From Irish Órlaith meaning 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereign'.
Orla shines directly from the Irish Gaelic Órlaith, a name of genuine ancient pedigree meaning 'golden princess' or 'golden sovereign' — from ór (gold) and flaith (sovereignty, ruler). It was a name of queens and noblewomen in early medieval Ireland; at least two daughters of the High King Brian Boru bore the name, cementing its aristocratic associations in the Gaelic imagination.
The name has been part of the Irish cultural fabric for over a thousand years, and its continuous use is a thread connecting modern Irish families to their pre-Norman past. Outside Ireland, Orla remained a relative secret for much of the twentieth century, known mainly through the Irish diaspora. Then broadcaster and journalist Orla Guerin of the BBC brought the name to international living rooms through her fearless reporting from conflict zones across the Middle East and Africa, lending it an association with courage and clear-eyed intelligence.
In the twenty-first century, Orla has crossed over beautifully — it sounds both ancient and crisp, unfussy yet distinctive, and sits comfortably alongside popular international names without losing its specifically Irish soul. Its two-syllable lilt and the warm resonance of that golden meaning make it one of the most quietly compelling names in the Irish tradition.