UK girl's name
Caragh
A feminine Gaelic name meaning "rocky area" or "rough terrain".
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.
Caragh is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Caragh popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4192, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 17 births.
This profile covers 202 England and Wales registrations across 23 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland 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 29% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 686 living people in the UK are called Caragh. 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
- • Caragh ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 17 girls were registered as Caragh.
- • Caragh ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #169 in 2024.
- • About 686 living people in the UK are estimated to have Caragh as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4192
2024
Births in 2024
5
Latest year
Peak year
1999
17 births
Estimated living
686
2026
Meaning
What does Caragh mean?
The name Caragh is believed to have its origins in the Irish language, where it is derived from the Gaelic word "carra," meaning "rough" or "rugged." The name is thought to have been initially used to describe the rough terrain or landscape of certain regions in Ireland, particularly those with rocky or mountainous features.
Caragh is considered a relatively uncommon name, with its earliest documented usage dating back to the late 18th century in various Irish records and historical documents. While the name itself does not appear to have any direct connections to specific ancient texts or religious scriptures, its roots in the Irish language suggest a strong cultural and geographical link to the Emerald Isle.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Caragh was Caragh O'Reilly, an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons in the late 18th century. Another notable figure was Caragh MacMahon, a 19th-century Irish poet and author known for her works celebrating the beauty of the Irish countryside and its rich cultural heritage.
In more recent times, Caragh Braniff (1902-1988) was a prominent Irish novelist and playwright whose works often explored themes of family, identity, and the complexities of modern life. Her most acclaimed novel, "The Lilac Tree," published in 1957, received critical acclaim and is considered a significant contribution to Irish literature.
Caragh Mooney (born 1951) is an Irish actress and singer who has had a successful career in both film and television. She is best known for her roles in several popular British television series, including "Casualty" and "Coronation Street."
Another notable bearer of the name is Caragh O'Grady (born 1976), an Irish journalist and television presenter. She has worked for various media outlets, including RTÉ News and Current Affairs, covering a range of topics from politics to entertainment.
While the name Caragh may not be as widely recognized as some other Irish names, its rich history and connection to the rugged landscapes of Ireland make it a unique and culturally significant moniker. Its relatively rare usage also adds to its distinctiveness and charm.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Caragh over time
The chart below shows babies named Caragh registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Caragh, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2024, compared with 17 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Caragh by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Caragh 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 | #4192 | 5 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4526 | 39 | 8 |
| 2000s | #2382 | 95 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1204 | 63 | 4 |
Geography
Where Caragh is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Caragh. 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.
Caragh ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #169 in 2024.
Across the UK
Caragh in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#431 in 2024
28 years of NRS records, 187 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#169 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 301 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Caragh
-
Caragh Milligan
association football player
Northern Irish footballer
1996-
Related
Names similar to Caragh
- 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
Caragh: questions and answers
How popular is the name Caragh in the UK right now?
In 2024, Caragh was ranked #4192 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Caragh most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 17 babies registered as Caragh in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Caragh?
A feminine Gaelic name meaning "rocky area" or "rough terrain".
How many people are called Caragh in the UK?
A total of 202 babies have been registered as Caragh across the 23 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 187 more in Scotland and 301 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Caragh most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Caragh ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #169 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.