Irish names
What are Irish names like?
Saoirse uses the Irish word for “freedom”. Aidan is an English spelling of the Irish name Aodhán.
Irish names carry the sound of the Gaelic language itself, with spellings that look unfamiliar but unlock into names like Aoife (EE fa) or Saoirse (SEER sha) once spoken aloud. Many come straight out of Irish mythology, warriors and queens like Niamh and Oisin, or honor patron saints like Brigid and Patrick.
Where these names rank todayCanada · England and Wales · Scotland · Ireland · New South Wales · South Australia
Part ofEuropean names
Aidan little fire, fiery one (Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne)
Aoibhinn radiant beauty, delightful
Aoife beauty, radiance (legendary warrior queen in Irish myth)
Brendan prince, sword (Saint Brendan the Navigator)
Bronagh sorrow, compassion
Béibhinn fair lady, white lady (mythological princess)
Caoilfhionn from Old Irish cáel, "slender", and finn, "white or blessed"; borne by several Irish saints
Caoimhe gentle, beautiful, precious
Cathal battle rule, strong in war
Cian ancient, enduring (mythological figure, father of Lugh)
Ciara dark-haired, dark one
Cillian probably Old Irish cell, "church", with a diminutive suffix; famously borne by actor Cillian Murphy
Clodagh named for a river goddess in Irish mythology
Conor lover of hounds, wise counsel (legendary King Conchobar mac Nessa)
Cormac son of the chariot (legendary High King Cormac mac Airt)
Darragh oak tree
Declan full of goodness (Saint Declan of Ardmore)
Deirdre sorrowful one (tragic heroine of Irish legend, Deirdre of the Sorrows)
Eilish God is my oath (anglicized form of Eilís, Irish for Elizabeth)
Ella also used as a short form of Eleanor, Ellen and names ending in -ella
Emily rival; among the most popular girls' names in Ireland today
Emmet industrious; famously borne by Irish patriot Robert Emmet
Eoin God is gracious (Irish form of John)
Fergus man of vigor, strength (mythological warrior Fergus mac Róich)
Fiadh deer, wild one; currently one of the most popular girls' names in Ireland
Fionn fair, white (legendary hero Fionn mac Cumhaill)
Fionnuala fair shoulder (one of the Children of Lir in Irish myth)
Grace grace, God's favor; a top-ranked name in Ireland and long loved internationally
Gráinne grain goddess (heroine of the legend of Diarmuid and Gráinne)
Jack God is gracious (form of John); consistently one of Ireland's most popular boys' names
James supplanter; a longtime top name in both Ireland and the US
Killian English form of Cillian, also used in France; probably from the Old Irish word for "church", with an ending meaning "little"
Liam the short form Ireland made of Uilliam, or William, "will" and "helmet"; a top baby name in the US today
Lorcan form of Lorcán used in English, traditionally interpreted as "little fierce one", from Old Irish lorcc, "fierce"; the meaning is disputed. Lorcán was the name of a 12th-century archbishop of Dublin
Maeve she who intoxicates (legendary warrior queen of Connacht)
Naoise mythological (tragic lover of Deirdre in Irish legend)
Niall champion, cloud (legendary High King Niall of the Nine Hostages)
Niamh bright, radiant (heroine of Irish mythology, lover of Oisín)
Nuala fair shoulder (short form of Fionnuala)
Odhrán little pale green one (early Irish saint)
Oisín little deer (legendary poet-warrior, son of Fionn mac Cumhaill)
Oonagh unity, one (anglicized form of Úna)
Rian little king
Ronan little seal (Saint Ronan)
Rory red king (from Ruaidhrí)
Ruairí red king (variant of Rory)
Ríona queenly (from rí, king)
Róisín little rose
Sadhbh sweet, goodness (mythological princess, mother of Oisín)
Saoirse freedom; rose in the US with actress Saoirse Ronan
Sinéad God is gracious (Irish form of Jane; associated with singer Sinéad O'Connor)
Siobhán God is gracious (Irish form of Jane/Joan)
Sorcha radiant, bright
Tadhg poet, philosopher
Turlough shaped like Thor, instigator (associated with harper Turlough O'Carolan)
Ultan man of Ulster (early Irish saint)
Éabha Irish form of Eve, life
Órla golden princess
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