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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dierdre

Dierdre

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Dierdre

Pronounced DEER-druh /ˈdɪər.drə/Medium

Meaning: Dierdre is a common misspelling-turned-variant of Deirdre, the Irish name of the tragic heroine of the Ulster Cycle. Its meaning is uncertain but traditionally read as 'sorrowful' or 'broken-hearted'. The transposed -ier- spelling became a genuine minority variant.Low

In 30 seconds: Dierdre is a variant spelling of Deirdre, an Irish name usually read as 'sorrowful' (said 'DEER-druh').
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Origin MediumEnglish, Irish
MeaningDierdre is a common misspelling-turned-variant of Deirdre, the Irish name of the tragic heroine of the Ulster Cycle. Its meaning is uncertain but traditionally read as 'sorrowful' or 'broken-hearted'. The transposed -ier- spelling became a genuine minority variant.
U.S. rank (2009)#15773 ↘ Falling
2009 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1961
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,115

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196119412009

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dierdre is a variant of Deirdre, the name of the doomed beauty of the Irish Ulster Cycle, whose story is known as 'Deirdre of the Sorrows'. The meaning is debated but traditionally rendered 'sorrowful' or 'broken-hearted'. The transposed Dierdre spelling was common enough to appear steadily in U.S. records from around 1941, cresting about 1961 at just over sixty girls a year.

Both spellings stayed uncommon in America and faded after the seventies. A soft two-beat name with a literary, Celtic weight, Dierdre reads as a mid-century Irish-revival choice; the standard Deirdre is the spelling more likely to return.

Did you know? Deirdre of the Sorrows is one of the great tragic heroines of Irish legend — and the -ier- spelling Dierdre is such a frequent slip that it became a name in its own right.
Overall data confidence 58%
Behind the Name — Deirdre — parent name etymology

Variations

DeirdreDeidreDierdra

Nicknames

DeeDidi

Famous Bearers

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If you like Dierdre…

Deirdre— the standard spelling Dierdre varies
Maureen— a like mid-century Irish girls' name
Sinead— shares the Irish-legend heritage feel
Niamh— another Irish name from the same mythic tradition

Explore names like Dierdre

By themevariantirishliterary

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dierdre mean?

Dierdre is a variant of the Irish name Deirdre, whose meaning is traditionally read as 'sorrowful' or 'broken-hearted'.

How do you pronounce Dierdre?

It's said DEER-druh /ˈdɪər.drə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Dierdre a boy or girl name?

Dierdre is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Dierdre?

Dierdre was an uncommon variant of Deirdre that crested in the early nineteen-sixties and has been rare since.

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