Mairéad
Say it: ma-RAYD
GirlIrishMeans pearl, through Margaret7 letters2 syllables
#381
in Ireland (2025)
#379 with spellings combined
10
babies in 2025
#46
best rank (1982)
4,075
babies since 1964
Down 34
10-year rank change
Mairéad through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | #379 |
| 2024 | 3 | #869 |
| 2023 | 5 | #612 |
| 2021 | 4 | #740 |
| 2020 | 5 | #611 |
| 2019 | 7 | #498 |
| 2018 | 7 | #504 |
| 2017 | 8 | #473 |
| 2016 | 7 | #518 |
| 2015 | 14 | #345 |
| 2014 | 14 | #336 |
| 2013 | 15 | #316 |
| 2012 | 11 | #416 |
| 2011 | 24 | #220 |
| 2010 | 12 | #396 |
| 2009 | 23 | #232 |
| 2008 | 18 | #281 |
| 2007 | 14 | #307 |
| 2006 | 25 | #186 |
| 2005 | 26 | #173 |
| 2004 | 21 | #189 |
| 2003 | 15 | #233 |
| 2002 | 19 | #197 |
| 2001 | 25 | #162 |
| 2000 | 33 | #124 |
| 1999 | 35 | #120 |
| 1998 | 37 | #99 |
| 1997 | 59 | #90 |
| 1996 | 52 | #104 |
| 1995 | 65 | #83 |
| 1994 | 68 | #86 |
| 1993 | 76 | #81 |
| 1992 | 76 | #84 |
| 1991 | 95 | #72 |
| 1990 | 112 | #57 |
| 1989 | 114 | #62 |
| 1988 | 115 | #64 |
| 1987 | 112 | #70 |
| 1986 | 125 | #65 |
| 1985 | 136 | #58 |
| 1984 | 152 | #53 |
| 1983 | 139 | #63 |
| 1982 | 200 | #46 |
| 1981 | 180 | #53 |
| 1980 | 162 | #60 |
| 1979 | 147 | #63 |
| 1978 | 150 | #61 |
| 1977 | 154 | #58 |
| 1976 | 132 | #68 |
| 1975 | 150 | #59 |
| 1974 | 133 | #70 |
| 1973 | 109 | #80 |
| 1972 | 113 | #77 |
| 1971 | 79 | #107 |
| 1970 | 77 | #103 |
| 1969 | 65 | #109 |
| 1968 | 62 | #107 |
| 1967 | 61 | #102 |
| 1966 | 61 | #104 |
| 1965 | 60 | #104 |
| 1964 | 47 | #114 |
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 Mairéad mean?
Pearl, through Margaret
Irish form of Margaret, which goes back to the Greek word for a pearl.
Say it right
maRAYD
Some say MAW-rayd, following the spelling Máiréad.
The story of Mairéad
Mairéad is the Irish form of Margaret. Margaret itself goes back through Latin to the Greek word for a pearl. The Irish name is also written Máiréad, Maighréad and Máighréad, and Scottish Gaelic has Mairead or Maighread.
Two well-known bearers show its range. Mairead Corrigan Maguire co-founded the Peace People in Belfast and shared the Nobel Peace Prize for 1976. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, the Donegal fiddler and singer, is a founder of the traditional group Altan.
Mairéad was a top-100 name in Ireland every year from 1972 to 1995. Its best year was 1982, when 200 girls were named Mairéad and it reached number 46. The CSO printed no fadas until 2018, so the older figures are for Mairead. It is much rarer now, with 10 girls in 2025.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Mairéad (Scottish Gaelic proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Mairead
- Wikipedia: Margaret
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Mairéad | 10 | 41 |
| Mairead | under 3 | 4,034 |
In Northern Ireland
Not in the 2025 list. Best rank #146 (1999); 141 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.