The baby name Saoirse is an Irish import with a powerful meanings.
Thanks to Marie for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME SAOIRSE MEAN?
The name comes from the Irish Gaelic word for freedom or liberty. It’s big in Ireland, ranking in the Top 50 in recent years.
But this isn’t a traditional Irish name – instead, it’s a 20th century innovation.
The name traces its roots to the Irish War of Independence. Between 1921 and 1922, most of Ireland was completely independent, before part of the country became part of the United Kingdom.
The Irish sometimes call the war Cogadh na Saoirse. So this isn’t just freedom in a general sense – it’s a very specific reference. Republic Sinn Féin – a political party that still believes in a completely independent Ireland, and has historic ties to violence – calls their official publication Saoirse. One of the names for the short-lived completely independent Ireland was Saorstát Éireann.
All of this makes the name especially patriotic. Though it reads as far more mainstream today – especially as the name has increased in popularity.
WAIT – HOW DO YOU PRONOUNCE SAOIRSE?
Let’s tackle with the inevitable question: how do you pronounce Saoirse?
It turns out that even the Irish disagree.
There’s seer-sha, sair-sha, soar-sha, and sir-sha.
The most famous bearer favors that last option. Irish actress Saoirse Ronan tells us that her name rhymes with inertia. She also admits that others say it differently, even in Ireland. More on her influence in a minute.
Like many a name of Irish origin, it’s sometimes spelled Sorcha. Other Anglicizations and attempts to clarify pronunciation are possible.
THE RISE OF SAOIRSE
Saoirse Ronan earned a nomination for the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her role as Briony in Atonement in 2007, at the age of just 13. In 2015, a second Best Actress Oscar nomination followed, for her work in Brooklyn. This time, she was all of 21.
The actress wasn’t the only high profile use of the name in the early 21st century.
2014’s Song of the Sea gave the name to an animated character. The fantasy film tells of siblings Ben and Saoirse, and their adventures following the disappearance of their mother, and their discovery that selkies, faeries, and all manner of Irish folklore is real.
The late Saoirse Roisin Kennedy Hill was a member of the American Kennedy family. Her Irish dad, Paul Hill, was one of four men wrongly accused of a bombing a pub in England. 1993 film In the Name of the Father told their story.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME SAOIRSE?
This unusual name trended in the United States during the early 21st century. In 2007, just 38 newborn girls received the name. By 2014, that number was up to 112.
In 2016, the baby name Saoirse debuted in the US Top 1000 at #970. It peaked in 2020 at #735. As of 2024, 224 new Saoirses were born – a respectable number, but just outside of the rankings entirely.
Saoirse still ranks in the girls’ Top 50 in Ireland.
In the UK, the baby name Saoirse also remains more familiar. It also appears in Northern Ireland’s Top 50. The England and Wales charts put it in their Top 500, too.
While some sources suggest Saoirse might be used for both genders, the numbers give this one to the girls.
SPIRITED IRISH HERITAGE CHOICE
Between the celebrated actress and the animated film, plenty of parents have heard the baby name Saoirse. While it’s not as straightforward as Maeve or Fia, it’s a compelling choice. Spirited and prinicipled, Saoirse could be the perfect name to honor Irish roots.
What do you think of the baby name Saoirse?
This post was originally published on December 10, 2010. It was substantially revised and reposted on March 17, 2016 and December 26, 2025.
I first saw Saoirse as a little girl watching Song Of The Sea. It was my absolute favorite name when I was young!
Love this name! Of course, I am biased because it is my daughter’s name thanks to Song of the Sea. My only problem now though is I have no clue what would be good choices for a future sibling if a girl!
I aspired to hippie principles in 1971 when my daughter was born on Mayday, I’m Irish I named her Saoirse because I wanted an unique name, I felt times were changing? I had never heard of the word being used as a name before and am surprised to read that it had been used in the 1920’s as a name I would be fascinated to see actual evidence of that.
I’m a reasonably well educated, literate person with an interest in names … but every single time I see this name I have to stop and remind myself how to pronounce it. It just isn’t intuitive to me at all.
I have enough Irish heritage to be able to safely use this name, and I certainly would love to! It’s gorgeous, and one of my favorites!
Saoirse is my 3 year old daughter Rosalie’s middle name. We pronounce it “SAIR-sha.” Authentic or not, my husband liked that sound best so we ran with it! Pairs well with our very Irish last name. I can’t say I’d personally use it or anything similar as a first name. Spelling it and explaining the pronunciation when asked are a headache even in the middle spot. Can’t imagine what a nightmare it’d be as a first, which is sad!
I love this name , my 4 kids all have irish names caoimhe , oisin , pol og and odhran if I’m blessed with another daughter she’ll be named saoirse , my partner is from derry northern ireland
Love your children’s names!! Caoimhe was our next and we have two girls Aoife and Saoirse 🙂
Firstly I am afraid the Irish political history behind the name Saoirse as described here is confused at best.
Yes it is common in Northern Ireland among the Irish nationalist community i.e those who aspire to secede from the UK and re-unite with the Republic of Ireland.
Yes it may give rise to certain connotations among those of the Unionist community i.e those who maintain a strictly “Northern Irish” and British identity. However those same individuals would also have a certain distain for visitors from the Republic of Ireland and in particular of Irish-Americans in any case.
It may help to understand that in Northern Ireland a particular culture of appellation applies.
In the irish nationalist community, names in the Irish language are common along with those of the New Testament in the catholic tradition, while among the British Unionist community, Old Testament Biblical and English language names are more likely.
Since the 1990s peace accords between these communities, expressions of Irish Gaelic culture and the peaceful aspiration to Irish unity are legitimate and to be given “parity of esteem”.
Into this spectrum fits the name “Saoirse”.
(Saoirse lists as 18th most popular in the R.O.I in 2010 up from 25 in 2005. Sophie, Emma and Emma are the most popular girls names in Ireland in 2010.)