Naoise: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Naoise is an Irish boy’s name from legend: the young warrior whom Deirdre loved in the tale of the sons of Uisneach. Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Gender
- Girl or boy
- Also spelled
- Noíse
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 88 for boys (2025)
How do you pronounce Naoise?
Naoise is pronounced NEE-sha. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Noíse.
What does Naoise mean?
Naoise is a name from Irish legend, and its meaning is unknown. In the Ulster Cycle tale Longes mac nUislenn, “The Exile of the Sons of Uisneach,” Naoise is a young warrior at the court of Conchobar mac Nessa, king of Ulster, famed with his brothers Ardan and Ainnle for their singing and their speed in the hunt.
Deirdre, raised in seclusion to be Conchobar’s wife, chooses Naoise instead, and the lovers flee with his brothers to Scotland. Conchobar lures them home with a promise of safety, and Naoise is killed by Eógan mac Durthacht. Writers including W. B. Yeats and J. M. Synge retold the story, and today Naoise is given to girls as well as boys.
Sources: Behind the Name, en.wiktionary.org, Wikipedia, CELT, University College Cork, iso.ucc.ie.
How popular is Naoise in Ireland?
In 2025, 65 baby boys in Ireland were named Naoise, which made it No. 88 that year. That's up from No. 329 ten years earlier. It's given to girls too: 39 baby girls were named Naoise in 2025, No. 118 for girls. It first appears in the records in 1970, with 4 baby boys.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 65 | No. 88 |
| 2024 | 31 | No. 162 |
| 2023 | 36 | No. 150 |
| 2022 | 25 | No. 205 |
| 2021 | 26 | No. 201 |
| 2020 | 27 | No. 183 |
| 2019 | 20 | No. 237 |
| 2018 | 27 | No. 205 |
| 2017 | 21 | No. 244 |
| 2016 | 21 | No. 237 |
| 2015 | 13 | No. 329 |
| 2014 | 10 | No. 382 |
| 2013 | 22 | No. 245 |
| 2012 | 18 | No. 267 |
| 2011 | 20 | No. 256 |
| 2010 | 14 | No. 301 |
| 2009 | 15 | No. 292 |
| 2008 | 16 | No. 275 |
| 2007 | 16 | No. 247 |
| 2006 | 13 | No. 257 |
| 2005 | 13 | No. 239 |
| 2004 | 11 | No. 244 |
| 2003 | 14 | No. 207 |
| 2002 | 8 | No. 267 |
| 2001 | 6 | No. 297 |
| 2000 | 7 | No. 250 |
| 1999 | 7 | No. 241 |
| 1998 | 8 | No. 222 |
| 1997 | 5 | No. 303 |
| 1996 | 11 | No. 208 |
| 1995 | 7 | No. 241 |
| 1994 | 5 | No. 263 |
| 1993 | 5 | No. 275 |
| 1992 | 8 | No. 222 |
| 1990 | 3 | No. 323 |
| 1988 | 4 | No. 271 |
| 1987 | 5 | No. 249 |
| 1985 | 3 | No. 304 |
| 1983 | 3 | No. 330 |
| 1977 | 3 | No. 333 |
| 1973 | 3 | No. 320 |
| 1970 | 4 | No. 278 |
Naoise 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 Naoise, letter by letter.
- NNion, ash
- AAilm, pine
- OOnn, gorse
- IIodhadh, yew
- SSail, willow
- EEadhadh, aspen
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Naoise
Questions about Naoise
- How do you pronounce Naoise?
- Naoise is pronounced NEE-sha. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- Is Naoise a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Naoise is used for both girls and boys. In Ireland today, most babies given the name are boys.
- How popular is Naoise in Ireland?
- In 2025, Naoise was No. 88 for boys in Ireland, with 65 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. That's the highest it has ever ranked.