Niamh (; from

Old Irish Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic (, Ogham, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ; ; or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic languages, Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive written texts. It was used from 600 to 900. The ...

) is an Irish 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 f ...

(meaning "bright" or "radiant"),

anglicised Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

as Neve, Nieve, Neave, Neavh or Neeve. In

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths indigenous to the island of Ireland. It was originally Oral tradition, passed down orally in the Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric era. In the History of Ireland (795–1169), early medieval era, myths were ...

Niamh Niamh (; from Old Irish ) 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 que ...

is the daughter of the god of the sea,

Manannán mac Lir or , also known as ('son of the Sea'), is a Water deity, sea god, warrior, and king of the Tír na nÓg, otherworld in Irish mythology, Gaelic (Irish, Manx, and Scottish) mythology who is one of the . He is seen as a ruler and guardian of t ...

and one of the queens of

Tír na nÓg In Irish mythology, Tír na nÓg ( , ; ) or Tír na hÓige ('Land of Youth') is one of the names for the Celtic Otherworld, or perhaps for a part of it. Tír na nÓg is best known from the tale of Oisín ("''uh''-''sheen''") and Niamh ("''neev ...

, the land of eternal youth. She was the lover of the poet-hero

Oisín Oisín (), Osian, Ossian ( ), or anglicized as Osheen ( ) was regarded in legend as the greatest poet of Ireland, a warrior of the Fianna in the Ossianic or Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. He is the demigod son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and ...

. The first recorded use of Niamh (that spelling) as a given name in modern Ireland was in 1911, when two children were registered with the name and when a Niamh was listed in that year's census.

People with the given name

Niamh

* Niamh Algar (born 1992), Irish actress *

Niamh Bhreathnach Niamh Síle Bhreathnach (; 1 June 1945 – 6 February 2023) was an Irish Labour Party politician who served as Minister for Education from 1993 to 1994 and 1994 to 1997. She served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Dún Laoghaire constituency f ...

(born 1945), Irish Minister for Education, 1993–97 *

Niamh Blackshaw Niamh Kate Blackshaw (born 19 November 1998) is an English actress. She made her television debut in a Mr Kipling advert before joining the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' (2017) as List of Coronation Street characters (2017)#Lara Cutler, ...

(born 1998), English actress * Niamh Brennan (born 1954), Irish academic *

Niamh Briggs Niamh Briggs (born 30 September 1984) is a former Ireland women's national rugby union team, Ireland women's rugby union international. She represented Ireland at the 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup squads, 2010 and 2014 Women's Rugby World Cup sq ...

(born 1984), captain of Ireland's women's rugby team, 2015 Six Nations Champions *

Niamh Campbell Niamh Campbell is an Irish author. Her first work was published in Poetry Ireland Review when she was 17; she then went on to study and complete a PhD at King's College London and won a Next Generation Artist Award, publishing ''This Happy'' i ...

, Irish author *

Niamh Charles Niamh Louise Charles ( , ; born 21 June 1999) 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 forwar ...

(born 1999), English footballer * Niamh Cosgrave (born 1964), Irish politician * Niamh Coyle,

camogie Camogie ( ; ) is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and worldwide, largely among Irish communities. A variant of the game "hurling" (which is played by men only), it is organised ...

player *

Niamh Coyne Niamh Coyne (born 22 June 2001) is an Irish swimmer. She competed in the women's 50 metre breaststroke at the 2019 World Aquatics Championships held in Gwangju, South Korea and she did not advance to compete in the semi-finals. Career In Octo ...

(born 2001), Irish swimmer *

Niamh Cusack Niamh Cusack ( ; born 20 October 1959) is an Irish actress. Born into a family with deep roots in the performing arts, she has performed extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and other prominent theatre ens ...

(born 1959), Irish actress, daughter of Cyril Cusack *

Niamh Emerson Niamh Emerson (born 22 April 1999) is an English heptathlete from Shirland, Derbyshire. In April 2018, Emerson competed in the heptathlon in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, where she came third, winning the bronze meda ...

(born 1999), English hepathlete *

Niamh Fahey Niamh Fahey ( ; born 13 October 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Women's Super League club Liverpool, which she captains, and formerly the Republic of Ireland national team. She ...

(born 1987), Irish footballer *

Niamh Farrelly Niamh Farrelly (born 15 April 1999) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for Barclays Women's Championship Womens Championship side London City Lionesses. She previously played for Glasgow City of the Scottish Women's Premier League ...

(born 1999), Irish footballer *

Niamh Fisher-Black Niamh Fisher-Black (born 12 August 2000) is a New Zealand professional racing cyclist, who currently rides for UCI Women's WorldTeam . She is the older sister of fellow racing cyclist Finn Fisher-Black, and was educated at Nelson College for G ...

(born 2000), New Zealand professional racing cyclist *

Niamh Greene Niamh Greene (born 1971) is an Irish writer. Greene was born in March 1971. She studied English and French at university and worked in public relations and tourism before becoming a full-time mother. She started writing while her children were a ...

