Niamh as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Niamh

What is the meaning of the name Niamh ?

The baby name Niamh is a Female name , 1 syllables long and is pronounced /niːv/ (NEEV).

Niamh is Irish in Origin.

Pronounced NEEV, Niamh is a modern Irish given name deriving from Old Irish niam, meaning "luster, splendor, radiance," with the -mh representing a lenited consonant yielding a v sound. It conveys senses of "bright" and "radiant beauty." Though sometimes confused with neamh ("heaven"), the roots are distinct.

In early Irish literature, the name belongs to Niamh Chinn Óir ("of the Golden Hair"), daughter of the sea-god Manannán mac Lir, who brings the hero Oisín to Tír na nÓg; this legend helped sustain the name’s cultural resonance. Documented as a feminine name in medieval Ireland, Niamh saw renewed use during the Gaelic Revival and has been popular in Ireland and Britain since the late twentieth century. Anglicized variants include Neve, Neave, Neeve, and Nieve; pronunciations vary locally, but many retain "neev." Related modern short forms such as Niam also occur, while the standard Irish Niamh remains prevalent.