Orla (name)


Órla, Orlaith, Orla or Orlagh is a female given name of Celtic origin. The root form of the name is Órfhlaith, interpretable as "golden princess" as it combines the Gaelic elements ór and fhlaith, its full feminine form being banfhlaith.
Well known via association with Brian Boru, whose sister Órlaith íngen Cennétig was queen consort to the Irish High King Donnchad Donn, Órflaith was the fourth-most frequently recorded female name in the annals of 12th century Ireland; after a long period of obscurity, the name—in both the Órlaith and Órla forms—became popular in the late 20th century, not only in Ireland but also in Scotland, despite the name not having a Scottish heritage.
It is quite common, even in Ireland, to see the name written as Orla without the vowel-lengthening fada accent on the "o".
Orla is also a male given name in the Danish language.

Historical figures