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Home › Baby Names Directory › Roisin

Roisin

♀ Girl

Pronounced roh-SHEEN /roʊˈʃin/High

Meaning: Little rose; from Irish ros, 'rose', plus a diminutive — Róisín Dubh, 'little dark rose', a poetic name for IrelandHigh

In 30 seconds: Ireland's own little rose: Róisín means just that — and Róisín Dubh, 'dark little rose', is a centuries-old poetic name for Ireland herself. A rose that doubles as a nation.
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Origin HighIrish
MeaningLittle rose; from Irish ros, 'rose', plus a diminutive — Róisín Dubh, 'little dark rose', a poetic name for Ireland
U.S. rank (2025)#2716 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births64 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 986

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202519662025

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

Róisín joins Irish ros, 'rose', with a diminutive — 'little rose'. Through the song-poem Róisín Dubh, 'dark little rose', it became a tender poetic name for Ireland under foreign rule, sung by patriots and immortalized by translators like James Clarence Mangan.

It is a steady Irish favorite (singer Róisín Murphy) and reaches the U.S. through Irish-American families — where the spelling, said 'roh-SHEEN', surprises Anglophones. Rare stateside, beloved at home.

Did you know? 'Róisín Dubh' — Dark Rosaleen — is a famous Irish song-poem in which Ireland appears as a beloved woman; the name carries a whole country's longing.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Róisín — etymology

Variations

RoísínRosheenRosaleen

Nicknames

RosieRoSheen

Famous Bearers

  • ★Róisín Murphy (1973-)
    Irish singer and former frontwoman of the band Moloko
  • ★Róisín Shortall (1954-)
    Irish politician and co-leader of the Social Democrats
  • ★Róisín Ingle
    Irish journalist and Irish Times columnist

If you like Roisin…

Niamh— a fellow lyrical Irish girls' name
Saoirse— the companion Irish name with surprising spelling
Aoife— another Gaelic classic Americans are learning
Caitlin— another Irish name
Larkin— shares Roisin's Irish roots

Explore names like Roisin

By themeirishflower
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Frequently Asked

What does the name Roisin mean?

Roisin (Róisín) is Irish for 'little rose' — also a poetic name for Ireland, Róisín Dubh.

How do you pronounce Roisin?

It's said roh-SHEEN /roʊˈʃin/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Roisin a boy or girl name?

Roisin is a girl's name.

How popular is Roisin?

Roisin is rare in the U.S. and a steady favorite in Ireland.

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