Deirdre
Say it: DAIR-dra/ˈdeːɹdɹə/
GirlIrishMythology7 letters2 syllables
Unranked
in 2025
0
babies in 2025
#7
best rank (1966)
12,353
babies since 1964
Deirdre through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3 | #844 |
| 2014 | 3 | #869 |
| 2013 | 4 | #748 |
| 2011 | 5 | #693 |
| 2010 | 5 | #666 |
| 2009 | 8 | #489 |
| 2008 | 11 | #404 |
| 2007 | 13 | #327 |
| 2006 | 17 | #247 |
| 2005 | 8 | #398 |
| 2004 | 9 | #340 |
| 2003 | 15 | #233 |
| 2002 | 21 | #182 |
| 2001 | 24 | #166 |
| 2000 | 16 | #213 |
| 1999 | 21 | #171 |
| 1998 | 23 | #152 |
| 1997 | 60 | #88 |
| 1996 | 64 | #80 |
| 1995 | 80 | #67 |
| 1994 | 90 | #61 |
| 1993 | 119 | #51 |
| 1992 | 119 | #52 |
| 1991 | 145 | #42 |
| 1990 | 143 | #43 |
| 1989 | 151 | #39 |
| 1988 | 191 | #32 |
| 1987 | 261 | #25 |
| 1986 | 276 | #24 |
| 1985 | 305 | #23 |
| 1984 | 309 | #20 |
| 1983 | 387 | #20 |
| 1982 | 463 | #15 |
| 1981 | 456 | #17 |
| 1980 | 464 | #15 |
| 1979 | 498 | #8 |
| 1978 | 499 | #8 |
| 1977 | 540 | #7 |
| 1976 | 483 | #9 |
| 1975 | 464 | #10 |
| 1974 | 495 | #8 |
| 1973 | 529 | #7 |
| 1972 | 516 | #9 |
| 1971 | 535 | #10 |
| 1970 | 514 | #9 |
| 1969 | 528 | #8 |
| 1968 | 468 | #7 |
| 1967 | 504 | #9 |
| 1966 | 613 | #7 |
| 1965 | 470 | #11 |
| 1964 | 408 | #14 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Deirdre mean?
Uncertain
Irish, from Old Irish Derdriu, of unknown meaning.
Say it right
DAIRdra
This is the usual Irish way. DEER-dra is also heard, and is the common British pronunciation.
Not:DEER-dree
The story of Deirdre
Deirdre comes from the Old Irish Derdriu. Its meaning is unknown.
In the Ulster Cycle, Deirdre is the great tragic heroine. The druid Cathbad foretells that she will cause war and exile, and King Conchobar mac Nessa has her raised apart so that he can marry her. Instead she falls for Naoise, one of the sons of Uisneach, and they escape to Scotland with his brothers. Conchobar lures them home with a promise of safety, then has the brothers killed. Deirdre dies within a year, still mourning Naoise. W. B. Yeats and J. M. Synge both wrote about her in the early 1900s, drawing new attention to the name.
Deirdre was one of the most popular girls’ names in Ireland when the CSO records begin. It peaked in 1966, with 613 girls, when it was number 7, and stayed in the top 10 every year until 1979. It then fell steadily, and since 2019 fewer than three girls a year have been given it.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Deirdre (English proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Deirdre (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Deirdre (given name)
- Wikipedia: Deirdre
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Deirdre | under 3 | 12,353 |