Neal in Irish: Niall
The Irish form of Neal is Niall, a boy's name meaning “passionate, vehement.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Irish form
- Niall
- Meaning
- Passionate, vehement
- Gender
- Boy
How do you say Neal in Irish?
Neal in Irish is Niall, pronounced NYE-al. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Niall mean?
Niall means “passionate, vehement.” Neal is one of the English forms of the name.
Read more about Niall: its meaning, origin and stories
How popular is Neal in Ireland?
Neal wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2014, when 3 baby boys got the name. It was most popular in 1976, when 20 baby boys were named Neal, No. 154 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 5 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 3 | No. 715 |
| 2011 | 3 | No. 730 |
| 2007 | 4 | No. 527 |
| 2005 | 4 | No. 448 |
| 2004 | 4 | No. 439 |
| 2001 | 3 | No. 409 |
| 1999 | 4 | No. 330 |
| 1997 | 4 | No. 337 |
| 1996 | 7 | No. 261 |
| 1995 | 4 | No. 301 |
| 1994 | 4 | No. 299 |
| 1993 | 7 | No. 235 |
| 1992 | 10 | No. 202 |
| 1991 | 8 | No. 216 |
| 1990 | 12 | No. 185 |
| 1989 | 7 | No. 215 |
| 1988 | 11 | No. 186 |
| 1987 | 11 | No. 190 |
| 1986 | 9 | No. 210 |
| 1985 | 10 | No. 194 |
| 1984 | 10 | No. 197 |
| 1983 | 9 | No. 209 |
| 1982 | 15 | No. 171 |
| 1981 | 14 | No. 181 |
| 1980 | 13 | No. 198 |
| 1979 | 8 | No. 228 |
| 1978 | 16 | No. 170 |
| 1977 | 16 | No. 173 |
| 1976 | 20 | No. 154 |
| 1975 | 9 | No. 216 |
| 1974 | 17 | No. 167 |
| 1973 | 11 | No. 200 |
| 1972 | 11 | No. 194 |
| 1971 | 12 | No. 184 |
| 1970 | 8 | No. 206 |
| 1969 | 6 | No. 230 |
| 1968 | 5 | No. 222 |
| 1967 | 6 | No. 208 |
| 1966 | 7 | No. 185 |
| 1964 | 5 | No. 204 |
Niall 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 Niall, letter by letter.
- NNion, ash
- IIodhadh, yew
- AAilm, pine
- LLuis, rowan
- LLuis, rowan
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Neal
Questions about Neal
- What is Neal in Irish?
- The Irish form of Neal is Niall, pronounced NYE-al. Niall means “passionate, vehement.”
- How do you pronounce Niall?
- Niall is pronounced NYE-al. Two syllables, stress on the first. There's a short video above where you can hear it said.
- Is Neal a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Neal is a boy's name.