Niamh sits comfortably in the UK charts at #193 in 2024 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
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UK Rank 2024
#193
About the Name Niamh
Niamh is gradually declining in popularity, having dropped 57 places over five years. Its high point was #40 in 2000, and it now sits at #193. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has featured in the UK top 100 for 17 years, demonstrating solid mainstream recognition.
Niamh is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Niamh
Unlikely. With around 251 UK babies named Niamh per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Niamh in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Niamh has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 57 places in the last five years. Its peak was #40 in 2000. Choosing it now means she is likely to be among the last of her generation with this name.
Niamh is a distinctive choice sitting outside the mainstream UK top names. Parents choosing less common names often find their children appreciate the individuality as they grow up, rarely needing to add an initial to distinguish themselves.
Notable people named Niamh include: Niamh McCall — Niamh McCall is a Scottish netball player.; Niamh Moloney — Niamh Moloney is a scholar of law.; Niamh Kindlon — Niamh Kindlon is an Irish sportswoman..
Niamh does not appear in the US top 1,000 baby names, making it a distinctively British choice — your child is unlikely to encounter American Niamhs in the wild.
251
UK babies named Niamh (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.1
In a school of 600
↓ 57 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Niamh
Likely around 1 other Niamh in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
No US data available for this name
✨ Similar names to Niamh
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Niamh Louise Charles is an English professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Women's Super League club Chelsea and the England national team. Beginning her youth and senior career with Liverpool as a forward, she signed for Chelsea in 2020, where she is a five-time WSL winner, four-time FA Cup winner, two-time League Cup winner, and Champions League runner-up.
Niamh (Irish: [n̠ʲiəw]; from Old Irish Niaṁ) is an Irish feminine given name (meaning "bright" or "radiant"), anglicised as Neve, Nieve, Neave, Neavh or Neeve. In Irish mythology, Niamh is the daughter of the god of the sea, Manannán mac Lir and one of the queens of Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth.
Niamh Marie Redmond is an Irish former model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Ireland 1996. Born to parents Ronald and Orla, Redmond grew up the only female child with three brothers in Drimnagh.
Niamh Uí Bhriain is an Irish Catholic policy lobbyist, anti-abortion campaigner and Eurosceptic activist. She became prominent on the campaign against abortion in Ireland.