List of Irish given names

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For a discussion of Irish surnames, see Irish name.

Given names in Ireland consist of a mixture of names from many different languages. Names from the Irish language are popular, but there is also a good proportion of English-language names such as Amy, Emily, Jack, or Hugh, some of which have Irish equivalents. Many English names, of course, originated in different languages such as French. In addition, many parents choose to give their children names from different languages and cultures, especially as Ireland has become increasingly multicultural in recent years.

Until recently, names such as Kevin and Dermot, although not Irish (their Irish equivalents are Caoimhín and Diarmuid), were particularly common among Irish people, to the extent that in countries with large numbers of Irish immigrants, such as the USA and the UK, they sometimes served as an indicator that a person was of Irish descent. But the increasing use of ethnically derived names in these countries means that such names have now become common among their general populations and are no longer seen as particularly "Irish". Irish like names are common in the Gaelic speaking area's of the west coast of Scotland this due to immigration and similar language in the Highlands. Seamus and Fiona are common names in the Gaelic areas of Scotland.

1 Irish-language names
2 Female Irish Names
- 2.1 A
- 2.2 B
- 2.3 C
- 2.4 D
- 2.5 E
- 2.6 F
- 2.7 G
- 2.8 I
- 2.9 K
- 2.10 L
- 2.11 M
- 2.12 N
- 2.13 O
- 2.14 P
- 2.15 R
- 2.16 S
- 2.17 T
- 2.18 U
3 Male Irish Names
- 3.1 A
- 3.2 B
- 3.3 C
- 3.4 D
- 3.5 E
- 3.6 F
- 3.7 G
- 3.8 I
- 3.9 J
- 3.10 L
- 3.11 M
- 3.12 N
- 3.13 O
- 3.14 P
- 3.15 R
- 3.16 S
- 3.17 T
- 3.18 U
4 Sources
5 External links

[edit] Irish-language names

Until relatively recently the number of regularly used names in the Irish language was relatively small. Father Patrick Woulfe wrote in 1923 that the number of all names then in use in Ireland (in Irish and English) was not more than 80 or 100. At that time the only Irish-language name commonly in use among women was Bríghid. Since then the popularity of Irish-language names has soared. In the 1970s, names such as Ciara, Emer and Niamh were commonly given to girls, while names such as Eoin and Seán increased in popularity for boys. In the 1980s and 1990s, parents searching for unusual names resulted in many previously obscure Irish-language names being given a new lease of life. Among these were Sadhbh and Saoirse for girls, and Daire for boys.

However, the actual stock of Gaelic personal names is vast, estimated to be at least several thousand. A good example is the recently published "Leabhar Mor Genealach" (The Great Book of Irish Genealogies, written and compiled by Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh); it consists of five volumes. Of these, volume four entirely consists of an index of personal names.

Parents in other countries such as the USA have also helped to make these names popular; an example is the case of the girl's name Caitlin. Pronounced KATCH-leen or KOTCH-leen in Irish due to the fada (acute accent) on the last "i", until the 1990s Caitlín was a relatively unpopular name in Ireland, being far outnumbered by its English equivalent Kathleen. In the USA, the name was introduced by Irish immigrants with the pronunciation KATE-lin, and became a well-known Irish girl's name in that country. Due to the influence of American culture in Ireland, the name was then reintroduced in Ireland with the American pronunciation.

The pronunciations of these names are approximate. The Irish language contains many sounds that are not used in English, so it is difficult to write them exactly in a form that is easily readable to English speakers. For example, the pronunciation of Áine has been written as AW-nya, although the real pronunciation in the Irish language is something closer to AW-i-nye, with the middle "i" given hardly any stress, and the last "e" pronounced as a schwa (neutral vowel). However, the simplified pronunciation is close to that used by most Irish people whose mother tongue is English, and is also instantly recognizable to a native Irish speaker. This is true for most Irish names which end in "e".

When a name ends in "ín" (een), a diminutive meaning "little", the stress is nearly always on the first syllable when spoken by an Irish person.

[edit] Female Irish Names

[edit] A

Abhalach (IPA: ['avalɒk])
Ada (AY-da)
Aengus
Afraic
Aibhilín (ay-vil-een)
Aidhne (EYE-na)
Aidchearc
Aífe
Aifric (IPA: /'afɹɪk/) Other spelling: Aithbhreac. An old name, popular in medieval times, with a famous example being 15th century poetess Aithbhreac Inghean Corcadail.
Aighlinn
Aighneach
Ailbhé
Ailbhine
Ailinn
Áine (AW-nya, AH-nya) ("radiance, splendour, brilliance")
Aisling, Aislinn (IPA: /'aʃlɪŋ/, /'aʃliːn/) "a vision, a dream"
Aithbhric
Aileen (AY-leen) from the German Avelina (see Eileen, Eibhlín)
Ailín (AY-leen, AL-een)
Alsún (IPA: /'alsuːn/)Irish form of Alison
Annan
Anghan
Anslas
Aobh, Aoibh (EEV) Eve
Aoibhe (EEV-a) Eva
Aoibheann (EEV-an, EEV-een, AAY-veen) "fair form"
Aoibhlinn (EEV-linn) Evelyn
Aoife (EE-fa) "life"
Aoileann Ailleann (EL-en) Ellen
Athchosán
Athracht
Auice

