
10-year rank change
Bronagh through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | #241 |
| 2024 | 19 | #227 |
| 2023 | 6 | #543 |
| 2022 | 10 | #384 |
| 2021 | 14 | #301 |
| 2020 | 11 | #355 |
| 2019 | 17 | #273 |
| 2018 | 12 | #358 |
| 2017 | 12 | #343 |
| 2016 | 11 | #392 |
| 2015 | 16 | #306 |
| 2014 | 18 | #274 |
| 2013 | 19 | #266 |
| 2012 | 28 | #199 |
| 2011 | 26 | #207 |
| 2010 | 18 | #294 |
| 2009 | 20 | #254 |
| 2008 | 35 | #170 |
| 2007 | 25 | #202 |
| 2006 | 23 | #197 |
| 2005 | 29 | #155 |
| 2004 | 39 | #126 |
| 2003 | 28 | #155 |
| 2002 | 21 | #182 |
| 2001 | 25 | #162 |
| 2000 | 22 | #172 |
| 1999 | 28 | #136 |
| 1998 | 25 | #141 |
| 1997 | 27 | #171 |
| 1996 | 23 | #192 |
| 1995 | 25 | #173 |
| 1994 | 36 | #138 |
| 1993 | 25 | #174 |
| 1992 | 24 | #185 |
| 1991 | 17 | #224 |
| 1990 | 17 | #221 |
| 1989 | 15 | #240 |
| 1988 | 11 | #290 |
| 1987 | 9 | #329 |
| 1986 | 12 | #285 |
| 1985 | 14 | #254 |
| 1984 | 17 | #236 |
| 1983 | 11 | #298 |
| 1982 | 20 | #236 |
| 1981 | 19 | #242 |
| 1980 | 17 | #258 |
| 1979 | 10 | #321 |
| 1978 | 17 | #244 |
| 1977 | 14 | #262 |
| 1976 | 15 | #252 |
| 1975 | 6 | #379 |
| 1974 | 15 | #255 |
| 1973 | 17 | #245 |
| 1972 | 10 | #285 |
| 1971 | 12 | #257 |
| 1970 | 11 | #252 |
| 1969 | 4 | #393 |
| 1968 | 7 | #287 |
| 1967 | 7 | #268 |
| 1966 | 6 | #288 |
| 1965 | 4 | #325 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Bronagh mean?
Usually linked to brónach, "sorrowful"
Irish, from Brónach, a saint's name that matches the word brónach (sad, sorrowful).
Say it right
BROHna
The "gh" at the end is silent.
Not:BRON-agBRON-a
The story of Bronagh
Bronagh is the English spelling of the Irish Brónach. It matches the Irish adjective brónach, meaning sad or sorrowful, from brón, sorrow. It is not clear why the name was first given, and it is best remembered as the name of a saint rather than for its meaning.
Saint Brónach was a 6th-century holy woman who founded a church at Kilbroney, near Rostrevor in County Down, and her feast day is 2 April. Local tradition says her bell warned sailors of storms on Carlingford Lough. Well-known bearers today include the Derry actor and singer Bronagh Gallagher.
The name has always been strongest in the north. It reached number 126 in 2004 in the Republic, but in Northern Ireland it reached number 60 in 1998. The CSO counts Bronagh and Brónagh separately: in 2025 there were 11 and 7, which together would rank it number 241, while the CSO list puts Bronagh alone at 352.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Bronagh (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: brónach (Irish adjective)
- Wikipedia: Saint Brónach
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Bronagh | 11 | 1,033 |
| Brónagh | 7 | 36 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #60 (1998); 378 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.