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Cadhla

Girl name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Cadhla: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 2025.

With its soft, lyrical sound, Cadhla comes directly from the Irish Gaelic word for ‘beautiful’ or ‘graceful’, though it also carries a secondary meaning of ‘comely’ or ‘shapely’. This gentle name has deep roots in the Celtic tradition of naming children for admired virtues. In modern Irish mythology, actress Cadhla Ní Fhlaithearta is a notable bearer, known for her work in the Irish-language film industry. While no major places are directly named after Cadhla, its root word appears in numerous Irish place names and landmarks, such as Cnoc na Cadhla (Hill of the Beauty) in County Kerry. A particularly charming variant is the anglicised form Kayley or Cayley, which shares the same elegant meaning and flows equally well as a unisex choice.