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Sometimes people are
looking for a name with a particular meaning. It can be a physical characteristic
(people are often looking for names meaning "blue" or "blackie"
for dogs), personality type (lots of authors like to ascribe characteristics
to a character within a name), places (good for naming houses) or anything
else. Here are Irish names sorted by their meanings to make it easier
to find the perfect one.
| Animals |
the
Land, Geographic Characteristics |
Religion,
saints |
| Art,
poetry, music |
Nobility,
leadership |
the
sea, ocean, water |
| Beauty |
People
and their tasks |
Sun,
radiance, fire |
| Colors |
Personality
traits |
warriors,
courage |
| Fairies,
elves, supernatural beings |
Physical
characteristics |
|
| Ireland,
and places in Ireland |
Flowers,
trees, nature |
Miscellaneous
things |
Names
Relating to Ireland and Specific Places in Ireland:
Name
|
Pronunciation
|
Other Forms*
|
Meaning
|
| Banbha
(f) |
BAN
uh va |
Banba |
the
name of an ealy goddess, and was also used as name for Ireland |
| Bébháil |
BAY
vawl |
Bé
Fáil |
"woman
of Ireland" |
| Dearbháil
(f) |
DER
val |
Derval,
Dervla, Deirbhile |
"Daughter
of Fál" (legendary name of Ireland) |
| Derval
(f) |
DER
val |
Dervla,
Dervila, Dearbháil |
"Daughter
of Fál" (legendary name of Ireland) |
| Desmond
(m) |
DEZ
mund |
Deasún,
Deamumhnach |
Man
from Desmond (in Cork) |
| Desmumhnach
(m) |
DAS
oon akh |
Deasún,
Desmond |
Man
from Desmond (in Cork) |
| Éire |
AY
reh |
Éiru |
"Ireland,"
also the goddess from which Ireland's name came. Make sure you use
the fada (accent mark) on the E-- without it, the word eire
means "burden"! |
| Eireen |
EYE
reen |
Irene,
you could use Éirín. |
Probably
a modern respelling of the Greek name Irene, based on Éire, the word
for "Ireland" + the common diminutive "een" |
| Erin
(f) |
Erinn,
Erynn etc. |
Erinn,
Erynn etc. |
poetic
word for Ireland. Literally means "of Eriu," a Celtic goddess whose name the modern name for Ireland is derived. |
| Ever
(m) |
AY
ver |
Éibhear |
"Irishman" |
| Ireland |
IRE
land |
Éire,
Erin |
Sounds
obvious, doesn't it? Alec Baldwin & Kim Basinger actually named
their daughter this! Since then it's been showing up regularly in
the USA |
| Juverna
(f) |
joo
VERN a, yoo VERN a |
- |
a Latin
name for Ireland |
| Laoiseach
(m) |
L'WEE
shach |
Lysagh,
Louis, Lucius |
"man
of Laois" |
| Laragh
|
LAR
a |
- |
place name |
| Life
(f) |
LIF
yeh |
Liffey
|
Celtic
goddess name, gave name to river Liffey |
| Tara
( f, sometimes m) |
TAR
a |
Teamhair
|
"assembly
place," named for a Celtic goddess. The Hill of Tara was the traditional
seat of the high king of Ireland. |
| Teamhair
(f) |
TA
wur |
Tara,
Teamair |
"elevated
or assembly place." See Tara. |
| Ultán
(m) |
UL
tawn |
Ultan
|
"Ulsterman" |
Names
Relating to the Sea
Name
|
Pronunciation
|
Other Forms*
|
Meaning
|
| Loinseach
(m) |
LUN
shakh |
Loingsech |
sea-farer,
exile |
| Muireann
(f) |
MWIR
in |
Murren,
Maren, Mairenn, Muirfhionn, Marion, Madge |
sea-fair |
| Muirgheal
(f) |
MWIR
yal |
Muriel,
Muirgel |
sea-bright/
sea-white |
| Muircheartach
(m) |
MUR
er tach |
Briartach,
Murtagh, Mortimer, Maurice, Monty |
skilled
in seacraft; mariner |
| Muirín
(m&f) |
MIR
een |
Miren,
Muirghein |
born
of the sea |
| Murchadh
(m) |
MUR
a kha |
Murrough,
Morgan |
sea
battler |
| Muircheartach
(m) |
MUR
er tach |
Briartach,
Murtagh, Mortimer, Maurice, Monty |
skilled
in seacraft; mariner |
| Muirín
(m&f) |
MIR
een |
Miren,
Muirghein |
born
of the sea |
| Murchadh
(m) |
MUR
a kha |
Murrough,
Morgan |
sea
battler |
Murray
|
MUR
ree |
Ó
Muireadhach |
seaman
or master |
Names
Relating to Supernatural Entities and Abilities
Name
|
Pronunciation
|
Other Forms*
|
Meaning
|
| Ailill
(m) |
AL
yil |
Irial
|
elf |
| Aillén
(m) |
ALL
ayn |
Oillín,
Ailíne |
little
elf; sprite |
| Aislinn,
Aisling (f) |
OSH
leeng, ASH leeng |
Ashling,
Alice, Esther |
dream,
vision |
Dalbhach
(m)
|
DUL
vakh |
Dalbach |
guileful;
full of sorcery |
| Fionúir
(f) |
FYUN
oor |
Fennore,
Fionnbhair, Fionnabair |
white
ghost |
| Fítheal
(m) |
FEE
hul |
Fíthel |
sprite;
goblin |
| Nuadha
(m) |
NOO
a |
Nuadu |
possibly,
"cloud-maker": Celtic god name |
| Oilleóg
(m) |
ILL
yoag |
Oilléog
|
dim.
