What does Deirdre mean?
Deirdre is usually read “sorrowful”; she is a tragic heroine of Irish legend.
What does Aoife mean?
Aoife comes from the Irish for “radiant” or “beautiful,” and is borne by a great warrior of Irish legend.
Deirdre vs Aoife
Which is more popular?
Aoife is more popular than Deirdre today: about 88 US babies were given the name Aoife in 2025, compared with 13 named Deirdre.
| Deirdre | Aoife | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sorrowful | Radiant, beautiful |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | DEER-druh | EE-fuh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1921 | 1985 |
| Peak year | 1961 (799) | 2018 (117) |
| In 2025 | 13 | 88 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Deirdre
Aoife
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Deirdre | Aoife |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 85 | 592 |
| 2010s | 206 | 862 |
| 2000s | 544 | 503 |
| 1990s | 1,206 | 201 |
| 1980s | 2,049 | 23 |
| 1970s | 3,123 | 0 |
| 1960s | 6,321 | 0 |
| 1950s | 2,274 | 0 |
| 1940s | 822 | 0 |
| 1930s | 167 | 0 |
| 1920s | 48 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Deirdre or Aoife more popular?
Aoife is more popular than Deirdre today: about 88 US babies were given the name Aoife in 2025, compared with 13 named Deirdre.
What is the difference between Deirdre and Aoife?
Deirdre means Sorrowful (Irish origin), while Aoife means Radiant, beautiful (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Deirdre or Aoife?
In US records, Deirdre first appears in 1921 and Aoife in 1985, so Deirdre has the longer recorded history.