ABBÁN m IrishMeans "little abbot", derived from Irish
abb "abbot" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint, the son of King Cormac of Leinster.
AILBHE f & m IrishPossibly derived from the old Gaelic root
albho meaning "white". In Irish legend this was the name of a female warrior of the Fianna. It was also the name of a 6th-century masculine saint.
AILILL m Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "elf" in Irish Gaelic. This name occurs frequently in Irish legend, borne for example by the husband of Queen
Medb.
ÁINE f IrishMeans "radiance" in Gaelic. This was the name of the queen of the fairies in Celtic mythology. It is also taken as an Irish form of
Anne.
AISLING f IrishMeans "dream" or "vision" in Irish Gaelic. This name was created in the 20th century.
ALANNAH f English (Modern), IrishVariant of
ALANA. It has been influenced by the affectionate Anglo-Irish word
alannah, from the Irish Gaelic phrase
a leanbh meaning "O child".
AODH m Irish, Scottish, Irish MythologyFrom the old Irish name
Áed, which meant "fire". This was a very popular name in early Ireland, being borne by numerous figures in Irish mythology and several high kings. It has been traditionally Anglicized as
Hugh.
AODHÁN m Irish, Scottish, Irish MythologyFrom the old Irish name
Áedán, a diminutive of
Áed (see
AODH). This was the name of an Irish monk and saint of the 7th century. It was also borne by several characters in Irish mythology.
AOIBHEANN f IrishMeans "beautiful sheen" in Irish Gaelic. This was the name of the mother of Saint Enda. It was also borne by Irish royalty.
AOIFE f Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "beauty" from the Gaelic word
aoibh. In Irish legend Aoife was a warrior princess. In war against her sister Scathach, she was defeated in single combat by the hero
Cúchulainn. Eventually she was reconciled with her sister and became the lover of Cúchulainn. This name is sometimes used as a Gaelic form of
EVE or
EVA.
AONGHUS m Irish, Scottish, Irish MythologyPossibly meaning "one strength" derived from Irish
óen "one" and
gus "force, strength, energy". Aonghus (sometimes surnamed
Mac Og meaning "young son") was the Irish god of love and youth. The name was also borne by an 8th-century Pictish king and several Irish kings.
ARAN (1) f & m IrishFrom the name of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland.
ARDGHAL m IrishMeans "high valour", derived from the Irish elements
ard "high" and
gal "valour".
BARRFHIONN m IrishMeans "fair hair", derived from Gaelic
barr "head" and
fionn "white, fair".
BÉBINN f Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "fair lady" in Irish Gaelic. This name was borne by several characters in Irish mythology, including a goddess of childbirth.
BERACH m IrishDerived from Gaelic
biorach meaning "sharp". This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
BLÁTHNAT f Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "little flower" from the Irish word
blath "flower" combined with a diminutive suffix. In Irish legend she was a maiden abducted and married by Cú Roí. She was rescued by
Cúchulainn, who killed her husband, but she was in turn murdered by one of Cú Roí's loyal servants.
BRÁDACH m IrishPossibly derived from a Gaelic word meaning "large-chested".
BRENDAN m Irish, EnglishFrom
Brendanus, the Latinized form of the Irish name
Bréanainn which was derived from a Welsh word meaning "prince". Saint Brendan was a 6th-century Irish abbot who, according to legend, crossed the Atlantic and reached North America with 17 other monks.
BRENNAN m Irish, EnglishFrom an Irish surname derived from
Ó Braonáin meaning "descendant of Braonán".
Braonán is a byname meaning "rain, moisture, drop" (with a diminutive suffix).
BRIAN m English, Irish, Ancient IrishThe meaning of this name is not known for certain but it is possibly related to the old Celtic element
bre meaning "hill", or by extension "high, noble". It was borne by the semi-legendary Irish king Brian Boru, who thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. He was slain in the Battle of Clontarf, though his forces were decisively victorious. The name was common in Ireland before his time, and even more so afterwards. It came into use in England in the Middle Ages, introduced by Breton settlers. It subsequently became rare, but was revived in the 20th century.
BRIDGET f Irish, English, Irish MythologyAnglicized form of the Irish name
Brighid which means "exalted one". In Irish mythology this was the name of the goddess of fire, poetry and wisdom, the daughter of the god Dagda. In the 5th century it was borne by Saint Brigid, the founder of a monastery at Kildare and a patron saint of Ireland. Because of the saint, the name was considered sacred in Ireland, and it did not come into general use there until the 17th century. In the form
Birgitta this name has been common in Scandinavia, made popular by the 14th-century Saint Birgitta of Sweden, patron saint of Europe.
