What does Deirdre mean?
Deirdre is usually read “sorrowful”; she is a tragic heroine of Irish legend.
What does Sinead mean?
Sinéad is an Irish form of Jane/Jeanette, ultimately “God is gracious.”
Deirdre vs Sinead
Which is more popular?
Deirdre is more popular than Sinead today: about 13 US babies were given the name Deirdre in 2025, compared with 11 named Sinead.
| Deirdre | Sinead | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Sorrowful | God is gracious |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | DEER-druh | shin-AYD |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1921 | 1975 |
| Peak year | 1961 (799) | 1990 (160) |
| In 2025 | 13 | 11 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Deirdre
Sinead
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Deirdre | Sinead |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 85 | 60 |
| 2010s | 206 | 118 |
| 2000s | 544 | 295 |
| 1990s | 1,206 | 627 |
| 1980s | 2,049 | 182 |
| 1970s | 3,123 | 58 |
| 1960s | 6,321 | 0 |
| 1950s | 2,274 | 0 |
| 1940s | 822 | 0 |
| 1930s | 167 | 0 |
| 1920s | 48 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Deirdre or Sinead more popular?
Deirdre is more popular than Sinead today: about 13 US babies were given the name Deirdre in 2025, compared with 11 named Sinead.
What is the difference between Deirdre and Sinead?
Deirdre means Sorrowful (Irish origin), while Sinead means God is gracious (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Deirdre or Sinead?
In US records, Deirdre first appears in 1921 and Sinead in 1975, so Deirdre has the longer recorded history.