The baby name Fionnuala is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /fɪˈnuːlə/ (fin-OO-lah).
Fionnuala is Irish in Origin.
The baby name Fionnuala is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /fɪˈnuːlə/ (fin-OO-lah).
Fionnuala is Irish in Origin.
Fionnuala is an Irish Gaelic feminine name from Irish Fionnghuala, built from fionn “fair, white” and guala “shoulder,” giving the meaning “fair‑ or white‑shouldered.” Traditional and poetic, it is linked to the tale of the Children of Lir, where Fionnuala, transformed into a swan, safeguards her brothers across centuries of exile. The name appears throughout medieval Irish annals among noblewomen and religious figures, and later persisted in Gaelic-speaking parts of Ireland and Scotland.
Spellings and variants include Fionnghuala (Irish), Fionnuala/Fionuala/Fionnula, and the anglicizations Finola and Fenella; Nuala serves as a well-loved short form. Fenella gained currency in Scotland and England in the 18th–19th centuries, while Finola and Fionnuala saw revival with the Gaelic cultural movement and remain in steady use in Ireland and the diaspora. Approximate pronunciation is fin-OO-lah or fyun-OO-lah, depending on accent.
| Fionnuala Sherry Fionnuala Sherry is an Irish violinist and vocalist best known as one half of the Celtic-Nordic duo Secret Garden. With Norwegian musician Rolf Løvland, she helped the group win the Eurovision Song Contest in 1995 with the instrumental piece "Nocturne." |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Girls | 2019 | #1 | — | 902 |
| AE | 0 | #187 | 1 | 10,220 | |
| LU | Girls | 0 | #190 | 1 | 4,850 |
| OM | Girls | 0 | #424 | 1 | 15,987 |
| ZA | 0 | #474 | 1 | 14,421 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #597 | 1 | 20,968 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #632 | 1 | 18,916 |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #912 | 5 | 8,487 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,234 | 3 | 25,928 |
| TR | 0 | #1,254 | 1 | 19,440 |
Fionnuala is popular in 7 countries — most recent births per country:
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