Grainne
Gráinne is a feminine given name in the Irish language. The name is of an uncertain origin, although it is likely to be related to the word 'grá', which means 'love' in the Irish language. The name is also borne by a famed character in Irish mythology—Gráinne, who was the daughter of Cormac mac Airt, a legendary High King of Ireland.
- Irish
- Irish Mythology
- Old Irish
Meaning & Origin of Grainne
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Gráinne is a feminine given name in the Irish language. The name is of an uncertain origin, although it is likely to be related to the word 'grá', which means 'love' in the Irish language. The name is also borne by a famed character in Irish mythology—Gráinne, who was the daughter of Cormac mac Airt, a legendary High King of Ireland.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Irish
- Irish Mythology
- Old Irish
The Story of Grainne
American parents first put Grainne on the record books as a baby girl name in 1969, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1989, when 9 Grainnes were born — ranking #8,037 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 54% of all recorded Grainnes. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2007 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 92 Grainnes have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Grainne
Phonetically similar names — useful when Grainne 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 Grainne
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About the name Grainne
Grainne is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1969 and has accumulated 92 births in the dataset. Grainne's peak popularity came in 1989 when it ranked #8,037. Use the chart and map above to compare Grainne's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
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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.