Sadhbh (name)

Sadhbh
Illustration of Sadb by Arthur Rackham, 1910
PronunciationEnglish: /sv/ SYVE
Connacht Irish: ['sˠaːw]
Munster Irish: ['sˠəivˠ]
Ulster Irish: ['sˠaːwə]
GenderFemale
Origin
Word/nameProto-Celtic *sŭādŭā
MeaningSweet-lovely
Region of originIreland, Irish diaspora
Other names
Related namesSaidhbhín (diminutive)

Sadhbh (Old Irish: Sadb, anglicised Sive) is an Irish feminine personal name. Derived from Proto-Celtic *swādwā '(the) sweet and lovely (lady)', the name is cognate with the initial elements in the attested Gallic names Suadu-gena and Suadu-rix and with Sanskrit svādú-, Ancient Greek hedýs, Latin suāvis (compare Suada), Tocharian B swāre and Modern English sweet.

The town Cahersiveen in County Kerry roughly translates to 'The Fortress of Little Sadhbh'.

The Whiteboys, a secret agrarian organisation in 18th century Ireland, referred to themselves as "Queen Sive Oultagh's children" ("Sive" or "Sieve Oultagh" being anglicised from the Irish Sadhbh Amhaltach, or Ghostly Sally).