[edit] B

Badhbh
Bairdlinn
Banbha
Barrdhubh
Bé Bhinn
Bé Bhóinne
Bé Bhoirche
Bé Chobha
Bé Chrotha
Bé Chuille
Bé Dhrona
Bé Gubha
Béabháil
Béaenad
Beagnat
Beatóid
Blthnaid Blathnat (BLAW-nit, BLAH-nit, BLAH-ha-nid) dim. of Bláth, "blossom"
Bláithín (BLAW-heen) dim. of Bláth, "blossom"

Boan
Branac
Brigh
Bríd (BREED) from Brighid, pagan fire goddess, from brigh "strength"
Briege (BREEDGE) Anglicized spelling of Bríd
Broicseach
Bruitbhualaigh
Buing

[edit] C

Cacht
Caimín
Caine
Cainear/Caineadh/Connath
Cainnear
Caireach
Cairlín (KAR-leen)
Caitríona Catriona (ka-TREE-na, ka-TREEO-na)
Caitlín (KOT-leen, KATCH-leen) Katherine, Kathleen
Caitlin (Kate-Lyn) Kathleen. Intelligent, Pure
Cait (KAWTCH) Kate
Caitríona
Camhóg
Caoimhe (KWEE-va, KEE-va) "beautiful girl, gentleness, loveliness and delicateness"
Caoilfhionn (KWEE-lin) "slender, fair lady"
Cat
Catatt
Cearalín (kar-a-LEEN) Carolyn
Cearb
Cearbnat
Cearc/Creach/Searc
Ceasair "shower of hailstones"
Ciar
Ciara (KEER-a) "dark, black"
Cinge/Cingiu
Ciochba
Ciúin (KYOO-in)
Cliona Cliodhna (KLEE-na, KLEE-o-na)
Clár (KLAR, KLAWR) "programme, board, lid"
Clodagh (KLO-da) name of river in Tipperary
Clothra
Cnucha
Cobhar/Combar/Comhar
Cochmas
Coimhgheall
Coincheann
Chícheach
Coip
Coirseach
Colaim
Colla
Coman
Comaín
Craobh (Crave)
Creibhrill
Criadha/Crón
Cróine
Cróinseach
Criadha
Críosa (KREE-sa, KREEO-sa) fem. form of Christian
Cruimne
Cruithne/Loinchead/Onchaine
Cruithneach
Cuimín
Cumaín
Curach

[edit] D

Deirdre, a name taken from Irish mythology, has gained popularity even among people who don't identify as Irish. Drawing: Deirdre's Lament drawing by J.H. Bacon, c.1905.

Damhnait (DOW-nat, DAV-nit) "fawn", "little deer"
Daol
Dar Chárthainn
Dar Cháirtheann
Dar Earcha/Mo-Ninne
Dar Fraoch
Darchaoin/Uirne
Dealbhnat
Dear Draighin
Dear Inill
Dear Dearbhinnill
Dear Lir
Dear Mill
Dearnise
Dear Uise
Dearbháil
Dearbhla (Dervla) "True poet"
Dearchú
Dearmhór
Deirbhre/Deirbhinn
Deirbhile Dearbhaile (DER-vla)
Dearbháil (der-VAWL, DER-val) daughter of Fál (legendary name of Ireland)
Deirdre Daoirdre (DEER-dra, DAIR-dra)
Deirear
Deithchean/Deithghean
Díne
Doireann (DIRR-an)
Donann
Dorngilla
Dovada
Drón
Druighean
Dúine

[edit] E

-een (EEN) Diminutive feminine suffix as in Caitlín/Cathleen (little Catherine) or Máirín/Maureen (little Mary)
Éabha (Aoife)
Éachtach/Éadaín/Eichtdhe/Etan
Éadaoín (ay-DEEN, AY-deen)
Eadhamhair
Ealán
Ealga (AL-ga) "noble island" origniates from an old Irish word meaning Ireland
Earc/Earca
Earnmhas
Eas
Easu
Éibhear
Éimhear
Éile
Eileag
Eilís (AY-lish, EYE-leesh) meaning Elizabeth
Éire
Eavan (Aoibhinn) (EEV-an) "beautiful sheen, fair radiance"
Eibhln Eileen (AY-leen, EV-leen, EYE-leen, eye-LEEN) from the German Avelina
[[]] Eilis Éilís Ailis (AY-lish, EYE-lish, AY-leesh, AY-lish) from Norman-French Aliz, which is a borrowing of Adalheid "nobility"
Eimear Eimhear Emer (EE-mer, E-ver) name of the beloved of Cúchulainn
Eithne (EH-nya, ET-na, ETH-na) "little fire"

