Gráinne () is a feminine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

in the

Irish language Irish ( Standard Irish: ), also known as Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Insular Celtic branch of the Celtic language family, which is a part of the Indo-European language family. Irish is indigenous to the island of Ireland and was ...

. The name is of an uncertain origin, although it is possible that it may be connected with the word , meaning "the Sun". In Irish legend, Deorghrianne ("a Tear of the Sun") is the daughter of Fiachna, Son of Betach. The name is also borne by a famed character in

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths native to the island of Ireland. It was originally passed down orally in the prehistoric era, being part of ancient Celtic religion. Many myths were later written down in the early medieval era by C ...

—

Gráinne Gráinne (), sometimes anglicised Grania, is the daughter of king Cormac mac Airt in the Fianna Cycle of Irish mythology. She is one of the central figures in the Middle Irish text ''Finn and Gráinne'', as well as the 17th-century tale '' The ...

, who was the daughter of

Cormac mac Airt Cormac mac Airt, also known as Cormac ua Cuinn (grandson of Conn) or Cormac Ulfada (long beard), was, according to medieval Irish legend and historical tradition, a High King of Ireland. He is probably the most famous of the ancient High Kings ...

, a legendary

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...

. The name can be Latinised as ''Grania''; and can be

Anglicised Anglicisation is the process by which a place or person becomes influenced by English culture or British culture, or a process of cultural and/or linguistic change in which something non-English becomes English. It can also refer to the influen ...

as ''Granya''. The name ''Gráinne'' can also be represented in English as ''

Grace Grace may refer to: Places United States * Grace, Idaho, a city * Grace (CTA station), Chicago Transit Authority's Howard Line, Illinois * Little Goose Creek (Kentucky), location of Grace post office * Grace, Carroll County, Missouri, an uninco ...

'', '' Gertrude'', and ''Gertie''. which is a transcription of: These English names are

etymologically Etymology ()The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p. 633 "Etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ the study of the class in words and the way their meanings have changed throughout time". is the study of the history of the form of words an ...

unrelated to ''Gráinne''. Gráinne is pronounced as 'Grawn-ya' in all dialects bar

Ulster Irish Ulster Irish ( ga, Gaeilig Uladh, IPA=, IPA ga=ˈɡeːlʲɪc ˌʊlˠuː) is the variety of Irish spoken in the province of Ulster. It "occupies a central position in the Gaelic world made up of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man". Ulster Iri ...

where it is pronounced as 'Grah-nya'.

Bearers of the name

, daughter of

Gráinne Ní Mháille Grace O'Malley ( – c. 1603), also known as Gráinne O'Malley ( ga, Gráinne Ní Mháille, ), was the head of the Ó Máille dynasty in the west of Ireland, and the daughter of Eóghan Dubhdara Ó Máille. In Irish folklore she is commonly k ...

(''c.''1530–''c.''1603), Chieftain of the Clan Ó Máille, and

pirate Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence by ship or boat-borne attackers upon another ship or a coastal area, typically with the goal of stealing cargo and other valuable goods. Those who conduct acts of piracy are called pirates, v ...

.Grace O'Malley: the biography of Irelands Pirate Queen 40th Anniversary Edition ''2018 Also known as 'The Pirate Queen' *

Grainne Clancy Grainne Mary Clancy (born 29 April 1961) is a former Irish international cricketer who represented the Irish national team between 1983 and 1988. She played as a right-arm medium-pace bowler. Clancy was born in County Donegal, but educated at ...

(born 1961), Irish cricketer *

Gráinne Conole Gráinne Conole is an Irish-born professor and educational researcher, based in England. She was Professor of Learning Innovation and Director of the Institute of Learning Innovation, University of Leicester. Prior to this, she was Professor of eL ...

(born 1964), Irish academic *

Grainne Gallanagh Grainne Gallanagh (; born 22 June 1994) is an Irish model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Ireland 2018 on 2 August 2018. She represented Ireland at Miss Universe 2018, and placed in the Top 20. Early life Gallana ...

(born 1994), Irish model *

Grainne Godfree Grainne Godfree is an American television writer. She is well known for her significant work on The CW and Greg Berlantis ''Arrowverse''. Life and career She attended Harvard University, graduating with a degree in history. She later entered th ...

, American television writer *

Grainne Kierans Gráinne Kierans (born 20 September 1978) is an Irish football coach and former player who was the head coach of Shamrock Rovers team who play in the Women's National League (Ireland). Kierans, the holder of a UEFA A licence, played as a midfi ...

, (born 1978), Irish international footballer *

Grainne Leahy Grainne Maire Leahy O'Brien (born 2 August 1966 in Dublin) is an Irish international cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at e ...

(born 1966), Irish cricketer *

Grainne McGoldrick Gráinne McGoldrick is a camogie player. She won a camogie All Star award in 2009. See also * Gráinne (given name) Gráinne () is a feminine given name in the Irish language. The name is of an uncertain origin, although it is possibl ...

, Irish camogie player *

Gráinne Mulvey Gráinne Mulvey (born 10 March 1966) is an Irish composer. Biography Mulvey was born in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin, Ireland, and studied with Eric Sweeney at Waterford Regional Technical College, Hormoz Farhat at Trinity College Dublin an ...

(born 1966), Irish composer *

Gráinne Murphy Gráinne Murphy (born 26 March 1993) is a former swimmer who represented Ireland at international level. She qualified for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, though due to illness only swam the heats of the 400m Freestyle. She was forced to w ...

(born 1993), Irish swimmer *

Gráinne Seoige Gráinne Seoige (; born 5 November 1973) is an Irish journalist, news anchor and documentary and entertainment television presenter. A noted Irish language supporter, Seoige is the only television personality to have worked with all four Irish ...

(born 1973), television presenter

References

External links

* http://medievalscotland.org/kmo/AnnalsIndex/Feminine/Grainne.shtml {{DEFAULTSORT:Grainne Irish-language feminine given names