Irish boy name
Midir Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Midir means of uncertain meaning; king of the otherworld. Old Irish name of a god of the otherworld who lived at Brí Léith, of uncertain meaning.
Midir is an otherworld lord of the Tuatha Dé Danann, who lived in the hill of Brí Léith. In the tale of Étaín he is her husband in the otherworld, and he returns for her after she is reborn as a mortal woman. In the telling, he wins her back after playing fidchell, a board game, against King Eochaid. Midir has a pleasant, easily pronounced sound, and the name has a romantic and magical air. It is little used today, and would suit lovers of the tale of Étaín.
Variants of Midir
MidhirMiderMídir
Midir popularity: Ireland vs the US
Midir 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 Midir mean?
Midir means "of uncertain meaning; king of the otherworld". Old Irish name of a god of the otherworld who lived at Brí Léith, of uncertain meaning.
How do you pronounce Midir?
Midir is pronounced MEE-dir.
What is the origin of Midir?
Midir is of Irish origin. Old Irish name of a god of the otherworld who lived at Brí Léith, of uncertain meaning.