Moire
A girl's name of Irish origin with 11 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Moire sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1982, peaking in 1990, with 11 total births across its history.
The open, approachable quality of its ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Moire is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Moire is a feminine name, the Irish form of Mary — from the Hebrew Miriam, one of history's most enduring feminine names. In Irish Gaelic, Máire (pronounced roughly "MOY-reh" or "MAW-reh") is the standard form of Mary, distinct from the more anglicized Moira. Moire is a simplified romanization of this Irish name.
In the English-speaking world, the word moiré also refers to a fabric with a rippled, watered appearance — giving the name an inadvertent connection to texture and visual movement. Moire appears in SSA records only a handful of times, carrying its Irish heritage quietly in a compact two-syllable form.
EtymologyShow more
Moire appeared in SSA records in 1982, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Irish roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 11 recorded births, Moire has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Moire has 2+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1982.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 6 | #12383 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 5 | #11664 | — |
The Story of Moire
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1990, Moire is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Moire are most likely born between 1982 and 1990.
How rare is Moire?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Moire is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1982, peaked in the 1990s with 6 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(2 years, 1982–1990)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 6 | #12383 |
| 1982 | 5 | #11664 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Moire a boy's or girl's name?
When was Moire most popular?
How popular is the name Moire?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1982–1990