Irish female given names come primarily from the Irish language (Gaeilge), with some forms filtered through English. Many end in -e or -a (Aoife, Deirdre, Orla) or in the feminine diminutive -ín (Caitlín, Eibhlín). Spelling reflects Irish phonology: lenited consonants such as bh and mh are usually pronounced with a v or w sound, and the síneadh fada (á, é, í, ó, ú) marks long vowels.

Traditional influences include early saints and medieval literature, which supplied many enduring female names. Today, parents use both revived Irish spellings and established anglicized forms, and outside Ireland the fada is often omitted to ease typing and official records.