Orla (name)

Órla, Órlaith, Orla or Orlagh (pronounced OR-lah) is a female given name of Irish origin. The root format of the name is Órfhlaith interpretable as "golden princess" as it combines the Gaelic elements ór: gold, and fhlaith literally prince, its full feminine form being banfhlaith. ^[1]

Well known via association with Brian Boru - his sister Órlaith íngen Cennétig (d. 941) was queen consort to the Irish High King Donnchad Donn - Órflaith (however spelled) was the fourth most frequently recorded female name in the annals of 12th century Ireland, and after a long dormant period the name formatted as both Órlaith and Órla became popular in the late 20th century not only in Ireland but also in Scotland despite the name not having a Scottish heritage. ^[2]

It is quite common even in Ireland to see the name written as Orla, without the vowel lengthening fada accent on the o. Unfortunately, this is exactly the same spelling as the Irish word for the act of vomiting.^[3]

Orla is also a male given name in the Danish language.

People with the name Órla, and its common variants, include:

Historical figures

• Órlaith íngen Cennétig, Queen of Ireland, died 941.
• Órlaith Ní Maoil Seachnaill, Queen of Mide, died 1066.
• Órlaith Nic Cennétich, died 1104. The ship, LÉ Orla, is named after her.^[4]
• Órlaith Ní Mael Sechlainn, Queen of Connacht, died 1115.
• Órlaith Ní Diarmata, Princess of Moylurg, died 1252.
• Órlaith Ní Conchobair, Princess of Connacht and Abbess, died 1283.
• Orla Jørgensen 1928 Danish male olympic gold medalist

Broadcasters

• Orla Barry presents a show called Weekend Blend on NewsTalk Radio, a Dublin-based station.
• Orla Guerin is a correspondent for BBC Africa
• Orla Rapple is a well known broadcaster, she has worked for City Channel, Beat 102/103, and AA Roadwatch. She appears on the show, Seoige and O'Shea.

Arts and Media

• Orla Brady is an Irish actress, her most notable and critically acclaimed work was the 1999 film A Love Divided.
• Órla Fallon is a singer, songwriter, and harpist. She was a member of Celtic Woman from 2005 to 2009. She wrote a song called Shooting Star for herself and performed it in the 2005 and 2006 Celtic Woman tours. She successfully recorded it in her 2009 album Distant Shore. Also, serving as the backing vocalist for the song "Patapan" in her Christmas concert, she sings with American superstar David Archuleta.
• Orla Fitzgerald is an Irish actress.
• Órfhlaith Flynn was one of the members of the musical group Anúna.
• Orla Kiely graduated from The National College of Art and Design Dublin and continued her education with a master's degree in the Royal College of Art in London. Her trademark leaf pattern used in her handbag design has become a highly recognisable international brand. Her ubiquitous collection now spans women’s-wear, accessories, wallpaper, home-wares, stationery plus a collection of note-paper for the Tate Modern.
• Orlaith McAllister is a Northern Irish glamour model and former Big Brother contestant.
• Orla O'Rourke, Irish actress
• Orla O'Shea is an Irish singer.
• Orlaith Rafter is an Irish actor and writer.
• Orla Tobin (Rose of Tralee), winner of the 2003 Rose of Tralee contest and singer
• Orla Tobin (born 1982), Irish actress
• Orlagh Cassidy is an American actress
• Orla Gartland is an Irish singer.
• Órla Mc Govern is an Irish actor, improviser and writer.^[5]

Other

• Orla Lehmann was a Danish statesman.
• Orla Noom is a professional squash player from the Netherlands.

References

• Niall Ó Dónaill., ed. (1978). Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla. An Gúm. ISBN 978-1-85791-038-4. 
• "Index of Names in Irish Annals: Órlaith". Retrieved June 21, 2013. 

See also

• List of Irish-language given names