Gender Feminine
Pronounced Pron. DIR-drə(English) DIR-dree(English) DYEHR-dryə(Irish)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

From the Old Irish name Derdriu, meaning unknown, possibly derived from der meaning "daughter". This was the name of a tragic character in Irish legend who died of a broken heart after Conchobar, the king of Ulster, forced her to be his bride and killed her lover Naoise.

It has only been commonly used as a given name since the 20th century, influenced by two plays featuring the character: William Butler Yeats' Deirdre (1907) and J. M. Synge's Deirdre of the Sorrows (1910).

Related Names

VariantsDeidra, Deidre, Deitra(English) Derdriu(Irish Mythology)

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   natural   wholesome   strong   refined   strange   complex   serious   nerdy  

Categories

Entry updated January 21, 2022