Irish girl name
Cairenn Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Cairenn means mother of niall. Old Irish name of the mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, of uncertain meaning.
Cairenn is the mother of the great king Niall of the Nine Hostages, in the legends of the Kings Cycle. In the story she was a Briton princess captured by the Irish and made a slave to her rival, who tried to prevent her pregnancy and made her work through it. Her son was left in the wild and later found, and became the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasty. Cairenn is a very rare name, with a firm and clear sound that is easy to say, and it suits families who admire stories of resilience.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Cairenn
CairenCaireannCairin
Cairenn popularity: Ireland vs the US
Cairenn does not appear in the official Irish or US baby name rankings, which only list names given to a handful of babies a year. It is a rare choice in both countries.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Cairenn mean?
Cairenn means "mother of niall". Old Irish name of the mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, of uncertain meaning.
How do you pronounce Cairenn?
Cairenn is pronounced KAH-rin.
What is the origin of Cairenn?
Cairenn is of Irish origin. Old Irish name of the mother of Niall of the Nine Hostages, of uncertain meaning.