Sorcha
Say it: SOR-uh-ka/ˈsɔɾˠəxə/
GirlIrishMeans bright, radiant6 letters3 syllables
#273
in Ireland (2025)
#276 with spellings combined
15
babies in 2025
#74
best rank (1999)
1,931
babies since 1968
Down 43
10-year rank change
Sorcha through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #276 |
| 2024 | 15 | #279 |
| 2023 | 9 | #394 |
| 2022 | 18 | #240 |
| 2021 | 5 | #643 |
| 2020 | 16 | #265 |
| 2019 | 15 | #296 |
| 2018 | 11 | #385 |
| 2017 | 14 | #316 |
| 2016 | 18 | #254 |
| 2015 | 22 | #233 |
| 2014 | 29 | #185 |
| 2013 | 20 | #255 |
| 2012 | 36 | #164 |
| 2011 | 34 | #170 |
| 2010 | 38 | #164 |
| 2009 | 43 | #143 |
| 2008 | 41 | #148 |
| 2007 | 49 | #121 |
| 2006 | 54 | #104 |
| 2005 | 38 | #131 |
| 2004 | 42 | #118 |
| 2003 | 59 | #88 |
| 2002 | 47 | #107 |
| 2001 | 44 | #110 |
| 2000 | 59 | #80 |
| 1999 | 61 | #74 |
| 1998 | 48 | #78 |
| 1997 | 71 | #76 |
| 1996 | 64 | #80 |
| 1995 | 61 | #91 |
| 1994 | 59 | #99 |
| 1993 | 53 | #107 |
| 1992 | 58 | #101 |
| 1991 | 43 | #124 |
| 1990 | 51 | #115 |
| 1989 | 31 | #158 |
| 1988 | 33 | #153 |
| 1987 | 37 | #146 |
| 1986 | 49 | #119 |
| 1985 | 34 | #162 |
| 1984 | 14 | #267 |
| 1983 | 29 | #185 |
| 1982 | 29 | #190 |
| 1981 | 25 | #212 |
| 1980 | 48 | #150 |
| 1979 | 25 | #210 |
| 1978 | 35 | #180 |
| 1977 | 37 | #166 |
| 1976 | 24 | #209 |
| 1975 | 26 | #195 |
| 1974 | 30 | #190 |
| 1973 | 23 | #215 |
| 1972 | 13 | #259 |
| 1971 | 13 | #250 |
| 1970 | 5 | #363 |
| 1969 | 7 | #303 |
| 1968 | 4 | #357 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Sorcha mean?
Bright, radiant
Irish and Scottish Gaelic, from sorcha (bright, clear), from Old Irish sorchae.
Say it right
SORuhka
The "ch" is breathy, as in loch. Many people run it into two syllables, SOR-ka or SUR-ka, and outside Ireland it is sometimes said SOR-sha.
The story of Sorcha
Sorcha comes from the Gaelic word sorcha, meaning bright or clear, which goes back to Old Irish sorchae. The name is shared by Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Its opposite in Irish is dorcha, dark.
With no obvious English equivalent, Sorcha was often matched with other names on official records. Sarah was used because it sounds a little alike, and Claire because its meaning is close. Both pairings are loose ones, and the names are not related.
Sorcha reached the CSO lists in 1968 and grew steadily through the 1980s and 1990s. The most babies in one year was 71, in 1997, and its best rank was number 74 in 1999. In 2025 it was number 273 on the CSO list, with 15 girls. In Northern Ireland its highest place was 98th, in 1998.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Sorcha (Irish proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Sorcha (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Sorcha
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sorcha | 15 | 1,931 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #98 (1998); 244 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.