girl's name
Sadhbh
SIVE
- Origin Irish
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 1
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (Ireland)
- Births on record 3,239
Ireland
#32
2025 births
Sadhbh is a girl's name of Irish origin meaning "sweet" or "good." In legend Sadhbh is the mother of Oisín, enchanted into the form of a deer, and the name ranked 32nd in Ireland in 2025 with 129 births.
- Sadhbh is a name of Irish origin.
- Peaked in Ireland in 2022, when 153 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade in Ireland.
- Today about 1 in 348 babies in Ireland is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1971.
Sadhbh over time
Births per decade in Ireland, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 22 |
| 1980s | 60 |
| 1990s | 250 |
| 2000s | 741 |
| 2010s | 1,208 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 797 |
What Sadhbh means
Sadhbh means sweet, pleasant or good-natured. It describes disposition rather than appearance, which sets it apart from the many Irish names built on fairness or beauty, and it was one of the most common women's names in medieval Ireland before its spelling put English speakers off.
Where Sadhbh comes from
Sadhbh comes from the Old Irish Sadb, from a root meaning sweet or good — related to the same ancient word that gives the Latin suavis. It was borne by a daughter of Brian Boru and by numerous medieval noblewomen, and was among the most frequently recorded female names in Ireland before the seventeenth century. In mythology Sadhbh is the woman turned into a deer by the druid Fear Doirche after refusing him; Fionn mac Cumhaill finds her, she returns to human form while in his protection, and their son Oisín — little deer — carries the story forward. English speakers rendered it Sive or Sabia, and the anglicized Sophie and Sally were sometimes substituted for it, though neither is related. The spelling is formidable: it is one syllable, SIVE, rhyming with hive.
Sadhbh in use
Sadhbh ranked 32nd in Ireland in 2025 with 129 births and 253rd in Northern Ireland. It has barely traveled — 3,731 in England and Wales, and it does not appear in the American data at all — which makes it one of the most strictly Irish names in our records, and its story ties directly to Oisín, fifth in Ireland the same year.
How popular is Sadhbh?
In 2025, Sadhbh was given to 129 babies in Ireland, ranking #32 that year. It is one of the most popular names in Ireland.
Where Sadhbh is used
Irish figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year, so a gap means the name fell below that floor rather than went unused. The Central Statistics Office began recording the síneadh fada in 2018, so accented and unaccented spellings are counted separately from that year on. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Sadhbh
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Sadhbh also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Sadhbh over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Sadhbh
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Sadhbh in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Sadhbh
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Sadhbh — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Sadhbh
What does the name Sadhbh mean?
Sadhbh means "sweet" or "good," describing temperament.
How do you pronounce Sadhbh?
SIVE, one syllable, rhyming with hive.
Who was Sadhbh in Irish mythology?
The mother of Oisín, enchanted into the form of a deer by a druid she had refused.
What is Sadhbh in English?
Sive is the usual phonetic rendering. Sophie and Sally were sometimes substituted historically, but neither is related.
How popular is the name Sadhbh?
In 2025, Sadhbh was given to 129 babies in Ireland, ranking #32 that year. It is one of the most popular names in Ireland.
Is Sadhbh a girl's or a boy's name?
Sadhbh is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Sadhbh?
Sadhbh has 1 syllable.
When was Sadhbh most popular?
Sadhbh peaked in 2022, when 153 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Sadhbh?
Sadhbh is usually shortened to Sadie.
Is Sadhbh a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Sadhbh currently ranks #32 in Ireland. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.