Scottish Gaelic boy name
Somhairle Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Somhairle means summer traveller. From the Old Norse Sumarliði, meaning summer traveller or summer wanderer
Somhairle is the Gaelic form of a Norse name meaning summer traveller, a reminder of the strong Norse presence in the Hebrides. It is best known through Somerled, the twelfth-century lord of Argyll and the Isles, whose descendants include the clans MacDonald, MacDougall and MacRuari. In the twentieth century the poet Sorley MacLean carried the Anglicised Sorley. The Gaelic spelling looks complicated, but the sound is simple: SOR-lee. It is a name with real history that is still uncommon.
Variants of Somhairle
SomerledSorleySorle
Well-known people named Somhairle
Somerled.
Somhairle popularity: Ireland vs the US
Somhairle 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 Somhairle mean?
Somhairle means "summer traveller". From the Old Norse Sumarliði, meaning summer traveller or summer wanderer.
How do you pronounce Somhairle?
Somhairle is pronounced SOR-lee.
What is the origin of Somhairle?
Somhairle is of Scottish Gaelic origin. From the Old Norse Sumarliði, meaning summer traveller or summer wanderer.