The baby name Mairead is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Irish/Scottish Gaelic (approx.): 'MAW-rayd' or 'MAY-rayd' — roughly /ˈmaːreːd/ or /ˈmɔːreɪd/,Anglicized (common): 'MAH-rayd' — /ˈmɑːreɪd/.
Mairead is Irish, Scottish Gaelic in Origin.
The baby name Mairead is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Irish/Scottish Gaelic (approx.): 'MAW-rayd' or 'MAY-rayd' — roughly /ˈmaːreːd/ or /ˈmɔːreɪd/,Anglicized (common): 'MAH-rayd' — /ˈmɑːreɪd/.
Mairead is Irish, Scottish Gaelic in Origin.
Mairead is the Scottish and Irish Gaelic form of Margaret, ultimately from Greek margarites, meaning pearl, via Latin Margarita and Old French Marguerite. In Ireland it appears as Máiréad or Mairéad, with the older spelling Maighréad also found; Scottish Gaelic typically writes Mairead, and English contexts often drop diacritics. The name entered Gaelic through Christian influence and the prestige of saintly bearers.
Attested in medieval records, it stayed popular in Gaelic-speaking communities, bolstered by devotion to Saint Margaret of Scotland. Contemporary figures such as fiddler Máiréad Nesbitt have helped its wider recognition. Close variants and cognates include Margaret, Marguerite, Margarita, Margareta, Margarethe, Megan, Greta, Rita, Maisie, and Daisy. Short forms range from Maggie, Meg, and Peggy to the Gaelic Peig or Peigi. The core meaning pearl conveys purity and worth, and the traditional association with the daisy (French marguerite) further colors Mairead’s imagery.
| Mairead Maguire Mairead Maguire is a Northern Irish peace activist best known for co-founding the Women for Peace, later called the Community for Peace People, during the Troubles. Working with Betty Williams and Ciaran McKeown, she helped lead efforts to encourage a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Northern Ireland. |
Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.
| Country | Gender | Year | Rank | Born | of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ireland | Girls | 2017 | #1 | — | 949 |
| SD | 0 | #102 | 1 | 2,130 | |
| MT | Girls | 0 | #153 | 1 | 3,773 |
| AE | 0 | #186 | 2 | 10,220 | |
| SG | 0 | #282 | 1 | 11,010 | |
| Canada | Girls | 2011 | #301 | 8 | 2,850 |
| SA | 0 | #311 | 2 | 10,560 | |
| QA | Girls | 0 | #342 | 2 | 15,378 |
| HK | 0 | #357 | 1 | 8,483 | |
| GT | Girls | 0 | #541 | 1 | 7,500 |
| BH | 0 | #587 | 1 | 17,937 | |
| AE | Girls | 0 | #596 | 2 | 20,968 |
| SG | Girls | 0 | #632 | 1 | 18,916 |
| NG | Girls | 0 | #826 | 1 | 15,093 |
| United States | Girls | 2024 | #898 | 19 | 8,487 |
| ZA | Girls | 0 | #1,236 | 1 | 25,928 |
Mairead is popular in 13 countries — most recent births per country:
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