Brigid: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Brigid is an Irish girl's name meaning “power, vigour, virtue.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Power, vigour, virtue
- Gender
- Girl
- English forms
- Brigit
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 544 for girls (2025)
How do you pronounce Brigid?
Brigid is pronounced BRIDGE-id. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Brigid mean?
The name Brigid from brigh meaning “power, vigour, virtue” epitomizes the Irish genius for layering old and new. The main female deity of the Celts, Brigid made the land fruitful and animals multiply, she blessed poets and blacksmiths. Her namesake St. Brigid of Kildare carried her powers into the Christian era. The stories of Brigid's compassion and miracles are told now as they have been for more than 1500 years in every part of Ireland. She is equal in esteem and shares a grave with St. Patrick and St. Columcille. Her feast day, February 1st, is the first day of Spring in the Celtic calender.
How popular is Brigid in Ireland?
In 2025, 6 baby girls in Ireland were named Brigid, which made it No. 544 that year. It was most popular in 1965, when 293 baby girls were named Brigid, No. 26 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 272 baby girls were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | No. 544 |
| 2024 | 4 | No. 736 |
| 2023 | 5 | No. 625 |
| 2022 | 4 | No. 747 |
| 2020 | 3 | No. 834 |
| 2019 | 3 | No. 871 |
| 2018 | 5 | No. 629 |
| 2013 | 4 | No. 747 |
| 2012 | 3 | No. 907 |
| 2011 | 3 | No. 937 |
| 2010 | 3 | No. 910 |
| 2009 | 5 | No. 641 |
| 2008 | 9 | No. 469 |
| 2007 | 6 | No. 549 |
| 2006 | 10 | No. 367 |
| 2005 | 4 | No. 587 |
| 2004 | 3 | No. 677 |
| 2003 | 4 | No. 559 |
| 2002 | 7 | No. 374 |
| 2001 | 4 | No. 498 |
| 2000 | 8 | No. 324 |
| 1999 | 8 | No. 294 |
| 1998 | 12 | No. 229 |
| 1997 | 30 | No. 156 |
| 1996 | 28 | No. 170 |
| 1995 | 62 | No. 90 |
| 1994 | 45 | No. 116 |
| 1993 | 40 | No. 130 |
| 1992 | 36 | No. 148 |
| 1991 | 26 | No. 171 |
| 1990 | 28 | No. 172 |
| 1989 | 47 | No. 118 |
| 1988 | 41 | No. 136 |
| 1987 | 41 | No. 138 |
| 1986 | 47 | No. 123 |
| 1985 | 34 | No. 162 |
| 1984 | 38 | No. 160 |
| 1983 | 49 | No. 140 |
| 1982 | 53 | No. 136 |
| 1981 | 47 | No. 144 |
| 1980 | 57 | No. 134 |
| 1979 | 64 | No. 121 |
| 1978 | 66 | No. 115 |
| 1977 | 71 | No. 108 |
| 1976 | 69 | No. 116 |
| 1975 | 83 | No. 100 |
| 1974 | 87 | No. 99 |
| 1973 | 92 | No. 92 |
| 1972 | 126 | No. 69 |
| 1971 | 157 | No. 55 |
| 1970 | 168 | No. 50 |
| 1969 | 179 | No. 47 |
| 1968 | 146 | No. 53 |
| 1967 | 162 | No. 42 |
| 1966 | 278 | No. 26 |
| 1965 | 293 | No. 26 |
| 1964 | 272 | No. 29 |
Brigid 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 Brigid, letter by letter.
- BBeith, birch
- RRuis, elder
- IIodhadh, yew
- GGort, ivy
- IIodhadh, yew
- DDair, oak
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Brigid
Questions about Brigid
- How do you pronounce Brigid?
- Brigid is pronounced BRIDGE-id. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- What does Brigid mean?
- Brigid means “power, vigour, virtue.”
- Is Brigid a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Brigid is a girl's name.
- What is Brigid in English?
- The English form of Brigid is Brigit.
- What is Brigit in Irish?
- Brigit in Irish is Brigid, pronounced BRIDGE-id. Brigid means “power, vigour, virtue.”
- How popular is Brigid in Ireland?
- In 2025, Brigid was No. 544 for girls in Ireland, with 6 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1965, at No. 26.