Muireann: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Muireann is an Irish girl's name meaning “sea white, sea fair.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Sea white, sea fair
- Gender
- Girl
- English forms
- Miren, Moirin
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 196 for girls (2025)
How do you pronounce Muireann?
Muireann is pronounced MUR-in. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Muirenn.
What does Muireann mean?
Means “sea white, sea fair”. The very appropriate name of the 6th century mermaid caught by a fisherman in Lough Neagh. He brought her to St. Comghall who baptized her which transformed her into a woman.
How popular is Muireann in Ireland?
In 2025, 22 baby girls in Ireland were named Muireann, which made it No. 196 that year. That's down from No. 139 ten years earlier. It was most popular in 2011, when 81 baby girls were named Muireann, No. 87 that year. It first appears in the records in 1965, with 5 baby girls.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | No. 196 |
| 2024 | 26 | No. 171 |
| 2023 | 19 | No. 221 |
| 2022 | 26 | No. 183 |
| 2021 | 26 | No. 184 |
| 2020 | 26 | No. 178 |
| 2019 | 33 | No. 160 |
| 2018 | 35 | No. 151 |
| 2017 | 48 | No. 122 |
| 2016 | 57 | No. 101 |
| 2015 | 43 | No. 139 |
| 2014 | 55 | No. 110 |
| 2013 | 49 | No. 124 |
| 2012 | 50 | No. 121 |
| 2011 | 81 | No. 87 |
| 2010 | 56 | No. 120 |
| 2009 | 61 | No. 107 |
| 2008 | 71 | No. 96 |
| 2007 | 67 | No. 91 |
| 2006 | 40 | No. 135 |
| 2005 | 45 | No. 116 |
| 2004 | 40 | No. 122 |
| 2003 | 27 | No. 159 |
| 2002 | 23 | No. 170 |
| 2001 | 42 | No. 116 |
| 2000 | 31 | No. 132 |
| 1999 | 26 | No. 142 |
| 1998 | 24 | No. 148 |
| 1997 | 36 | No. 137 |
| 1996 | 41 | No. 129 |
| 1995 | 28 | No. 160 |
| 1994 | 23 | No. 179 |
| 1993 | 18 | No. 213 |
| 1992 | 19 | No. 213 |
| 1991 | 11 | No. 284 |
| 1990 | 18 | No. 214 |
| 1989 | 15 | No. 240 |
| 1988 | 24 | No. 185 |
| 1987 | 28 | No. 179 |
| 1986 | 17 | No. 227 |
| 1985 | 24 | No. 203 |
| 1984 | 10 | No. 308 |
| 1983 | 14 | No. 267 |
| 1982 | 22 | No. 225 |
| 1981 | 22 | No. 225 |
| 1980 | 18 | No. 245 |
| 1979 | 12 | No. 303 |
| 1978 | 20 | No. 230 |
| 1977 | 10 | No. 311 |
| 1976 | 15 | No. 252 |
| 1975 | 11 | No. 282 |
| 1974 | 9 | No. 300 |
| 1973 | 13 | No. 271 |
| 1972 | 4 | No. 428 |
| 1971 | 9 | No. 289 |
| 1970 | 5 | No. 363 |
| 1969 | 10 | No. 265 |
| 1968 | 5 | No. 327 |
| 1967 | 6 | No. 288 |
| 1966 | 3 | No. 380 |
| 1965 | 5 | No. 297 |
Muireann 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 Muireann, letter by letter.
- MMuin, vine
- UÚr, heather
- IIodhadh, yew
- RRuis, elder
- EEadhadh, aspen
- AAilm, pine
- NNion, ash
- NNion, ash
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Muireann
Questions about Muireann
- How do you pronounce Muireann?
- Muireann is pronounced MUR-in. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- What does Muireann mean?
- Muireann means “sea white, sea fair.”
- Is Muireann a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Muireann is a girl's name.
- What is Muireann in English?
- The English forms of Muireann are Miren and Moirin.
- How popular is Muireann in Ireland?
- In 2025, Muireann was No. 196 for girls in Ireland, with 22 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 2011, at No. 87.