What does Aoife mean?
Aoife comes from the Irish for “radiant” or “beautiful,” and is borne by a great warrior of Irish legend.
What does Niamh mean?
Niamh means “bright” or “radiant.” Niamh of the Golden Hair rides to the Otherworld in Irish myth.
Aoife vs Niamh
Which is more popular?
Aoife is more popular than Niamh today: about 88 US babies were given the name Aoife in 2025, compared with 43 named Niamh.
| Aoife | Niamh | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Radiant, beautiful | Bright, radiant |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EE-fuh | NEEV |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1985 | 1969 |
| Peak year | 2018 (117) | 2008 (74) |
| In 2025 | 88 | 43 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Aoife
Niamh
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Aoife | Niamh |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 592 | 232 |
| 2010s | 862 | 447 |
| 2000s | 503 | 636 |
| 1990s | 201 | 267 |
| 1980s | 23 | 30 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Aoife or Niamh more popular?
Aoife is more popular than Niamh today: about 88 US babies were given the name Aoife in 2025, compared with 43 named Niamh.
What is the difference between Aoife and Niamh?
Aoife means Radiant, beautiful (Irish origin), while Niamh means Bright, radiant (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Aoife or Niamh?
In US records, Aoife first appears in 1985 and Niamh in 1969, so Niamh has the longer recorded history.