Niamh

Niamh is an Old Irish female name (pronounced “NEEV” or sometimes “NEE-iv” in Ireland) and means “bright, radiant”. In Irish mythology and folklore, Niamh Cinn Óir (Niamh of the Golden Hair) was a “banshee” or fairy woman believed to be among the first inhabitants of Ireland. She was also a bit of a femme fatale. Here’s one of the more popular versions of Niamh’s legend. She was born the daughter of sea deities and dwelled in a place called “Tir na nÓg” (the land of Eternal Youth and Pleasure). One day she rode her horse Enbarr across the sea to Ireland and came upon the handsome Fianna warrior and poet Oisín (son of Fionn Mac Cumhail). Upon gazing at this extraordinarily beautiful golden-haired woman on her horse, Oisín fell instantly in love – and she with him. Niamh carried him back to Tir na nÓg where he remained for the next 300 years (although he thought only three weeks had passed). In time, Oisín, longing for his homeland, asked to go back to Ireland for a visit. Niamh gave him her horse and sent him on his way with one warning: do not get off the horse and touch Irish soil or all will be lost. Oisín returned to Ireland to see that 300 long years had passed and the old heroic age was gone. Unable to find his father or the Fianna warriors, he wandered the countryside and eventually came upon some men trying to move a boulder. Oisín, with his legendary warrior strength, was able to move the stone easily with one hand, but his stirrup suddenly broke and he fell off the horse. Upon landing on Irish ground he was instantly transformed into an old man, just as Niamh had warned. The traditional Irish-Gaelic spelling of Niamh is still hugely popular in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It is also on the Top 100 list of baby girl names in England and Wales. Niamh is not, however, a spelling used in the United States (Nia and Neve are more common).