Irish girl name
Sinéad Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Sinéad means god is gracious. The Irish form of Jeannette, a diminutive of Jane, from the Hebrew for God is gracious
Sinéad is the Irish form of Jeannette, a name that traces back to the Hebrew meaning God is gracious. It entered Irish through Norman influence and has been a familiar Irish name for centuries. The fada on the é is essential, as it marks the stress and the long vowel in shin-AYD. Without the fada the name is often misread. Sinéad has been carried by several prominent Irish women and is known worldwide. It remains popular because it feels both classic and distinctively Irish.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Sinéad
SineadSeonaidJeannetteJanet
Well-known people named Sinéad
Sinéad O'Connor, Sinéad Cusack.
Sinéad popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Sinéad ranked #692 in Ireland (4 babies) and #9,378 in the US (11 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 Sinéad mean?
Sinéad means "god is gracious". The Irish form of Jeannette, a diminutive of Jane, from the Hebrew for God is gracious.
How do you pronounce Sinéad?
Sinéad is pronounced shin-AYD.
What is the origin of Sinéad?
Sinéad is of Irish origin. The Irish form of Jeannette, a diminutive of Jane, from the Hebrew for God is gracious.