Aoife
/EE-fə/
Aoife is a girl name of Irish origin, meaning Beauty, radiance.
- GenderGirl
- OriginIrish
- StyleClassic
- Syllables2
- US rank#1,558
What does Aoife mean?
Beauty, radiance
From the Old Irish áed, "fire", or from a root meaning "beauty" and "radiance". It is generally treated as the Irish equivalent of Eva, though the two are unrelated.
The story behind the name
Aoife appears twice in Irish tradition, in very different roles. In the Ulster cycle she is a warrior woman who fights Cú Chulainn to a standstill and bears his son. In the story of the Children of Lir she is the jealous stepmother who turns four children into swans for nine hundred years.
Historically, Aoife of Leinster married Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, in 1170 - the marriage that began the Norman involvement in Ireland.
The name has been a consistent Irish top-twenty choice since the 1990s.
Notable people named Aoife
- Aoife, warrior of the Ulster cycle
- Aoife of Leinster, wife of Strongbow
How popular is Aoife?
Aoife has been given to 1,693 babies in the United States since 1985, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
About 1 in 15,566 babies born in the United States were given this name in the most recent year on record.
Variants and related names
Other spellings: Eefa, Eva
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Start swiping - it's freeFrequently asked questions about Aoife
What does the name Aoife mean?
Aoife means Beauty, radiance. It is of Irish origin.
Is Aoife a boy's or a girl's name?
Aoife is most often given to girls.
How do you pronounce Aoife?
Aoife is pronounced EE-fə.
How popular is the name Aoife?
Aoife has been given to 1,693 babies in the United States since 1985, peaking in the 2010s. It has been climbing over the last two decades.
What are other spellings of Aoife?
Common variants include Eefa, Eva.