Neasa
Say it: NASS-a
GirlIrishMythologyMeans said in the legend to mean "not gentle"5 letters2 syllables
#443
in Ireland (2025)
#435 with spellings combined
8
babies in 2025
#222
best rank (2022)
657
babies since 1965
Down 191
10-year rank change
Neasa through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | #435 |
| 2024 | 4 | #714 |
| 2023 | 7 | #484 |
| 2022 | 20 | #222 |
| 2021 | 17 | #259 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 8 | #456 |
| 2018 | 16 | #276 |
| 2017 | 21 | #233 |
| 2016 | 19 | #247 |
| 2015 | 21 | #244 |
| 2014 | 21 | #242 |
| 2013 | 23 | #232 |
| 2012 | 22 | #237 |
| 2011 | 22 | #240 |
| 2010 | 16 | #320 |
| 2009 | 9 | #469 |
| 2008 | 8 | #504 |
| 2007 | 17 | #267 |
| 2006 | 5 | #551 |
| 2005 | 12 | #300 |
| 2004 | 7 | #414 |
| 2003 | 7 | #403 |
| 2002 | 5 | #443 |
| 2001 | 11 | #278 |
| 2000 | 6 | #379 |
| 1999 | 8 | #295 |
| 1998 | 11 | #241 |
| 1997 | 7 | #363 |
| 1996 | 6 | #393 |
| 1995 | 10 | #296 |
| 1994 | 10 | #297 |
| 1993 | 7 | #356 |
| 1992 | 13 | #269 |
| 1990 | 11 | #281 |
| 1989 | 7 | #353 |
| 1988 | 13 | #270 |
| 1987 | 8 | #348 |
| 1986 | 10 | #305 |
| 1985 | 8 | #348 |
| 1984 | 15 | #252 |
| 1983 | 9 | #331 |
| 1982 | 13 | #286 |
| 1981 | 12 | #299 |
| 1980 | 8 | #352 |
| 1979 | 15 | #273 |
| 1978 | 10 | #315 |
| 1977 | 12 | #283 |
| 1976 | 11 | #284 |
| 1975 | 16 | #238 |
| 1974 | 11 | #285 |
| 1973 | 15 | #254 |
| 1972 | 6 | #352 |
| 1971 | 7 | #326 |
| 1970 | 4 | #396 |
| 1969 | 8 | #288 |
| 1968 | 3 | #401 |
| 1967 | 4 | #354 |
| 1966 | 3 | #380 |
| 1965 | 4 | #325 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Neasa mean?
Said in the legend to mean "not gentle"
Irish, from Ness, the mother of King Conchobar mac Nessa in the Ulster Cycle.
Say it right
NASSa
Some people say NESS-a, closer to the English form Nessa.
The story of Neasa
Neasa is the Irish form of Ness, a princess of the Ulaid in the Ulster Cycle of legends. The story says she was first called Assa, meaning easy or gentle. After her foster-fathers were killed, she raised her own band of warriors to hunt down the killer, and her name became Ní-assa, “not gentle”, which was worn down to Ness.
Her son was Conchobar mac Nessa, the king of Ulster in the tales of Cú Chulainn. When Fergus mac Róich, the king, wanted to marry her, she asked him to give his throne to Conchobar for one year. The boy was so generous that the people refused to take Fergus back, and Conchobar stayed king.
Neasa first appears in the CSO records in 1965, and it has been given to a small, steady number of girls ever since, with over 100 in both the 1970s and the 1980s. Its biggest year was 2013, with 23 girls, and its best rank was number 222 in 2022. In 2025, 8 girls were named Neasa. The CSO counts Nessa as a separate name.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ness (Irish mythology)
- Wikipedia: Neasa
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Neasa | 8 | 657 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #333 (2020); 10 babies since 2014.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.