[edit] F

Fiona (Fee-OH-na) "a vine", "fair/pale"
Fionnuala Fionnghuala Fionula (fin-OOL-a; fi(u) n-WAH-la) "fair-shouldered"

[edit] G

Gobnait (GUB-nit) blacksmith (<Old Irish goba) anglicised Deborah or Abigail.
Gráinne (GRAW-nya) grain (<Irish grán) anglicised Grace.
Garvan (Gar-van) Little rough one Anglized version of Garbhán

[edit] I

Íde (EE-da) Ida

[edit] K

Kelsey (Kell-SEE)Ceol's island, beautiful island; from the ship's island, shipping harbor.
Keeley (Key-LEE) beautiful and graceful.

Kilgarry (Kil - Garry) Faith follower, or follower of the church

[edit] L

Liadán (LEEa-dawn) "grey lady"
Laoise Laoiseach Labhaoise (LEE-sha) Lisa

[edit] M

Máire Maura (MOI-ra, MAH-ra) Mary
Máirín Maureen (MOR-een, MAHR-een) dim. of Mary
Mairead (mar-AYD) "pearl"
Maeve Maedhbh Medbh (MAYV) "intoxicating"
Muireann (MWIR-an, MIR-an) "sea-white, sea-fair"
Muirín (MWIR-een, MIR-een) "born of the sea"
Mychaela ( ma-ka-la)

[edit] N

Neasa (NESS-a, NAS-a, NYAS-a)
Niamh, Niamhe (IPA: /niːv/)(Neev) "brightness", "radiance", "lustre", "brightness"
Nodlag (NUL-ig) Connemara form of "Nollaig" below
Nóra
Nóirín Noreen (NOR-een)honor (<Honora).
Nollaig (NUL-ig) Noelle "Christmas"
Nuala (IPA: /'nuːla/) "fair-shouldered", short form of Fionnghuala

[edit] O

Orfhlaith Orla (OR-la) "golden princess"
O'loughlin "Chosen warrior"

[edit] P

Póla (POLE-a) Paula
Peigí (PEG-ee) Peggy
Perry (PERR-eh) Perry

[edit] R

Ríonach Rioghnach (REE-na) "queenly"
Róis (ROHSH)
Róisín (ROHSH-een) "rose"

[edit] S

Sadhbh Saibh (SIVE) "wise"
Saoire (See-ra) "free"
Saoirse (SEER-sha) "freedom"
Seoirsín (SHORE-sheen) Georgina
Seacailín (SHA-ka-leen) Jacqueline
Searan (SHAR-an) Sharon, "bitterness"
Seoighe (SHOY-hya) Joyce
Seona (SHO-na)
Síle Sheila (SHEE-la) Cecilia
Sinéad (shin-AYD) Jane, Janet
Siobhán (shi-VAWN, shiv-AWN, SHIV-awn) Jean, Joan, "God is Gracious"
Siún (SHOON)
Sorcha Soracha (SUR-kha, SOR-kha, SUR-a-kha)) "bright, radiant"

[edit] T

Tara (TAH-ra)
Treasa (TRA-sa) Theresa
Tríona (TREE-na) short form of Catríona

[edit] U

Úna Oonagh Oona (OO-na) Winifred

[edit] Male Irish Names

[edit] A

Ailín (AL-een) Alan, Allen
Aindreas (AN-dre-as) Andrew
Amhlaoibh (OW-leev) from Norse Ólafr
Antóin (AN-tone) Anthony
Aodh (EED) "fire", Gaelicized Hugh
Aodhán (AY-dan) "fire"
Aonghus (AN-gus) oinos "one" + gustus "choice"

[edit] B

Barry (Bar-re) "Marksman"
Bartlae (BART-lee) Gaelicized Bartley, originally Gaelic Parthalán
Breandán Brendán (BREN-dan, BREN-dawn) "a prince"
Brían / Brian (BREE-an, BRY-an)
Breifne/Breffní (BREF-NEE)

[edit] C

Caolán (KAIL-an) "slender"
Caoimhghín / Caoimhín (k(w)ee-VEEN) "beautiful child"
Cathal (KAH-hal) "strong in battle"
Cian (KEE-an) "enduring, ancient"
Ciarán (KEER-an, KEER-awn) "dark, black"
Cillian (KILL-ee-an) "a church, a cell"
Colm (Kul-um) "a dove"
Conchúr/Conchubhar Conor Connor (CON-or) often (Cuh-huu-er) meaning "lover of hounds/wolves"
Cormac (COR-mack) "son of the raven"
Críostóir (KRIS-tor, KREE-us-tore) Christopher