What does Caoimhe mean?
Caoimhe comes from the Irish caomh, “gentle,” “beautiful” or “precious.”
What does Nuala mean?
Nuala is a short form of Fionnuala, “fair-shouldered.”
Caoimhe vs Nuala
Which is more popular?
Caoimhe is more popular than Nuala today: about 24 US babies were given the name Caoimhe in 2025, compared with 7 named Nuala.
| Caoimhe | Nuala | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Gentle, beautiful | Fair shoulder |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | KWEE-vuh | NOO-uh-luh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1996 | 1948 |
| Peak year | 2025 (24) | 2009 (26) |
| In 2025 | 24 | 7 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Caoimhe
Nuala
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Caoimhe | Nuala |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 75 | 47 |
| 2010s | 146 | 118 |
| 2000s | 109 | 99 |
| 1990s | 25 | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 | 20 |
| 1960s | 0 | 58 |
| 1950s | 0 | 10 |
| 1940s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Caoimhe or Nuala more popular?
Caoimhe is more popular than Nuala today: about 24 US babies were given the name Caoimhe in 2025, compared with 7 named Nuala.
What is the difference between Caoimhe and Nuala?
Caoimhe means Gentle, beautiful (Irish origin), while Nuala means Fair shoulder (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Caoimhe or Nuala?
In US records, Caoimhe first appears in 1996 and Nuala in 1948, so Nuala has the longer recorded history.