What does Deirdre mean?
Deirdre is usually read “sorrowful”; she is a tragic heroine of Irish legend.
What does Saoirse mean?
Saoirse is the Irish word for “freedom” or “liberty,” popularised in the 20th century.
Deirdre vs Saoirse
Which is more popular?
Saoirse is more popular than Deirdre today: about 222 US babies were given the name Saoirse in 2025, compared with 13 named Deirdre.
| Deirdre | Saoirse | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sorrowful | Freedom |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | DEER-druh | SEER-shuh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1921 | 1993 |
| Peak year | 1961 (799) | 2020 (373) |
| In 2025 | 13 | 222 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Deirdre
Saoirse
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Deirdre | Saoirse |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 85 | 1,768 |
| 2010s | 206 | 1,853 |
| 2000s | 544 | 383 |
| 1990s | 1,206 | 64 |
| 1980s | 2,049 | 0 |
| 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 Saoirse more popular?
Saoirse is more popular than Deirdre today: about 222 US babies were given the name Saoirse in 2025, compared with 13 named Deirdre.
What is the difference between Deirdre and Saoirse?
Deirdre means Sorrowful (Irish origin), while Saoirse means Freedom (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Deirdre or Saoirse?
In US records, Deirdre first appears in 1921 and Saoirse in 1993, so Deirdre has the longer recorded history.