This list includes 12 Irish girl names that start with D, from “Dara (female usage)” to “Dúnlaith (Dunlaith)”. They range from common modern choices to historic and mythic Gaelic names for babies, characters, or family research.
Irish girl names that start with D are female given names rooted in Irish and Gaelic language and tradition. Several of these names appear in medieval poetry and continue in modern use across Ireland.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Meaning, and Notes.
Name: Contains the given name as presented; you can scan for familiar or variant spellings and anglicised forms.
Pronunciation: Shows a simple phonetic guide so you can say each name correctly and choose a preferred pronunciation.
Meaning: Gives a brief meaning or root sense of the name, helping you understand its literal or cultural significance.
Notes: Includes origin details, alternative spellings, or historical and mythological notes that help your selection or research.
Irish girl names that start with D
| Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | Origin / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deirdre | DAYR-dra (DEER-dra) (/ˈdɪərdrə/) | sorrowful (legendary association) | From Gaelic Deirdre, heroine of the Ulster Cycle; popularised in literature and modern Ireland. |
| Dearbhla (Dervla / Derval) | DERV-lah (DERV-la) (/ˈdjarvl̪ˠə/) | true princess / “true sovereign” | Derived from Old Irish Dearbhfhlaith (dearbh “true” + fláith “ruler”); anglicised Dervla, Derval. |
| Deirbhile (Dervila / Dervla) | DERV-il-ə (DER-vil-ah) (/ˈdʲerʲvʲilə/) | uncertain; saintly associations | Early medieval saint’s name (St. Deirbhile); anglicised Dervila/Dervla; spelling varies. |
| Dervorgilla (Derbforgaill / Dervorgil) | der-VOR-gil-ə (DERV-or-gill-ah) (/dʲɛrvɔrˈgɪlʲə/) | daughter of true song (element uncertain) | Anglicised form of Gaelic Derbforgaill/Derbforgaill, famous 12th‑century noblewoman. |
| Dymphna | DIMF-nə (/ˈdɪmf.nə/) | unknown; saint’s name | Anglicised from Irish/Old Irish saint-name Dimpna/Dimphna; patron saint of mental health. |
| Doireann | DOR-in (DOH-rin) (/ˈd̪ˠɔrˠən/) | tempest / “stormy” (from doireann) | Modern Irish female name; sometimes anglicised Doreen though origins are Gaelic. |
| Dúnlaith (Dunlaith) | DOON-lah (DOON-lith) (/ˈduːn.l̪ˠə/) | fort + (uncertain second element) | Early medieval female name (dún “fort”); borne by queens and noblewomen in annals. |
| Dubhfláith (Dubhfhlaith) | DUV-flah (DUHV-flah) (/ˈduvˌl̪ˠaː/) | dark princess (dubh “black/dark” + fláith “ruler”) | Old Gaelic feminine compound found in medieval genealogies; variants recorded across provinces. |
| Dubhchobhlaigh | DUHV-kov-lee (DUV-kow-lee) (/ˈduv.xo.li/) | dark/black + (element uncertain) | Medieval Gaelic female name (many recorded bearers in annals); complicated Old Irish elements. |
| Dáirine (Dairine) | DAH-ree-neh (DAW-ree-nuh) (/ˈdaːrʲənʲə/) | descendant of Dáire / tribal name | Name of an early Irish dynasty and legendary women (Dáirine); used in Munster legends. |
| Dara (female usage) | DAH-ra (DAH-ruh) (/ˈdɑːrə/) | oak / linked to Dáire (fertility, prosperity) | Originally from Irish Dáire/Dáir (male), now also used for girls as a short traditional name. |
| Derbforgaill (Derbforgail) | derb-FOR-gail (DERB-for-geil) (/dʲɛrʲbˈfɔrɡalʲ/) | daughter of true poets (elements debated) | Old Irish female name recorded in saga and annalistic sources; anglicised forms include Dervorgilla. |
Descriptions
Deirdre
Tragic mythic heroine of the Ulster Cycle; a timeless Irish name used steadily since the 19th-century Gaelic revival.
Dearbhla (Dervla / Derval)
Classic Irish name with medieval roots; borne by historic women and revived in modern usage as Dervla or Derval.
Deirbhile (Dervila / Dervla)
Name of a legendary/saintly woman from the west of Ireland; used in medieval annals and favoured in revivalist naming.
Dervorgilla (Derbforgaill / Dervorgil)
Well-known medieval Irish noblewoman (often anglicised Dervorgilla); the name appears in annals and Gaelic literature.
Dymphna
7th‑century saint with Irish royal origins venerated in Europe; used historically in Ireland and in Catholic tradition.
Doireann
A lively contemporary Irish name with Old Irish roots; fashionable in Ireland and often associated with sea/weather imagery.
Dúnlaith (Dunlaith)
Historic royal name from medieval Ireland, recorded for several queens and noblewomen in provincial histories.
Dubhfláith (Dubhfhlaith)
A poetic medieval name meaning “dark ruler/princess”; appears in annals and poetry, showing Gaelic name-composition traditions.
Dubhchobhlaigh
Rare but well-attested in medieval records; typical of compound Gaelic names beginning with dubh “black”.
Dáirine (Dairine)
Legendary and dynastic name appearing in early Irish saga material; evokes ancient provincial lineages.
Dara (female usage)
Short, unisex traditional Irish name; historically masculine but widely used for girls in modern Ireland.
Derbforgaill (Derbforgail)
Ancient Gaelic name borne by notable medieval women; illustrates compound-name formation (derb- + forgaill).