Aoife

A girl's name of Irish origin with 2,093 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's name#2230 in 2024Declining

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Irish.

Aoife is a girl's baby name of Irish origin, pronounced "EE-fah," meaning 'beautiful' or 'radiant.' In Irish mythology, Aoife was a fierce warrior princess and the mother of Cú Chulainn's son Connla, making her one of the most powerful female figures in Celtic legend.

Aoife consistently ranks as one of the most popular girls' names in Ireland. For parents outside Ireland, its surprising pronunciation makes it a beautifully distinctive choice.

EtymologyShow more

The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Aoife's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Aoife follows that feminine pattern.

Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Aoife's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.

At a Glance

2,093

Total births

Since 1985

2018

Peak

117 births

1985

First recorded

40 years of data

Compare Aoife with another name

Popularity Over Time

Aoife climbed 1038 spots in the last 20 years — from #3268 to #2230.

First appeared: 1985Peak: 2018 (117 births)Current: #2230

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Aoife
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	504	#1963	▼
2010s	862	#2271	▲
2000s	503	#3198	▲
1990s	201	#5594	▲
1980s	23	#10627	—

The Story of Aoife

A Gen Alpha name

Peaking in 2018, Aoife is a fresh, modern favorite. Girls named Aoife are most likely born between 2008 and 2024.

How rare is Aoife?

Only about 1 in every 42,857 babies born in 2024 was named Aoife — a truly uncommon choice.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1985, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2010s with 862 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.

Aoife by the numbers

Would fill 44 school buses
Meeting one Aoife per day would take 5.7 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(39 years, 1985–2024)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Aoife
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2024	84	#2230	-6 (-6.7%)
2023	90	#2124	-25 (-21.7%)
2022	115	#1783	+8 (7.5%)
2021	107	#1861	-1 (-0.9%)
2020	108	#1817	+11 (11.3%)
2019	97	#1986	-20 (-17.1%)
2018	117	#1746	+9 (8.3%)
2017	108	#1875	+4 (3.8%)
2016	104	#1930	+6 (6.1%)
2015	98	#2014	+23 (30.7%)
2014	75	#2417	+12 (19.0%)
2013	63	#2729	-10 (-13.7%)
2012	73	#2498	+9 (14.1%)
2011	64	#2726	+1 (1.6%)
2010	63	#2784	-6 (-8.7%)
2009	69	#2649	+1 (1.5%)
2008	68	#2694	+9 (15.3%)
2007	59	#3000	+8 (15.7%)
2006	51	#3225	-4 (-7.3%)
2005	55	#2937	+9 (19.6%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aoife a boy's or girl's name?

Aoife is primarily a girl's name.

When was Aoife most popular?

Aoife reached its peak popularity in 2018 with 117 births that year. It is currently ranked #2230 in the U.S.

How popular is the name Aoife?

Aoife is currently ranked #2230 in the U.S. (2024). It has been given to 2,093 babies since 1985.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By OriginIrish names By EndingNames in -e TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1985–2024