Somhairle
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- SOR-lee
- Origin
- Old Norse
Somhairle is a boys' name of Old Norse origin, meaning “summer traveller”. Too few babies were given it in the latest year to rank.
What does Somhairle mean?
Old Norse: Gaelic form of Old Norse Sumarlidi
“summer traveller”
Somerled, the 12th-century ruler of the Isles and ancestor of Clan Donald, bore this name.
Is Somhairle a girl's or a boy's name?
Somhairle is a boys' name.
How popular is Somhairle in the UK?
No boys in the UK were given it in 2025, or too few to be listed. Its busiest year was 2013, with 4 boys.
Somhairle in the UK, year by year
| Year | Boys | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | #5,198 |
| 2023 | 2 | #6,493 |
| 2022 | 4 | #4,195 |
| 2021 | 1 | #6,364 |
| 2020 | 2 | #6,082 |
| 2019 | 2 | #6,181 |
| 2018 | 2 | #6,210 |
| 2017 | 0 | – |
| 2016 | 0 | – |
| 2015 | 0 | – |
| 2014 | 0 | – |
| 2013 | 4 | #4,008 |
| 2012 | 0 | – |
| 2011 | 2 | #6,146 |
| 2010 | 1 | #6,148 |
| 2009 | 2 | #5,967 |
| 2008 | 0 | – |
| 2007 | 0 | – |
| 2006 | 1 | #5,377 |
| 2005 | 0 | – |
| 2004 | 0 | – |
| 2003 | 1 | #4,616 |
| 2002 | 0 | – |
| 2001 | 1 | #4,138 |
| 2000 | 1 | #4,018 |
| 1999 | 2 | #3,878 |
| 1998 | 1 | #3,884 |
| 1997 | 1 | #3,857 |
Names like Somhairle
Names given in the same years and the same naming tradition, with a similar sound.
Ronan, Ronnie, Rowan, Cove, Rory, Brody, Jesse, Theodore, Rian, Orhan, Lochlan, Finn
More Old Norse names
Freya, Ralph, Eric, Astrid, Colby, Rafe, Odin, Ralphie, Erik, Freyja, Erick, Bo, Ronald, Bjorn, Erica, Raife
Sources
Figures from Baby names in England and Wales (Office for National Statistics), Babies' first names (National Records of Scotland) and Baby names (Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency). Nameling last updated them on 20 October 2026. How the figures are worked out, and the data to download.
To cite this page: Nameling, “Somhairle: name meaning, origin and popularity”, https://www.nameling.co.uk/names/somhairle, updated 20 October 2026.