BRÍGH f IrishDerived from Irish
brígh meaning "power, high".
BROGAN m & f IrishDerived from Gaelic
bróg "shoe" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of several Irish saints, including Saint
Patrick's scribe.
BRÓNACH f IrishDerived from Irish Gaelic
brón meaning "sorrow". Saint Brónach was a 6th-century mystic from Ireland.
CAIRBRE m IrishMeans "charioteer" in Irish. This was the name of two semi-legendary high kings of Ireland.
CAOILFHIONN f IrishDerived from the Gaelic elements
caol "slender" and
fionn "fair". This was the name of several Irish saints.
CAOLÁN m IrishFrom Gaelic
caol "slender" combined with the diminutive suffix
án.
CARROLL m IrishAnglicized form of
CEARBHALL. A famous bearer of the surname was Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, the author of 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'.
CÁRTHACH m IrishMeans "loving" in Irish. This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
CASEY m & f English, IrishFrom an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of
Ó Cathasaigh meaning "descendant of
CATHASACH". This name can be given in honour of Casey Jones (1863-1900), a train engineer who sacrificed his life to save his passengers. In his case,
Casey was a nickname acquired because he was raised in the town of Cayce, Kentucky.
CATHAIR m IrishMeans "battle man" from Gaelic
cath "battle" and
vir "man".
CATHAL m IrishDerived from the Gaelic elements
cath "battle" and
val "rule". This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint. It has sometimes been Anglicized as
Charles.
CATHÁN m IrishDerived from Gaelic
cath "battle" combined with a diminutive suffix.
CEALLACH m IrishIrish name of uncertain origin, traditionally said to mean "bright-headed". Alternatively it could be derived from Old Irish
ceallach "war, strife" or
ceall "church".
CENNÉTIG m IrishOld Irish byname meaning "armoured head" or "misshapen head". This was the name of an Irish king, the father of
Brian Boru.
CIAN m Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "ancient" in Gaelic. This was the name of the mythical ancestor of the Cianachta in Irish legend. Cian was also the name of a son-in-law of
Brian Boru.
CIANÁN m IrishDiminutive of
CIAN. This was the name of a 5th-century Irish saint.
CIAR m IrishDerived from Irish
ciar meaning "black".
CIARA (1) f IrishFeminine form of
CIAR. Saint Ciara was an Irish nun who established a monastery at Kilkeary in the 7th century.
CIARÁN m IrishDiminutive of
CIAR. This was the name of two Irish saints: Saint Ciarán the Elder, the patron of the Kingdom of Munster, and Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise, the founder of a monastery in the 6th century.
CILLIAN m IrishProbably from Gaelic
ceall "church" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint who evangelized in Franconia. He was martyred in Würzburg.
CINÁED m Scottish, IrishMeans "born of fire" in Gaelic. This was the name of the first king of the Scots and Picts (9th century). It is often Anglicized as
Kenneth.
CLANCY m Irish, English (Rare)From the Irish surname
Mac Fhlannchaidh which means "son of Flannchadh". The Gaelic name Flannchadh means "red warrior".
CLÍODHNA f Irish, Irish MythologyPossibly means "shapely" in Irish Gaelic. In Irish legend this was the name of a beautiful goddess. She fell in love with a mortal named Ciabhan and left the Land of Promise with him, but when she arrived on the other shore she was swept to sea by a great wave.
CLODAGH f IrishFrom the name of a river in Tipperary, Ireland.
COLMÁN m IrishDiminutive of
Colm (see
COLUM). This was the name of a large number of Irish saints.
COLUM m IrishIrish form of
COLUMBA. This is also an Old Irish word meaning "dove", derived from Latin
columba.
COLUMBAN m IrishPossibly an Irish diminutive of
COLUMBA. Alternatively, it may be derived from Old Irish
colum "dove" and
bán "white". The 7th-century Saint Columban of Leinster was the founder of several monasteries in Europe.
COMHGHALL m IrishMeans "joint pledge" from Irish
comh "together" and
gall "pledge".
COMHGHÁN m IrishMeans "born together" from Irish
comh "together" and
gan "born".
CONALL m Irish, Scottish, Irish MythologyMeans "strong wolf" in Gaelic. This is the name of several characters in Irish legend including the hero Conall Cernach ("Conall of the victories"), a member of the Red Branch of Ulster, who avenged
Cúchulainn's death by killing Lugaid.
CONAN m IrishMeans "little wolf" or "little hound" from Irish
cú "wolf, hound" combined with a diminutive suffix. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was the author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories.
CONLETH m IrishModern form of the old Irish name
Conláed, possibly meaning "chaste fire" from Gaelic
connla "chaste" and
aodh "fire". Saint Conláed was a 5th-century bishop of Kildare.
