The story behind Aoife
Borrowed from Irish Aoife. The name is unrelated to the Biblical name Eva, which was rendered as Éabha in Irish. However, due to the lack of a more precise alternative familiar to English speakers, Aoife has often been anglicised as Eva or Eve.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Irish entry
From Old Irish Aífe, possibly from aoibh (“beauty, radiance”).
Pronunciation
General-American: /ˈi.fə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Received-Pronunciation: /ˈiː.fə/
- Irish: /ˈiːfʲə/
Popularity
Aoife ranked #2120 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Aoife
Áine
A derivative of Old Irish án (“bright, brilliant; splendid, noble”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aoibhe
a female given name from Old Irish, variant of Aoife
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Brìde
From Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *brigantī (“exalted one”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to rise”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Brìghde
From Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *Brigantī (“high, exalted”). Cognate with Irish Bríd and Manx Breeshey.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Caoimhe
a female given name from Old Irish, equivalent to English Keeva a female given name from Old Irish, equivalent to English Keavy, Keeva, Keevah, or Keva
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Deirdre
From Irish Deirdre, from Old Irish Derdriu. From Old Irish Derdriu. From Old Irish Derdriu.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Aoife
Adhamhnán
From Old Irish Adomnán (“little Adam”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aeddan
a male given name from Old Irish áed (“fire”), equivalent to English Aidan, Irish Áedan or Aodhán, or Latin Aidanus
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Aidano
From English Aidan, from Irish Aodhán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Aoife
Barry
Anglicized form of Irish Bairre, short form of Fionnbharr, from fionn (“white”) + barr (“head”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Bjólan
From Old Norse Bjólan, from Middle Irish Beóllán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Brandán
Borrowed from Irish Bréanainn (via Latin Brendanus), from Old Irish Brénainn, from Old Welsh breenhin (“prince, king”), ultimately from Proto-Celtic *brigantīnos (“(someone)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length