Deidre Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DEE-dra //ˈdiːdrə//
Origin: Irish; Gaelic
Meaning: Irish: sorrowful; Gaelic: broken-hearted
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Deidre has its roots in the ancient Irish language, derived from the name "Deirdre" (or "Derdriu"), which is believed to mean "sorrow" or "broken-hearted." The earliest references to Deirdre appear in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, particularly in the tragic tale of Deirdre of the Sorrows, a story that has been told and retold since at least the 8th century. This mythological figure is often depicted as a beautiful woman whose fate is intertwined with themes of love, loss, and tragedy, making her a significant character in Irish folklore.
The story of Deirdre was notably recorded in various medieval texts, including the "Book of Leinster" in the 12th century, which helped to preserve the narrative through the ages. The tale has been adapted into numerous literary works, influencing writers and poets throughout the centuries.
Deirdre's story has been a source of inspiration for many, symbolizing the complexities of love and the consequences of fate, which resonate deeply within the cultural fabric of Ireland. In addition to its mythological significance, the name Deidre has been associated with various cultural expressions, including literature and theater.
The enduring nature of the name can be attributed to its rich historical background and the emotional weight carried by the character of Deirdre in Irish mythology. The name has also seen variations and diminutives, such as "Dee," which maintain a connection to its original form while offering a more contemporary usage.
Overall, Deidre embodies a blend of linguistic heritage and cultural significance that has allowed it to persist through time.
Famous people named Deidre
In this section, you will find notable people named Deidre. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Deidre who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Deidre who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Deidre Hall is an actress best known for Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Brady Bunch Hour.
Deidre Lovejoy is an actress best known for The Wire, The Blacklist, and The Good Wife.
Fictional characters named Deidre
The following list of fictional characters named Deidre is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Deidre is a fictional character from the video game series Fire Emblem. She is a noblewoman and a key figure in the story of Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Deidre, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Deidre. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Deidre was first seen in the United States in 1933.
Deidre has ranked as high as #691 nationally, which occurred in 1963, and has been most popular in New York, California, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Deidre has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Deidre is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Deidre was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Deidre (2004)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Deidre.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2007 | 15 |
| 2006 | 28 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2003 | 36 |
| 2002 | 31 |
| 2001 | 46 |
| 2000 | 47 |
| 1999 | 71 |
| 1998 | 58 |
| 1997 | 103 |
| 1996 | 95 |
| 1995 | 131 |
| 1994 | 148 |
| 1993 | 207 |
| 1992 | 357 |
| 1991 | 283 |
| 1990 | 193 |
| 1989 | 214 |
| 1988 | 276 |
| 1987 | 367 |
| 1986 | 366 |
| 1985 | 343 |
| 1984 | 320 |
| 1983 | 307 |
| 1982 | 285 |
| 1981 | 277 |
| 1980 | 323 |
| 1979 | 316 |
| 1978 | 282 |
| 1977 | 282 |
| 1976 | 255 |
| 1975 | 271 |
| 1974 | 275 |
| 1973 | 292 |
| 1972 | 264 |
| 1971 | 376 |
| 1970 | 506 |
| 1969 | 415 |
| 1968 | 399 |
| 1967 | 380 |
| 1966 | 424 |
| 1965 | 389 |
| 1964 | 483 |
| 1963 | 541 |
| 1962 | 539 |
| 1961 | 455 |
| 1960 | 339 |
| 1959 | 237 |
| 1958 | 167 |
| 1957 | 192 |
| 1956 | 165 |
| 1955 | 129 |
| 1954 | 96 |
| 1953 | 127 |
| 1952 | 118 |
| 1951 | 138 |
| 1950 | 150 |
| 1949 | 141 |
| 1948 | 130 |
| 1947 | 108 |
| 1946 | 78 |
| 1945 | 62 |
| 1944 | 26 |
| 1943 | 7 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1940 | 7 |
| 1938 | 5 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1936 | 6 |
| 1935 | 5 |
| 1934 | 7 |
| 1933 | 5 |