Girl · #15,243 in 2026

Fionnuala

In Irish mythology, Finnguala was the daughter of Lir of the Tuatha Dé Danann. In the legend of the Children of Lir, she was changed into a swan and cursed by her stepmother, Aoife, to wander the lakes and rivers of Ireland, with her brothers Fiachra, Conn and Aodh, for 900 years until saved by the marriage of Lairgren, son of Colman, son of Cobthach, and Deoch, daughter of Finghin, whose union…

Current Rank
#15,243
Peak Rank
#9,230 (2010)
Total Babies
158
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1985
First Year
2024
Last Year
2010
Peak Year
#9230
Peak Rank
158
Total Count
22
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Fionnuala

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

In Irish mythology, Finnguala was the daughter of Lir of the Tuatha Dé Danann. In the legend of the Children of Lir, she was changed into a swan and cursed by her stepmother, Aoife, to wander the lakes and rivers of Ireland, with her brothers Fiachra, Conn and Aodh, for 900 years until saved by the marriage of Lairgren, son of Colman, son of Cobthach, and Deoch, daughter of Finghin, whose union…

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Fionnuala

Fionnuala first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1985, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2010, when 12 Fionnualas were born — ranking #9,230 that year. As of 2026, Fionnuala ranks #15,243 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 158 Fionnualas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

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Top 10
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No data

Notable people named Fionnuala

A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.

  • Fionnuala Boyd
  • Fionnuala Carr
  • Fionnuala Ellwood
  • Fionnuala Kenny
  • Fionnuala McCormack
  • Fionnuala Ní Aoláin
  • Fionnuala Ní Fhlatharta
  • Fionnuala Ní Flaithbheartaigh

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Names that sound like Fionnuala

Phonetically similar names — useful when Fionnuala is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fionnuala

What does the name Fionnuala mean?
In Irish mythology, Finnguala was the daughter of Lir of the Tuatha Dé Danann. In the legend of the Children of Lir, she was changed into a swan and cursed by her stepmother, Aoife, to wander the lakes and rivers of Ireland, with her brothers Fiachra, Conn and Aodh, for 900 years until saved by the marriage of Lairgren, son of Colman, son of Cobthach, and Deoch, daughter of Finghin, whose union…
How popular is Fionnuala in 2026?
In 2026, Fionnuala ranks #15,243 among girls' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Fionnuala most popular?
Fionnuala reached its peak popularity in 2010, ranking #9,230 that year with 12 babies given the name.
Is Fionnuala a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Fionnuala is primarily a girl's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a boy's name.
What names go well with Fionnuala?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Fionnuala include Aleka, Sahirah, Quinne. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Fionnuala

Fionnuala is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1985 and has accumulated 158 births in the dataset. Fionnuala's peak popularity came in 2010 when it ranked #9,230. Use the chart and map above to compare Fionnuala's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.