Medieval Irish Origin Names

This is a list of names in which the origin is Medieval Irish. Irish is the Celtic language spoken in Ireland.
gender
usage
origin
​
Brádach m Medieval Irish
Irish byname, possibly derived from bradach meaning "thieving, roguish, spirited".
Bradán m Medieval Irish
Means "salmon" in Irish. It could also be formed from Irish brad "thief" and a diminutive suffix.
Braden m English
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Bradáin, which was in turn derived from the byname Bradán. Like other similar-sounding names such as Hayden and Aidan, it and its variant Brayden became popular in America at the end of the 20th century.
Brady m English
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Brádaigh, itself derived from the byname Brádach. A famous bearer of the surname is the American football quarterback Tom Brady (1977-). It was also borne by a fictional family on the television series The Brady Bunch (1969-1974).
Braeden m English (Modern)
Variant of Braden.
Braiden m English (Modern)
Variant of Braden.
Braidy m & f English (Rare)
Variant of Brady.
Brayden m English (Modern)
Variant of Braden. This is currently the more popular spelling of the name.
Caiside m Medieval Irish
Irish byname meaning "curly haired", from Irish cas "twisted, curly".
Calbhach m Medieval Irish
Means "bald" in Irish.
Calvagh m Medieval Irish (Anglicized)
Anglicized form of Calbhach.
Carey m & f English
From an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Ó Ciardha, which is a patronymic derived from the given name Ciardha.
Cary m & f English
Variant of Carey. A famous bearer was the British-American actor Cary Grant (1904-1986).
Cass f & m English
Short form of Cassandra, Cassidy and other names beginning with Cass.
Cassidy f & m English (Modern)
From an Irish surname (Anglicized from Irish Gaelic Ó Caiside), which is derived from the byname Caiside. Very rare as a given name before the 1970s, it established itself in the 80s and then surged in popularity during the 90s.
Cassie f English
Diminutive of Cassandra and other names beginning with Cass.
Cassy f English
Diminutive of Cassandra and other names beginning with Cass.
Ciardha m Medieval Irish
Irish byname derived from ciar meaning "black".
Coileán m Medieval Irish
Irish byname meaning "whelp, young dog".
Collins f & m English
From a surname, which is either Irish or English in origin (see Collins 1 and Collins 2). It increased in popularity as a name for girls after it appeared in the movie The Blind Side (2009), which was based on a 2006 biography. As a masculine name, it is currently most common in parts of English-speaking Africa.
Corraidhín m Medieval Irish
Possibly means "little spear" from Irish corra "spear" and a diminutive suffix.
Cuidightheach m Medieval Irish
Irish byname meaning "helpful" (cuidigh means "help").
Cullen m English
From a surname, either Cullen 1 or Cullen 2. It jumped a little in popularity as a given name after Stephenie Meyer's novel Twilight (2005), featuring a vampire named Edward Cullen, was adapted into a movie in 2008.
Curran m English (Rare)
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Corraidhín, itself from the given name Corraidhín.
Fenella f Scottish
Form of Fionnuala used by Walter Scott for a character in his novel Peveril of the Peak (1823).
Finella f Scottish
Variant of Fenella.
Finnguala f Irish Mythology
Older form of Fionnuala.
Finnuala f Irish
Variant of Fionnuala.
Finola f Irish
Anglicized form of Fionnuala.
Fionnghal f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Fionnuala. It has sometimes been Anglicized as Flora.
Fionnghuala f Irish, Irish Mythology
Variant of Fionnuala.
Fionnuala f Irish, Irish Mythology
Means "white shoulder" from Old Irish finn "white, blessed" and gúala "shoulder". In Irish legend Fionnuala was one of the four children of Lir who were transformed into swans for a period of 900 years.
Fionola f Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Fionnuala.
Gilchrist m Scottish (Rare)
Anglicized form of the medieval Gaelic name Gille Críst, or from the surname that was derived from it.
Gilla Críst m Medieval Irish
Medeival Irish name meaning "servant of Christ".
Gilleasbaig m Scottish Gaelic
Variant of Gilleasbuig.
Gilleasbuig m Scottish Gaelic
Means "servant of the bishop", from Scottish Gaelic gille "servant" and easbuig "bishop", from Greek ἐπίσκοπος (episkopos). It was often Anglicized as Gillespie or Archibald (with which it has no obvious connection).
Gille Críst m Medieval Scottish
Medieval Scottish form of Gilla Críst.
Gillespie m Scottish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Gilleasbuig.
Kassidy f English (Modern)
Variant of Cassidy.
Mochán m Medieval Irish
Derived from Irish moch meaning "early" combined with a diminutive suffix.
Móirín f Irish (Rare)
Diminutive of Mór 1.
Mór 1 f Medieval Irish
Means "great" in Irish. This was a popular medieval Irish name. It was probably given in some cases as an alternative to Máire, which was considered too sacred for general use.
Moreen f Irish, English
Anglicized form of Móirín. It is sometimes used as a variant of Maureen.
Nolan m English, French (Modern)
From an Irish surname, the Anglicized form of Ó Nualláin, itself derived from the given name Nuallán. The baseball player Nolan Ryan (1947-) is a famous bearer. This name has climbed steadily in popularity since the 1970s.
Nolen m Hungarian (Modern)
Possibly a Hungarian form of Nolan.
Nuala f Irish
Short form of Fionnuala.
Nuallán m Medieval Irish
Irish byname derived from nuall meaning "famous, loud" combined with a diminutive suffix.
Oona f Irish, Finnish
Anglicized form of Úna, as well as a Finnish form.
Oonagh f Irish
Anglicized form of Úna.
Ormond m English (Rare)
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Irish Gaelic Ó Ruaidh, derived from the given name Ruadh.
Ormonde m English (Rare)
Variant of Ormond.
Ruadh m Medieval Irish, Medieval Scottish
Irish and Scottish Gaelic byname meaning "red", often a nickname for one with red hair. This was the nickname of the Scottish outlaw Raibeart Ruadh MacGregor (1671-1734), known as Rob Roy in English.
Sáerlaith f Medieval Irish
Older form of Saorlaith.
Saorlaith f Irish
Means "free ruler", derived from sóer "free" and flaith "ruler, sovereign, princess".
Sítheach m Medieval Irish
Means "peaceful" or "fairy-like" in Irish, from Old Irish síd. Alternatively, it could be from sídach "wolf".
Sloan f & m English (Modern)
Variant of Sloane.
Sloane f English (Modern)
From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of Ó Sluaghadháin, itself derived from the given name Sluaghadhán.
Sluaghadhán m Medieval Irish
Derived from Irish sluaghadh meaning "raid, mobilization" and a diminutive suffix.
Uaithne m Medieval Irish
Possibly from Old Irish úaine meaning "green". Alternatively, it may come from the name of the Irish tribe the Uaithni.
Úna f Irish, Medieval Irish
Probably derived from Old Irish úan meaning "lamb". This was a common name in medieval Ireland.
Ùna f Scottish Gaelic
Scottish Gaelic form of Úna.
Una f English
Anglicized form of Irish Úna or Scottish Ùna. It is also associated with Latin una, feminine form of unus meaning "one". The name features in Edmund Spenser's poem The Faerie Queene (1590).