(born 1971), Irish writer *

Niamh Houston Niamh Houston (born 23 September 1991), better known by her stage name Chipzel, is a musician from Northern Ireland. She is best known for making chiptune music, particularly with a Game Boy. She is also a video game music composer, and is kn ...

(born 1991), Northern Irish musician *

Niamh Kavanagh Niamh Kavanagh ( ; born 13 February 1968) is an Irish singer who sang the winning entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1993. The 1993 Eurovision Song Contest was held in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland. She sang "In Your Eyes" to clinch t ...

(born 1968), Irish singer and 1993 winner of the Eurovision Song Contest * Niamh Kelly (born 1995), Gaelic football player and Australian rules player * Niamh Kilkenny (born 1989), Irish camogie player * Niamh Kindlon (born 1981), Irish Gaelic footballer * Niamh McCann (born 1971), Irish sculptor and visual artist * Niamh McCarthy (born 1994), Irish Paralympic discus thrower *

Niamh McGrady Niamh McGrady (born 4 October 1982) is a film, stage and television actress from Castlewellan, County Down, Northern Ireland. She is best known for her parts as Mary-Claire Carter in ''Holby City'' and PC Danielle Ferrington in the psychologic ...

(born 1983), Northern Irish actress * Niamh McGrath, camogie player *

Niamh Mulcahy Niamh Mulcahy is a camogie player, winner of the Camogie All Stars Awards#Young Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year award in 2007. She was player of the match when Limerick won the All Ireland Senior B championship in 2007 on a team man ...

, camogie player * Niamh Ní Charra, Irish fiddler, concertina player and singer * Niamh Nic Daéid, Irish forensic scientist * Niamh O’Connor, writer, journalist and novelist *

Niamh Parsons Niamh Parsons (born in Dublin, Ireland) is a singer of contemporary and traditional Irish music. Career Niamh Parsons started her professional career in 1990, in Belfast. Having been singing at sessions around Dublin, Niamh first joined the band ...

, traditional Irish singer *

Niamh Perry Niamh Perry is a Northern Ireland, Northern Irish singer who is best known for playing Fleck in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical ''Love Never Dies (musical), Love Never Dies''. She came to prominence when she competed as one of the finalists in ...

(born 1990), Irish singer and actress * Niamh Marie Redmond, Miss Ireland 1996 * Niamh Reid Burke (born 1991), Irish footballer * Niamh Rippin (born 1994), British artistic gymnast *

Niamh Sharkey Niamh Sharkey is an author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Life Sharkey was interested in reading and illustration at a young age. Sharkey was a freelance illustrator and designer in Dublin after graduating with a degree in visua ...

Irish children's author * Niamh Smyth (born 1978), Irish politician *

Niamh Uí Bhriain Niamh Uí Bhriain (; born 1970) is an Irish Catholic policy lobbyist, anti-abortion campaigner and Eurosceptic activist. She became prominent on the campaign against abortion in Ireland. She is the spokesperson for the anti-abortion political ...

(born 1970), Irish activist * Niamh Walsh, Irish actress *

Niamh Whelan Niamh Annette Whelan (born 26 July 1990) is an Irish sprinter She represented her country at two outdoor and one indoor European Championships. International competitions Personal bests Outdoor *100 metres – 11.63 (+1.0 m/s, Novi Sa ...

(born 1990), Irish sprinter * Niamh Wilson (born 1997), Canadian actress

Neve, Neave, or Nieve

Nieve Ella Nieve Ella Pickering (born 1 January 2003) is an English singer. Her 2023 release, ''Young & Naive/Lifetime of Wanting'', charted at No. 38 on the UK Independent Album Chart. She has also supported Dylan, Inhaler, Courteeners, and Girl in Red, ...

(born 2003), English singer * Nieve Jennings (born 1987), Scottish model *

Neve McIntosh Neve McIntosh (born Carol McIntosh; 9 April 1972) is a Scottish actress. Early life Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, McIntosh grew up in Edinburgh, where she attended Boroughmuir High School. She was a member of Edinburgh Youth Theatre in the lat ...

(born 1972), Scottish actress *Neve Gayford (born 2018), daughter of

Jacinda Ardern Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was ...

, former Prime Minister of New Zealand *

Neave Brown Neave Brown (22 May 19299 January 2018) was an American-born British architect and artist. He specialized in modernist Modernism was an early 20th-century movement in literature, visual arts, and music that emphasized experimentation, abs ...

(1929-2018), American-British architect *

Neve Campbell Neve Adrianne Campbell (; born October 3, 1973) is a Canadian actress. After working in Canadian and American television, Campbell emerged as a scream queen for her starring roles in horror and thriller films. She has also appeared in blockbu ...

(born 1973), Canadian actress (Neve was also the maiden name of her Dutch mother)

Fictional

Characters

*Niamh, wife of Slaine Mac Roth in the ''2000 AD'' comic series ''

Sláine Sláine (sometimes anglicized as Slaine) is an Irish language, Irish given name. People Notable people with this name include: * Slaine (rapper), hiphop MC from Boston * Sláine ingen Briain (fl. 1014), daughter of Brian Boru and wife of Sigtryg ...

