Irish girl name
Fionnuala Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Fionnuala means white shoulder. From the Irish fionn, white or fair, and guala, shoulder
Fionnuala is a long-standing Irish name made from fionn, meaning white or fair, and guala, meaning shoulder. It is best known from the legend of the Children of Lir, in which Fionnuala is the eldest child, turned into a swan by her jealous stepmother. The name has many forms, including Finola in English and Fenella in Scotland, and the pet form Nuala has become a name in its own right. Fionnuala has a flowing, musical sound that suits formal and informal use alike.
Variants of Fionnuala
FinolaFenellaFionnulaNuala
Well-known people named Fionnuala
Fionnuala Sweeney.
Fionnuala popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2019 Fionnuala ranked #700 in Ireland (4 babies) and #13,770 in the US (6 babies). It is far more popular in Ireland than in America.
Ireland (girls)United States (girls)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
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 Fionnuala mean?
Fionnuala means "white shoulder". From the Irish fionn, white or fair, and guala, shoulder.
How do you pronounce Fionnuala?
Fionnuala is pronounced fin-NOO-la.
What is the origin of Fionnuala?
Fionnuala is of Irish origin. From the Irish fionn, white or fair, and guala, shoulder.