Deirdre

Meaning of Deirdre

The name Deirdre, deriving from the Old Irish Derdriu, is most prominently associated with the tragic heroine of the Ulster Cycle, whose story—marked by prophetic foreboding, thwarted love and the inexorable weight of fate—has conferred upon the name a resonance of literary gravitas and poignant depth. Although its precise etymology remains the subject of scholarly debate, prevailing linguistic analyses often link Derdriu to elements connoting sorrow or lamentation, a nuance that reflects the heroine’s narrative role as both harbinger and victim of disaster. Introduced into Anglophone literary and cultural discourse during the late nineteenth-century Celtic revival, Deirdre has since maintained a modest yet steady presence within Anglo-American naming conventions, where it signals an informed appreciation for Celtic heritage and a preference for names imbued with historical and mythological significance.