NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Eabha

A feminine given name of Irish origin meaning "radiant".

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.

Eabha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Eabha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1262, with 26 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 32 births.

This profile covers 246 England and Wales registrations across 18 recorded years from 2004 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 81% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,058 living people in the UK are called Eabha. 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

  • Eabha ranked #1262 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 26 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 32 girls were registered as Eabha.
  • Eabha ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #13 in 2024.
  • About 1,058 living people in the UK are estimated to have Eabha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#1262

2024

Births in 2024

26

Latest year

Peak year

2021

32 births

Estimated living

1,058

2026

Meaning

What does Eabha mean?

The name Eabha is derived from the Irish Gaelic language and is the feminine form of the name Aodh, meaning "fire". It originated in Ireland, where it has been used since ancient times.

In Irish mythology, Eabha was the name of a beautiful princess who was beloved by the mythical hero Aenghus. The name is believed to have been associated with strength, passion, and beauty.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Eabha dates back to the 9th century, when it was mentioned in the Annals of Inisfallen, an ancient Irish chronicle. In these annals, an Eabha is mentioned as the wife of a prominent Irish chieftain.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Eabha. One of the most famous was Eabha Ní Cholláin (1540-1610), an Irish noblewoman and renowned poet who played a significant role in preserving the Irish language and culture during the Tudor conquest of Ireland.

Another notable Eabha was Eabha Ní Dhuibhir (1670-1738), a renowned Irish poet and harpist who composed many beautiful airs and poems that have been passed down through generations.

In the 19th century, Eabha Ní Ghallachóir (1820-1892) was a prominent Irish language scholar and activist who worked tirelessly to promote and preserve the Irish language and culture.

Eabha Ní Laoghaire (1890-1976) was a renowned Irish writer and educator who published several works in the Irish language, including novels, short stories, and plays.

Eabha Rose Ní Shúilleabháin (1939-2018) was a celebrated Irish singer and musician who was instrumental in reviving traditional Irish music and bringing it to international audiences.

While the name Eabha has ancient roots, it has remained a popular choice for Irish parents throughout the centuries, with its beautiful meaning and rich cultural heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Eabha over time

The chart below shows babies named Eabha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 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 Eabha, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 26 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Eabha
08162432200420142024

Decades

Eabha by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Eabha 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 #1199 138 5
2010s #2771 92 10
2000s #3995 16 3

Geography

Where Eabha is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Eabha. 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.

Eabha ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #13 in 2024.

Northern Ireland
80
Scotland
7

Across the UK

Eabha in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#431 in 2024

4 years of NRS records, 17 total registered

Northern Ireland (NISRA)

#13 in 2024

23 years of NISRA records, 800 total registered

Related

Names similar to Eabha

FAQ

Eabha: questions and answers

How popular is the name Eabha in the UK right now?

In 2024, Eabha was ranked #1262 for girls in England and Wales, with 26 births registered.

When was Eabha most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 32 babies registered as Eabha in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Eabha?

A feminine given name of Irish origin meaning "radiant".

How many people are called Eabha in the UK?

A total of 246 babies have been registered as Eabha across the 18 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 17 more in Scotland and 800 in Northern Ireland.

Where is Eabha most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Eabha ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #13 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.