Aoife
Meaning: Love, wide — a name of beauty and strength
Origin: Yoruba
Gender: Girl
Rank in Ireland: #5
Total births: 22,063
History: Aoife is a quintessentially Irish name from Celtic mythology, borne by the fierce warrior woman whom Cú Chulainn fought in Scotland in the Ulster Cycle. Another Aoife, in the Children of Lir legend, was the stepmother who transformed her children into swans on Lough Derravaragh. The name surged from the 1980s as Irish parents reclaimed native Gaelic names. Its pronunciation (EE-fa) often surprises those unfamiliar with Irish orthography, making it a badge of cultural identity.
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Look at the data
Every number here comes directly from Ireland’s birth records. No estimates, no averages — just the counts.
| Current rank (2025) | #34 |
| Babies named Aoife in 2025 | 121 |
| Total recorded in Ireland | 22,063 |
| Peak year | 1997 (727 babies) |
| Highest rank ever | #1 |
| Years in records | 1964–2025 (62 years of data) |
| Change over last 5 years | ↓ 10 spots |
Frequently asked about Aoife
What does the name Aoife mean?
Aoife means “Love, wide — a name of beauty and strength” from Yoruba roots.
What is the origin of the name Aoife?
Aoife has Yoruba origin. The traditional meaning is “Love, wide — a name of beauty and strength”.
How popular is Aoife in Ireland?
Aoife ranked #34 in Ireland in 2025 — given to 121 babies that year.
When was Aoife most popular?
Aoife peaked in 1997 with 727 babies registered that year in Ireland.
Is Aoife a boy or girl name?
Aoife is predominantly a girls' name in Ireland — over 90% of Aoifes in registered births are female.
Is the name Aoife rising or falling in popularity?
Aoife has fallen 10 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years in Ireland — from #24 in 2020 to #34 in 2025.
How long has Aoife been recorded in Ireland?
Aoife appears in birth records in Ireland across 62 years — from 1964 through 2025.