CONOR m Irish, English, Irish MythologyAnglicized form of the Gaelic name
Conchobhar, derived from Old Irish
con "hound, dog, wolf" and
cobar "desiring". It has been in use in Ireland for centuries and was the name of several Irish kings. It was also borne by the legendary Ulster king Conchobar mac Nessa, known for his tragic desire for
Deirdre.
CORMAC m IrishPossibly derived from Irish Gaelic
corb "raven" or "wheel" and
mac "son". This was the name of a 3rd-century king of Ireland.
CUÁN m IrishMeans "little wolf" or "little hound" from the Irish element
cú meaning "wolf, hound" combined with a diminutive suffix.
CUIMÍN m IrishPossibly from Celtic
cam meaning "bent, crooked". This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
DÁIRE m Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "fruitful, fertile" in Irish Gaelic. This name is borne by many figures in Irish legend, including the Ulster chief who reneged on his promise to loan the Brown Bull of Cooley to
Medb, starting the war between Connacht and Ulster as told in the Irish epic 'The Cattle Raid of Cooley'.
DÁIRÍNE f IrishDerived from Irish Gaelic
dáire meaning "fruitful, fertile".
DÁITHÍ m IrishPossibly means "swift" in Irish Gaelic. It is sometimes used as an Irish form of
David.
DÁLACH m IrishDerived from Irish
dál meaning "assembly".
DALEY m Irish, English (Rare)From an Irish surname which was derived from
Ó Dálaigh meaning "descendant of Dálach". The name
Dálach means "assembly" in Gaelic.
DAMHÁN m IrishMeans "fawn" from Gaelic
damh "stag, ox" combined with a diminutive suffix.
DAMHNAIT f IrishMeans "fawn" from Gaelic
damh "stag, ox" combined with a diminutive suffix.
DARA (1) m IrishFrom the Irish
Mac Dara which means "oak tree". This was the name of a 6th-century saint from Connemara. It is also used as an Anglicized form of
DÁIRE.
DEARBHÁIL f IrishMeans "daughter of Fál", derived from the Old Irish poetic word
der meaning "daughter" and
Fál, a legendary name for Ireland.
DECLAN m IrishAnglicized form of Irish
Deaglán, which is of unknown meaning. Saint Declan was a 5th-century missionary to Ireland.
DEIRBHILE f IrishMeans "daughter of a poet" from Old Irish
der "daughter" and
file "poet". This was the name of a 6th-century Irish saint.
DEIRDRE f English, Irish, Irish MythologyFrom the older Gaelic form
Derdriu, meaning unknown, possibly derived from Old Irish
der meaning "daughter". This was the name of a tragic character in Irish legend who died of a broken heart after
Conchobhar, the king of Ulster, forced her to be his bride and killed her lover
Naoise.
... [more] DESMOND m English, IrishFrom an Irish surname which was derived from
Deasmhumhain meaning "South Munster", originally indicating a person who came from that region in Ireland.
DIARMAID m Irish, Irish MythologyPerhaps means "without envy" in Irish. In Irish mythology this was the name of a warrior who became the lover of
Gráinne. It was also the name of several ancient Irish kings.
DOIREANN f Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "sullen, tempestuous" in Irish. This was the name of several characters in Irish legend, including a daughter of Bodb Derg who poisoned
Fionn mac Cumhail.
DORAN m IrishFrom an Irish surname which was derived from
Ó Deoráin meaning "descendant of Deoradhán". The name
Deoradhán means "exile, wanderer" in Gaelic.
DOUGAL m Scottish, IrishAnglicized form of the Gaelic name
Dubhghall, which meant "dark stranger" from
dubh "dark" and
gall "stranger".
DOYLE m IrishFrom an Irish surname which was derived from
Ó Dubhghaill meaning "descendant of Dubhghall" (see
DOUGAL). Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) was the author of the Sherlock Holmes mystery stories.
DRISCOLL m English (Rare), IrishFrom an Irish surname which was an Anglicized form of
Ó Eidirsceóil meaning "descendant of the messenger".
DUANE m English, IrishFrom an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname
Ó Dubhán meaning "descendant of
DUBHÁN".
DUBHÁN m IrishIrish name derived from
dubh "dark, black" combined with a diminutive suffix.
DYMPHNA f IrishAnglicized form of
DAMHNAIT. This was the name of a 7th-century Irish saint who was martyred by her father. She is the patron saint of the mentally ill.
ÉAMON m IrishVariant of
ÉAMONN. This name was borne by American-born Irish president Éamon de Valera (1882-1975), whose birth name was Edward.
