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Orlaigh

Girl name · 20 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Orlaigh: 20 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 5 births in 2013.

Orlaigh, an elegant variant of the Irish name Orla or Orlaith, comes from the Old Irish *ór* meaning “gold” and *flaith* meaning “princess” or “lady,” so it beautifully translates to “golden princess.” One of its earliest famous bearers was Saint Orla, a sixth-century Irish nun and foster-mother of Saint Brigid. Modern associations include the actress Orla Brady, known for her roles in *Star Trek: Picard* and *Mistresses*, as well as the spirited character Orla McCool from the hit series *Derry Girls*. While no specific places are named after Orlaigh, the name’s root word *ór* appears in many place-names across Ireland and Scotland, such as the Orkney Isles (though that link is debated). This form is a less common Scottish spelling, sitting alongside the more frequent Orla and Orlaith.