What does Sinead mean?
Sinéad is an Irish form of Jane/Jeanette, ultimately “God is gracious.”
What does Niamh mean?
Niamh means “bright” or “radiant.” Niamh of the Golden Hair rides to the Otherworld in Irish myth.
Sinead vs Niamh
Which is more popular?
Niamh is more popular than Sinead today: about 43 US babies were given the name Niamh in 2025, compared with 11 named Sinead.
| Sinead | Niamh | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | God is gracious | Bright, radiant |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | shin-AYD | NEEV |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1975 | 1969 |
| Peak year | 1990 (160) | 2008 (74) |
| In 2025 | 11 | 43 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Sinead
Niamh
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Sinead | Niamh |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 60 | 232 |
| 2010s | 118 | 447 |
| 2000s | 295 | 636 |
| 1990s | 627 | 267 |
| 1980s | 182 | 30 |
| 1970s | 58 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sinead or Niamh more popular?
Niamh is more popular than Sinead today: about 43 US babies were given the name Niamh in 2025, compared with 11 named Sinead.
What is the difference between Sinead and Niamh?
Sinead means God is gracious (Irish origin), while Niamh means Bright, radiant (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Sinead or Niamh?
In US records, Sinead first appears in 1975 and Niamh in 1969, so Niamh has the longer recorded history.