ÉIBHEAR m Irish, Irish MythologyMeaning unknown. According to Irish legend this name belonged to two of the sons of Míl, Éibhear Dunn and Éibhear Finn, the first of the Gaels to conquer Ireland.
EILEEN f Irish, EnglishAnglicized form of
EIBHLÍN. It is also sometimes considered an Irish form of
HELEN. It first became popular in the English-speaking world outside of Ireland near the end of the 19th century.
ÉIMHÍN m IrishPossibly means "swift, prompt" in Irish Gaelic.
EMER f Irish, Irish MythologyPossibly from Gaelic
eimh "swift". In Irish legend she was the wife of
Cúchulainn. She was said to possess the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, voice, speech, needlework, wisdom and chastity.
ÉNNA m IrishPossibly means "bird-like" in Irish. This was the name of several Irish kings and heroes. It was also borne by a 6th-century saint who built the monastery of Killeany.
EOGHAN m Irish, Scottish, Irish MythologyPossibly means "born from the yew tree" in Irish, though it is possibly derived from
EUGENE. It was borne by several legendary or semi-legendary Irish figures, including a son of
Niall of the Nine Hostages.
ERIN f English, IrishAnglicized form of
EIREANN. It has been used as a given name since the middle of the 20th century.
ERSKINE m Scottish, Irish, English (Rare)From a surname which was originally derived from the name of a Scottish town meaning "projecting height" in Gaelic. A famous bearer of the name was the Irish novelist and nationalist Erskine Childers (1870-1922).
ÉTAÍN f Irish, Irish MythologyPossibly derived from Old Irish
ét "jealousy". In Irish mythology she was a sun and horse goddess who was the lover of Midir.
FAOLÁN m IrishMeans "little wolf", derived from Gaelic
fáel "wolf" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an Irish saint who did missionary work in Scotland.
FEARDORCHA m IrishMeans "dark man" from Gaelic
fear "man" and
dorcha "dark".
FEARGHAL m IrishMeans "man of valour", derived from the Gaelic elements
fear "man" and
gal "valour". This was the name of an 8th-century king of Ireland.
FEARGHAS m Irish, Scottish, Irish MythologyMeans "man of vigour", derived from the Gaelic elements
fear "man" and
gus "vigour". This was the name of several characters in Irish legend including the Ulster hero Fearghas mac Róich.
FECHÍN m IrishMeans "little raven" from Irish
fiach "raven" combined with a diminutive suffix. This was the name of an Irish saint of the 7th century who died of the yellow plague.
FIACHNA m IrishDerived from Gaelic
fiach meaning "raven". This was the name of a king in Irish legend.
FIACHRA m Irish, Irish MythologyDerived from Gaelic
fiach meaning "raven". In Irish legend Fiachra was one of the four children of
Lir transformed into swans for a period of 900 years. This is also the name of the patron saint of gardeners, a 7th-century Irish abbot who settled in France.
FINN (1) m Irish Mythology, IrishOlder Irish form of
FIONN. This is also the usual Anglicized spelling of the name. As a surname it is borne by Huckleberry Finn, a character in Mark Twain's novels.
FINNEGAN m Irish, English (Modern)From an Irish surname, an Anglicized form of
Ó Fionnagáin meaning "descendant of Fionnagán". The name
Fionnagán is a diminutive of
FIONN. This was the name of a character in James Joyce's novel 'Finnegans Wake' (1939), the title of which was based on a 19th-century Irish ballad called 'Finnegan's Wake'.
FINNIAN m IrishDerived from Old Irish
finn "white". This was the name of several Irish saints.
FINTAN m Irish, Irish MythologyPossibly means either "white fire" or "white bull" in Irish. According to legend this was the name of the only Irish person to survive the great flood. This name was also borne by many Irish saints.
FÍONA f IrishDerived from Irish
fion meaning "vine".
FIONN m Irish, Irish MythologyFrom Irish
fionn (older Irish
finn) meaning "fair" or "white". Fionn mac Cumhail was a legendary Irish hero who became all-wise by eating an enchanted salmon. He fought against the giant Fomors with his son
Oisín and grandson
Oscar.
FIONNBHARR m IrishMeans "fair hair", derived from Irish
fionn "white, fair" and
barr "head". Saint Fionnbharr of Cork was a 6th-century bishop who supposedly performed miraculous cures. The Barry Islands off Wales were named for him.
FIONNUALA f Irish, Irish MythologyMeans "white shoulder" from Irish
fionn "white, fair" and
guala "shoulder". In Irish legend Fionnuala was one of the four children of
Lir who were transformed into swans for a period of 900 years.