'' *Niamh, in the book ''

Son of the Shadows ''Son of the Shadows'' is a historical fantasy novel by Juliet Marillier and the second book in the Sevenwaters Trilogy first published in 2000. It follows the path of Sorcha and Red's third child, Liadan, a girl who lives outside the pattern ...

'' by Juliet Marillier *Niamh, in the ABC2 show ''

Please Like Me ''Please Like Me'' is an Australian comedy-drama television series created by and starring Josh Thomas. Thomas also serves as a writer for every episode. The series premiered on 28 February 2013 on ABC2 in Australia and is on occasion available ...

'' *Niamh, in the movie '' Dark Touch'' *Niamh, in the book '' The Kaiju Preservation Society'' by John Scalzi *Niamh, in the ''

Sesame Street ''Sesame Street'' is an American educational television, educational children's television series that combines live-action, sketch comedy, animation, and puppetry. It is produced by Sesame Workshop (known as the Children's Television Worksh ...

'' spin-off ''Power of We Club'' *Niamh Brodie, deceased sister of Jackson Brodie in the book ''

Case Histories ''Case Histories'' (2004) is a detective novel by British author Kate Atkinson and is set in Cambridge, England. It introduces Jackson Brodie, a former police inspector and now private investigator. The plot revolves around three seemingly unc ...

'' by Kate Atkinson * Niamh Cassidy, in the soap opera ''Fair City'' *Niamh Cranitch, in the BBC legal drama, ''

Silk Silk is a natural fiber, natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be weaving, woven into textiles. The protein fiber of silk is composed mainly of fibroin and is most commonly produced by certain insect larvae to form cocoon (silk), c ...

'' *Niamh Connolly, in Channel 4 TV series ''

Father Ted ''Father Ted'' is a sitcom created by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews (writer), Arthur Mathews and produced by British production company Hat Trick Productions for British television channel Channel 4. It aired over three seri ...

'' *

Niamh Donoghue Dr. Niamh Donoghue is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'', portrayed by Jessica Regan. Niamh was introduced as a general practitioner at the fictional Mill Health Centre. She first appeared on 1 May 2014 and made her last a ...

, in the BBC 1 series ''Doctors'' *Niamh Fairbrother, in the book ''

The Casual Vacancy ''The Casual Vacancy'' is a novel written by British author J. K. Rowling, published worldwide by the Little, Brown Book Group on 27 September 2012. It was Rowling's first publication since the ''Harry Potter'' series, her first novel apart f ...

'' by JK Rowling *Professor Niamh Fitzgerald, from the video game ''

Hogwarts Legacy ''Hogwarts Legacy'' is a 2023 action role-playing game developed by Avalanche Software and published by Warner Bros. Games under its Portkey Games label. It is part of the Wizarding World franchise, taking place a century prior to the ''Harry ...

'' *Niamh the Invitation Fairy, in the book series '' Rainbow Magic'' *

Niamh O’Connor (character) The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the British soap opera ''Emmerdale'' in 2004, by order of first appearance. All characters were introduced by the soap's executive producer, Keith Richardson (television executive), Kei ...

, minor character in the soap opera ''Emmerdale'' *Niamh O'Hare, in the Irish TV series '' Hope Street'' *Niamh Power, birth name of protagonist in ''Orphan Train'', novel by ''

Christina Baker Kline Christina Baker Kline (born 1964) is an American novelist. She is the author of seven novels, including ''Orphan Train'', and has co-authored or edited five non-fiction books. Kline is a Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Fellowship recipient. Backg ...

'' *Niamh Reid, in the TV3 series '' Red Rock'' *Ebba/Niamh Rose, known as Rose, main character in the book ''

East East is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from west and is the direction from which the Sun rises on the Earth. Etymology As in other languages, the word is formed from the fact that ea ...

'' by Edith Pattou *Niamh Quigley, in the BBC Television programme ''

Ballykissangel ''Ballykissangel'' is a BBC television drama created by Kieran Prendiville and set in Ireland, produced in-house by BBC Northern Ireland. The original story revolved around a young English Roman Catholic priest as he became part of a rural comm ...

'' *Niamh Keenan, Famous Irish Cardiac surgeon

Places

*The Niamh Passes, a set of mountain passes located in the

world The world is the totality of entities, the whole of reality, or everything that Existence, exists. The nature of the world has been conceptualized differently in different fields. Some conceptions see the world as unique, while others talk ...

Robert Jordan James Oliver Rigney Jr. (October 17, 1948 – September 16, 2007), better known by his pen name Robert Jordan," Robert Jordan" was the name of the protagonist in the 1940 Hemingway novel ''For Whom the Bell Tolls'', though this is not how the n ...

's epic fantasy series ''

The Wheel of Time ''The Wheel of Time'' is a series of high fantasy novels by the American author Robert Jordan, with American author Brandon Sanderson as co-writer of the final three installments. Originally planned as a trilogy, ''The Wheel of Time'' came to ...

Other uses of the name

* LÉ Niamh (P52), a ship in the Irish Naval Service

References

{{given name Irish-language feminine given names Feminine given names