Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Aoife
GirlIrish· “beauty, radiance”
- Meaning
- beauty, radiance
- Origin
- Irish
- Pronunciation
- EE-fuh
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #2,120
- US babies 2025
- 88
- Best rank
- #1,748 (2018)
- Peak year
- 2018
Meaning and origin of Aoife
Aoife is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “beauty, radiance”.
Aoife is a traditional Irish name usually linked to the Old Irish aíb, meaning beauty or radiance. In Irish legend, Aoife is the warrior woman whom the hero Cú Chulainn defeated and with whom he had a son, and another Aoife is the stepmother who turned the Children of Lir into swans. It was also borne by Aoife MacMurrough, a twelfth-century Irish princess whose marriage to Strongbow linked Ireland and the Normans. It is pronounced EE-fuh. The spelling may challenge English speakers, but it is well known in Ireland, and Eva is sometimes used as an anglicized equivalent.
Popularity over time
Aoife first appears in US Social Security records in 1985. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,748 in 2018, the same year it reached its highest count of 117 babies. In 2025, 88 babies were named Aoife, and it ranked #2,120 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #3,993 in 2000, #2,783 in 2010, and #2,120 in 2025. Of the 2,181 US girls named Aoife since records began, 40% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 592 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Alayla, Merida, Amiracle, Berkeley, and Lexa.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Aoife ranked highest in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | #524 | 10 |
| Minnesota | #849 | 5 |
| Illinois | #936 | 9 |
| New York | #1319 | 10 |
| California | #2115 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Aoife is usually pronounced EE-fuh, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-fe”.
Middle names for Aoife
A few middle names that flow with Aoife: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Aoife
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Lists that include Aoife
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Aoife mean?
Aoife is an Irish name that is usually said to mean “beauty, radiance”.
What is the origin of the name Aoife?
Aoife has Irish roots. Aoife is a traditional Irish name usually linked to the Old Irish aíb, meaning beauty or radiance.
Is Aoife a popular name?
Not especially. Aoife ranked #2,120 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Aoife a boy or girl name?
Aoife is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Aoife?
Aoife is usually pronounced EE-fuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings