UK girl's name
Cadhla
A feminine Irish name meaning "graceful" or "slender".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Cadhla is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Cadhla popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3695, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 6 births.
This profile covers 26 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2006 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 388 living people in the UK are called Cadhla. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Cadhla ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2021, when 6 girls were registered as Cadhla.
- • Cadhla ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #80 in 2024.
- • About 388 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cadhla as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3695
2024
Births in 2024
6
Latest year
Peak year
2021
6 births
Estimated living
388
2026
Meaning
What does Cadhla mean?
The name Cadhla has its origins in the Irish language, with roots tracing back to ancient Celtic culture. It is believed to derive from the Old Irish word "caillech," which means "veiled one" or "nun." This suggests a connection to religious or spiritual traditions.
In the early medieval period, the name Cadhla was primarily found in Ireland and regions with strong Irish cultural influences. It has been recorded in various historical documents and manuscripts from the 6th to the 12th centuries, indicating its long-standing presence in Irish society.
One of the earliest known references to the name Cadhla can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. This text mentions a Cadhla mac Fínsnechtae, who was an influential figure in the 8th century.
Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the name Cadhla. One such figure was Cadhla mac Cináedha (born around 960 AD), a renowned Irish poet and scholar who was widely respected for his literary works and contributions to the preservation of Irish culture.
Another historical figure with the name Cadhla was Cadhla Ó Conchobhair (born in the late 12th century), a prominent member of the Ó Conchobhair dynasty that ruled over Connacht, a western province of Ireland. He played a significant role in the political and military affairs of his time.
In the 13th century, Cadhla Ó Dubhagáin (born around 1220) was a celebrated Irish poet and historian. His work, the "Topographical Poem," provides valuable insights into the cultural and geographical landscape of Ireland during that era.
A more recent historical figure bearing the name Cadhla was Cadhla Ó Conaire (1805-1880), a prominent Irish scholar and writer. He was known for his contributions to the preservation of Irish language and literature, as well as his work as a teacher and advocate for Irish cultural revival.
Throughout its long history, the name Cadhla has maintained a strong connection to Irish culture and tradition, often associated with individuals who played important roles in preserving and promoting the rich heritage of Ireland.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Cadhla over time
The chart below shows babies named Cadhla registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2006 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Cadhla, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cadhla by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cadhla was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4235 | 20 | 4 |
| 2000s | #5303 | 6 | 2 |
Geography
Where Cadhla is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Cadhla. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Cadhla ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #80 in 2024.
Across the UK
Cadhla in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#80 in 2024
22 years of NISRA records, 364 total registered
Related
Names similar to Cadhla
- Chloe 111,265
- Charlotte 88,733
- Caitlin 28,931
- Courtney 23,162
- Chelsea 13,049
- Clara 9,435
- Connie 8,402
- Catherine 8,376
- Charlie 7,964
- Cerys 7,506
- Casey 7,018
- Cara 6,375
FAQ
Cadhla: questions and answers
How popular is the name Cadhla in the UK right now?
In 2024, Cadhla was ranked #3695 for girls in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Cadhla most popular?
The peak year on record was 2021, with 6 babies registered as Cadhla in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Cadhla?
A feminine Irish name meaning "graceful" or "slender".
How many people are called Cadhla in the UK?
A total of 26 babies have been registered as Cadhla across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here and 364 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Cadhla most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Cadhla ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #80 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.