Caoimhe
Meaninggentle, lovely · Irish
Caoimhe is a Gaelic girl name meaning “gentle, lovely”, with Irish roots. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length.
Did you know?
- Word funCaoimhe doesn't repeat a single letter: 7 letters, all different.
- Scrabble scoreIf names were allowed in Scrabble, Caoimhe would score 14 points, thanks largely to the H (worth 4).
- GenerationCaoimhe is having its moment right now. Most Caoimhes are still in diapers or at preschool, so picture a Gen Alpha or Gen Beta kid.
- Roll callIn a typical school of 500 kids, your Caoimhe would very likely be the only one. About 1 in 67,114 baby girls got the name in 2025.
- HistoryCaoimhe first shows up in US birth records in 1996, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 29 years since.
US births per million girls, 1996–2025
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
About the name Caoimhe
Caoimhe is a girl name of Gaelic origin meaning “gentle, lovely”. Its two syllables give it an easy rhythm, and the open vowel at the end makes it sound soft and warm. It's a fresh, modern name that only arrived in US birth records in recent decades and is still gaining fans. It's rarely heard today, so it stands out while still being a real, established name.
Origin:Gaelic names
More Gaelic girl names
- Girl name: Nora · honor
- Girl name: Hazel · hazel tree
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Quinn · descendant of Conn
- Girl name: Alana · possibly little rock
Questions about the name Caoimhe
What does the name Caoimhe mean?
Caoimhe means “gentle, lovely” and comes from Irish. Other girl names with a similar meaning include Millie (“gentle strength”), Yuna (“often gentle”), Halima (“gentle, patient”) and Mildred (“gentle strength”).
What is the origin of the name Caoimhe?
Caoimhe is Gaelic in origin, and its meaning traces back to Irish. Other Gaelic names to consider are Nora (“honor”), Hazel (“hazel tree”), Isla (“from Islay”) and Riley (“rye clearing”).
Is Caoimhe a boy or girl name?
Caoimhe is a girl name. In 2025, 24 US girls were named Caoimhe.
How popular is the name Caoimhe?
Caoimhe ranked #5,238 for US girls in 2025, given to 24 babies. That's its best rank ever: the name is at the height of its popularity right now. Over the last five years it has climbed 5,852 places.
What names are similar to Caoimhe?
If you like Caoimhe, you might also like Millie, Yuna, Halima and Mildred.
What should I know before naming my baby Caoimhe?
Caoimhe is a Gaelic girl name meaning “gentle, lovely”, with Irish roots. Irish names are loved for their lilting sound and their links to Celtic saints and legends. A meaning like this gives a child something to grow into, and a good story to tell when someone asks about their name. It sounds soft and friendly, it's simple to spell and say, and it pairs well with middle names of almost any length. Say it out loud with your last name and any middle names you're considering, and check the initials it makes.