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Sheelagh

Girl name · 6 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sheelagh: 6 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 3 births in 1974.

Sheelagh is an Irish and Scottish Gaelic variant of Sheila, itself an anglicised form of Síle, the Irish version of the Latin name Caelia, which ultimately derives from the Roman family name Caelius, meaning "heavenly" or "from the heavens." One of the most famous bearers was Sheelagh Murnaghan, a Northern Irish barrister and politician who served as a Liberal MP in the 1960s, a trailblazer for women in law. The name shares its root with the Roman Caelian Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. While less common in Scotland than its simpler form Sheila, Sheelagh retains a distinctly Irish flavour and was occasionally chosen by Scottish parents in the late 20th century, often as a nod to Celtic heritage.