Moira
A girl's name of Irish origin with 7,847 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
The personification of fate, especially as Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos.
Moira is a girl's baby name of Irish origin, the Irish and Scottish Gaelic form of Mary, from the Latin Maria and Hebrew Miriam, meaning 'beloved' or 'wished-for child.' In Greek mythology, Moira (the Fates) — the three goddesses who controlled human destiny — gave the name a dramatic dual character.
Over 7,847 U.S. births are recorded. Moira Rose from Schitt's Creek gave the name a comedic, theatrical rebirth in the 2010s. It's a name with Irish warmth and Greek grandeur simultaneously.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Moira belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, warm ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. At two syllables, it has a two-beat rhythm that is easy to call across a room and natural in conversation.
Within the Irish naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Irish names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Moira’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Moira was #1590 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1901, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 547 | #1848 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 1,175 | #1781 | — |
| 2000s | 1,215 | #1657 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 1,010 | #1616 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 654 | #1798 | — |
| 1970s | 679 | #1533 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 1,199 | #972 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 881 | #1092 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 256 | #1853 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 151 | #2388 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 69 | #4076 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 11 | #3899 | — |
The Story of Moira
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1963, Moira is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Moira are most likely born between 1953 and 1973.
How rare is Moira?
Only about 1 in every 34,286 babies born in 2024 was named Moira — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1913, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 2000s with 1,215 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Moira by the numbers
- Would fill 163 school buses
- Meeting one Moira per day would take 21.5 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(106 years, 1913–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 105 | #1901 |
| 2023 | 113 | #1798 |
| 2022 | 94 | #2065 |
| 2021 | 125 | #1673 |
| 2020 | 110 | #1802 |
| 2019 | 115 | #1782 |
| 2018 | 133 | #1611 |
| 2017 | 132 | #1642 |
| 2016 | 118 | #1769 |
| 2015 | 131 | #1638 |
| 2014 | 126 | #1681 |
| 2013 | 103 | #1935 |
| 2012 | 115 | #1789 |
| 2011 | 105 | #1904 |
| 2010 | 97 | #2054 |
| 2009 | 109 | #1927 |
| 2008 | 122 | #1798 |
| 2007 | 112 | #1875 |
| 2006 | 133 | #1611 |
| 2005 | 128 | #1597 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moira a boy's or girl's name?
When was Moira most popular?
How popular is the name Moira?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1913–2024