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 Sinead mean?
Sinéad is an Irish form of Jane/Jeanette, ultimately “God is gracious.”
Aoife vs Sinead
Which is more popular?
Aoife is more popular than Sinead today: about 88 US babies were given the name Aoife in 2025, compared with 11 named Sinead.
| Aoife | Sinead | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Radiant, beautiful | God is gracious |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | EE-fuh | shin-AYD |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1985 | 1975 |
| Peak year | 2018 (117) | 1990 (160) |
| In 2025 | 88 | 11 |
| Trend | Rising | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Aoife
Sinead
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Aoife | Sinead |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 592 | 60 |
| 2010s | 862 | 118 |
| 2000s | 503 | 295 |
| 1990s | 201 | 627 |
| 1980s | 23 | 182 |
| 1970s | 0 | 58 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Aoife or Sinead more popular?
Aoife is more popular than Sinead today: about 88 US babies were given the name Aoife in 2025, compared with 11 named Sinead.
What is the difference between Aoife and Sinead?
Aoife means Radiant, beautiful (Irish origin), while Sinead means God is gracious (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Aoife or Sinead?
In US records, Aoife first appears in 1985 and Sinead in 1975, so Sinead has the longer recorded history.