Dáire
Say it: DAW-ra[ˈd̪ˠaːɾʲə]
BoyIrishMythology5 letters2 syllables
#88
in Ireland (2025)
#71 with spellings combined
84
babies in 2025
#71
best rank (2025)
2,377
babies since 1964
Up 29
10-year rank change
Dáire through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 84 | #71 |
| 2024 | 69 | #86 |
| 2023 | 76 | #85 |
| 2022 | 67 | #98 |
| 2021 | 58 | #110 |
| 2020 | 71 | #88 |
| 2019 | 65 | #105 |
| 2018 | 57 | #119 |
| 2017 | 62 | #106 |
| 2016 | 59 | #116 |
| 2015 | 71 | #100 |
| 2014 | 64 | #114 |
| 2013 | 56 | #120 |
| 2012 | 72 | #102 |
| 2011 | 66 | #112 |
| 2010 | 73 | #100 |
| 2009 | 70 | #108 |
| 2008 | 73 | #105 |
| 2007 | 52 | #123 |
| 2006 | 63 | #98 |
| 2005 | 66 | #96 |
| 2004 | 63 | #95 |
| 2003 | 59 | #92 |
| 2002 | 41 | #112 |
| 2001 | 50 | #98 |
| 2000 | 45 | #105 |
| 1999 | 32 | #123 |
| 1998 | 38 | #108 |
| 1997 | 67 | #88 |
| 1996 | 61 | #94 |
| 1995 | 32 | #132 |
| 1994 | 35 | #126 |
| 1993 | 29 | #132 |
| 1992 | 39 | #121 |
| 1991 | 25 | #146 |
| 1990 | 27 | #144 |
| 1989 | 22 | #151 |
| 1988 | 28 | #136 |
| 1987 | 18 | #160 |
| 1986 | 25 | #142 |
| 1985 | 16 | #163 |
| 1984 | 20 | #153 |
| 1983 | 11 | #198 |
| 1982 | 21 | #155 |
| 1981 | 31 | #133 |
| 1980 | 16 | #179 |
| 1979 | 17 | #166 |
| 1978 | 13 | #184 |
| 1977 | 20 | #153 |
| 1976 | 14 | #186 |
| 1975 | 15 | #177 |
| 1974 | 7 | #240 |
| 1973 | 9 | #215 |
| 1972 | 5 | #254 |
| 1971 | 7 | #233 |
| 1970 | 6 | #235 |
| 1969 | 4 | #270 |
| 1967 | 4 | #245 |
| 1965 | 5 | #207 |
| 1964 | 6 | #191 |
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 Dáire mean?
Uncertain
Irish, an Old Irish name borne by legendary and ancestral figures; its meaning is not known for sure.
Say it right
DAWra
The fada on the "á" gives the long "aw" sound. Many people say DAR-a, especially for the spelling Daire without a fada.
Not:DAREDARE-ee
The story of Dáire
Dáire is an Old Irish name. It dropped out of everyday use early on and survived mainly as the name of legendary figures and ancestors in the old genealogies. There is no agreed explanation of what it means.
The best-known Dáire is Dáire mac Fiachna, the Ulster cattle lord who owned the Brown Bull of Cooley. When Queen Medb asked to borrow the bull, he first said yes, then refused when one of her messengers boasted that she would have taken it by force anyway. His refusal set off the Táin Bó Cúailnge. The surname Ó Dáire comes from the same name.
The name came back into use in the twentieth century, often seen as close to Dara and Darragh. It is mostly given to boys, though there were also 12 girls in 2025. The CSO counts Dáire and Daire separately. In 2025 the fada spelling was well ahead, with 65 boys called Dáire and 19 called Daire. Together they reached number 71 in 2025, while Dáire alone was number 88.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Dáire (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Dáire
- Wikipedia: Dáire mac Fiachna
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Dáire | 65 | 349 |
| Daire | 19 | 2,028 |
In Northern Ireland
#36 in 2025 with 51 babies. Best rank #36 (2025); 1,044 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.
Dáire is also given to girls: 135 since 1978, 12 in 2025.