Barbara in Irish: Gormlaith
The Irish form of Barbara is Gormlaith, a girl's name meaning “splendid princess.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Gormlaith
- Meaning
- Splendid princess
- Gender
- Girl
- Also spelled
- Gormla, Gormley
How do you say Barbara in Irish?
Barbara in Irish is Gormlaith, pronounced GORM-lee. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Gormla and Gormley.
What does Gormlaith mean?
Gormlaith means “splendid princess.” Barbara is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Gormlaith: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Barbara in Ireland?
Barbara wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2023, when 3 baby girls got the name. It was most popular in 1964, when 156 baby girls were named Barbara, No. 43 that year. The most babies got the name in 1971: 172. The records go back to 1964, when 156 baby girls were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | No. 856 |
| 2022 | 4 | No. 747 |
| 2021 | 3 | No. 883 |
| 2020 | 7 | No. 495 |
| 2019 | 5 | No. 621 |
| 2018 | 5 | No. 629 |
| 2017 | 4 | No. 734 |
| 2016 | 6 | No. 585 |
| 2015 | 15 | No. 316 |
| 2014 | 3 | No. 876 |
| 2013 | 4 | No. 747 |
| 2012 | 7 | No. 560 |
| 2011 | 12 | No. 393 |
| 2010 | 7 | No. 555 |
| 2009 | 10 | No. 439 |
| 2008 | 6 | No. 597 |
| 2006 | 3 | No. 764 |
| 2005 | 3 | No. 689 |
| 2003 | 3 | No. 655 |
| 2001 | 4 | No. 498 |
| 2000 | 4 | No. 465 |
| 1998 | 5 | No. 380 |
| 1997 | 7 | No. 363 |
| 1996 | 5 | No. 429 |
| 1995 | 7 | No. 352 |
| 1994 | 18 | No. 212 |
| 1993 | 7 | No. 356 |
| 1992 | 17 | No. 229 |
| 1991 | 17 | No. 224 |
| 1990 | 19 | No. 208 |
| 1989 | 28 | No. 171 |
| 1988 | 24 | No. 185 |
| 1987 | 31 | No. 164 |
| 1986 | 40 | No. 144 |
| 1985 | 52 | No. 123 |
| 1984 | 73 | No. 100 |
| 1983 | 58 | No. 117 |
| 1982 | 77 | No. 103 |
| 1981 | 111 | No. 78 |
| 1980 | 92 | No. 95 |
| 1979 | 103 | No. 84 |
| 1978 | 122 | No. 74 |
| 1977 | 126 | No. 71 |
| 1976 | 133 | No. 67 |
| 1975 | 128 | No. 71 |
| 1974 | 142 | No. 63 |
| 1973 | 137 | No. 67 |
| 1972 | 150 | No. 54 |
| 1971 | 172 | No. 49 |
| 1970 | 147 | No. 59 |
| 1969 | 151 | No. 56 |
| 1968 | 163 | No. 47 |
| 1967 | 151 | No. 45 |
| 1966 | 147 | No. 48 |
| 1965 | 153 | No. 45 |
| 1964 | 156 | No. 43 |
Gormlaith in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Gormlaith, letter by letter.
- GGort, ivy
- OOnn, gorse
- RRuis, elder
- MMuin, vine
- LLuis, rowan
- AAilm, pine
- IIodhadh, yew
- TTinne, holly
- HUath, hawthorn
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Barbara
Questions about Barbara
- What is Barbara in Irish?
- The Irish form of Barbara is Gormlaith, pronounced GORM-lee. Gormlaith means “splendid princess.”
- How do you pronounce Gormlaith?
- Gormlaith is pronounced GORM-lee. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Barbara a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Barbara is a girl's name.