Íde
Say it: EE-da
GirlIrishMeans traditionally explained as "thirst for holiness"3 letters2 syllables
#413
in Ireland (2025)
#410 with spellings combined
9
babies in 2025
#298
best rank (2024)
229
babies since 1965
Up 23
10-year rank change
Íde through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | #410 |
| 2024 | 14 | #298 |
| 2023 | 6 | #543 |
| 2022 | 12 | #338 |
| 2021 | 11 | #364 |
| 2020 | 7 | #485 |
| 2019 | 6 | #546 |
| 2018 | 6 | #556 |
| 2017 | 8 | #473 |
| 2016 | 7 | #518 |
| 2015 | 10 | #433 |
| 2014 | 7 | #542 |
| 2013 | 5 | #664 |
| 2012 | 7 | #562 |
| 2011 | 3 | #932 |
| 2010 | 4 | #758 |
| 2009 | 5 | #641 |
| 2003 | 3 | #655 |
| 2002 | 4 | #512 |
| 2001 | 3 | #606 |
| 1998 | 3 | #499 |
| 1995 | 3 | #516 |
| 1991 | 3 | #515 |
| 1987 | 8 | #348 |
| 1985 | 7 | #362 |
| 1983 | 7 | #365 |
| 1982 | 4 | #467 |
| 1981 | 3 | #533 |
| 1980 | 5 | #432 |
| 1979 | 4 | #467 |
| 1976 | 9 | #312 |
| 1975 | 7 | #343 |
| 1974 | 7 | #340 |
| 1972 | 3 | #471 |
| 1971 | 3 | #466 |
| 1970 | 3 | #447 |
| 1969 | 6 | #322 |
| 1966 | 4 | #344 |
| 1965 | 3 | #385 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0. Spellings with and without fadas are combined; the CSO only recorded fadas from 2018.
★ What does Íde mean?
Traditionally explained as "thirst for holiness"
Irish, the name of Saint Íde (Íte) of Killeedy.
Say it right
EEda
The "Í" is a long "ee" and the "d" is soft. In English the saint is often called Ita.
Not:IDEEYE-dee
The story of Íde
Íde is the name of one of the best-loved early Irish saints, also written Íte and known in English as Ita. Tradition says her name was given to her because of her “thirst for holiness”, though that is a pious explanation handed down with her story rather than a settled etymology.
She was born around 480 in what is now County Waterford and, as a young woman, founded a religious community at Killeedy in County Limerick. She is remembered as the “foster mother of the saints of Ireland”, above all for raising the young Brendan the Navigator. Her feast day is 15 January, and she is a patron of the Diocese of Limerick.
Íde first appears in the CSO records in 1965, and it has always been a rare choice. Its best year was 2024, when 14 girls were given it. The CSO counts Íde and Ide separately, since fadas were only recorded from 2018.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Íte of Killeedy
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Íde | 9 | 71 |
| Ide | under 3 | 158 |
In Northern Ireland
#334 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #334 (2025); 22 babies since 2017.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.