'aoife' originates from Old Irish, specifically the word 'Aoibhe', where 'aoibh' meant 'beauty, radiance'.

'aoife' changed from the Old Irish personal name 'Aoibhe' and was carried into Modern Irish as 'Aoife'; it has been anglicized in some contexts as 'Eva' or 'Effie'.

Initially it meant 'beauty, pleasantness', and the modern given-name meaning remains largely 'beauty' or 'radiance'.