Niamh
Female nameIrish
✨ Meaning
Niamh comes from the Irish word 'niamh,' meaning brightness, radiance or lustre. In Irish mythology Niamh Chinn Óir, Niamh of the Golden Hair, is a princess of Tír na nÓg, the land of youth, who carries the poet Oisín away across the sea. The name is therefore both a plain word for brightness and a figure at the centre of one of Ireland's best-known stories.
🌍 Origin
Niamh became extremely popular in Ireland from the 1970s onward and spread to Britain, where it is now widely recognised despite a spelling that gives non-Irish speakers difficulty. Irish orthography marks the preceding consonant rather than spelling the vowel sound directly, which is why the letters mh produce a v sound at the end.
⭐ Famous People Named Niamh
- Niamh Cusack
- Niamh Algar
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does Niamh mean?
Niamh means 'brightness' or 'radiance' in Irish.
How is Niamh pronounced?
It is NEEV, one syllable. The letters mh together produce a v sound in Irish orthography.
Who was Niamh in Irish legend?
Niamh of the Golden Hair, a princess of Tír na nÓg who carries the poet Oisín across the sea to the land of youth.