Irish Baby Name · Girl

Gráinne

Pronounced: GRAW-nya

Meaning: Grain, seed; beloved

About the name

Origin
Irish
English version
Grania, Grace
Variants
Gráinne
Stronghold region
All-Ireland

Overview

Daughter of King Cormac mac Airt and betrothed of Fionn mac Cumhaill; eloped with Diarmuid Ua Duibhne in 'Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne'. Also borne by Gráinne Mhaol (Grace O'Malley), the 16th-century pirate queen.

The story behind Gráinne

Their pursuit by the jealous Fionn covers sixteen years and is told in Tóraíocht Dhiarmada agus Gráinne, the longest of the Fenian tales.

Mythology & legend

Daughter of Cormac mac Airt, betrothed to Fionn but eloped with the young warrior Diarmaid.

Did you know?

Pirate queen Granuaile (Gráinne Ní Mháille) parleyed with Elizabeth I in 1593, both speaking Latin since neither understood the other's language.

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