of Oillil ("sprite; elf") |
| Oillill
(m) |
ULL
yil |
Aillill,
Elias |
sprite;
elf |
| Oillín
(m) |
ULL
yeen |
Oillín,
Ailíne, Aillén |
little
elf; sprite |
Orthanach
(m)
|
UR
han ach |
- |
potent
in prayers or charms |
Scáthach
(m)
|
SKAW
hokh |
- |
shadowy;
ghostly; frightening |
| Sheelin
|
SHEE
lin |
- |
lake,
lake of the fairies- a place name. |
| Sheridan |
SHARE uh din |
Ó Sirideán |
possibly from siride "elf" |
| Síofra
(m/f) |
SHEE
fra |
- |
sprite,
changeling, precocious child |
Names
Coming from the Arts
Name
|
Pronunciation
|
Other Forms*
|
Meaning
|
Aimhirghin
(m)
|
AV
er yin |
Amargein,
Aimirgin |
born
of song |
| Ánrothán
(m) |
AWN
ruh hawn |
Anrahan,
Hanrahan |
either
"second-degree poet," "sun-traveller," "champion,"
or "nobleman second to the king" |
Aoi
(m and f)
|
EYE,
EE |
Aí |
poetic
inspiration; learning |
| Bardán
(m) |
BAR
dawn |
Bardan |
poet |
Binne
(f)
|
BIN
yeh |
Binn,
Bind |
melodious;
sweetness |
| Deirbhile
(f) |
DJIR
vil a |
Dervila,
Dervla |
daughter
of a poet |
| Dervla
(f) |
DER
vil a |
Dervila,
Deirbhile |
daughter
of a poet |
| Duana
(m/f) |
DOO
uh na |
- |
poem;
song |
| Ealadha
(m) |
Elatha |
Elatha |
art;
craft |
| Easnadh
(f) |
AS
na |
Esnad |
musical
sound |
| Laoidheach
(m) |
LEE
ach |
Laídech
|
songful;
poetical |
| Ríordán
(m) |
REE
ur dawn |
Reardan
|
royal
poet |
| Tadhg
(m) |
TYG
|
Teague,
Tadc, Tadg, Tad, Thaddeus, Theodosius, Theophilus, Tim |
poet |
| Teague
(m) |
TAIG
|
Tadhg
|
poet |
Names
from Nature
Name
|
Pronunciation
|
Other Forms*
|
Meaning
|
| Abhlach |
AV
lakh |
Ablach |
apple-tree,
having apple trees |
| Ailín
(m) |
AH
leen |
Alan/Allen
|
possibly
from Celtic, "Rock" |
| Áinfean
(f) |
AWN
f'yun |
Ainbthech |
storm;
fury; violence |
| Bláthín
(f) |
BLAW
heen |
Blaheen |
little
flower |
| Bláthnaid
(f) |
BLAW
nid |
Blánaid,
Bláthnait, Flora, Florence |
flower |
| Cullen
|
CUL
len |
O/Mac
Cuilinn |
holly |
| Draighean
(f) |
DRAY
un |
Draigen |
blackthorn |
| Eascrach
(f) |
AS
krakh |
Escrach |
blooming;
blossoming |
| Eithne
(f) |
EN
yeh |
Enya,
Etna, Anna, Annie |
either
"kernel" or "gorse" |
| Enya
(f) |
EN
ya |
Eithne |
either
"kernel" or "gorse" |
| Eoghan
(m) |
OH
un |
Owen,
Eógan, Eugene |
born
of the yew |
| Fina
(f) |
FEE
na |
Fíona |
vine |
| Fínscoth
(F) |
FEEN
skuh |
|
wine-blossom |
| Fraoch
(m) |
FRAYKH |
|
heather
plant |
| Fraochán
(m) |
FRAYKH
awn |
Fráechán,
Broichanus |
heather
plant |
| Labhrás
(m) |
LAV
raws |
Labrás
|
laurel
bush |
| Líle
(f) |
LEE
leh |
Lily
|
form
of Lily-lily flower |
| Mealla
(f) |
MYAL
a |
Mell,
Mella |
lightning |
| Meallán
(m) |
MEL
awn |
Mellan
|
lightning |
| Nóinín
|
NOE
neen |
- |
Irish
word for "daisy." sometimes used as a pet form of Nóra. |
| Owen
(m) |
OH
in |
Eoin,
Eoghan |
"yew-born"
(from Irish)-- this is also a Welsh form of Eugene, which comes from
Greek meaning "well-born" |
| Peadar
(m) |
PAD
ar |
Peter |
from
Greek- "rock" |
| Piaras
(m) |
PEE
a rus |
Peter |
from
Greek- "rock" |
| Pierce/Pearse
(m) |
PEERS
|
Piaras |
from
Greek- "rock" |
| Quillan
|
KWIL
lin |
Ó Cuileann
|
holly |
| Scoithín
(m) |
SKUH
heen |
- |
blossom,
bloom |
| Scoithniamh
(f) |
SKUH
nyee uv |
Scothniam
|
shining;
radiant blossom |
| Scoth
(f) |
SKUH
|
- |
blossom,
bloom |
| Scothnait
(f) |
SKUH
nit |
- |
blossom,
bloom |
| Vaughan
|
VAW
han |
Ó Beacháin
|
beech
tree |
Place
Names
Name
|
Pronunciation
|
Other Forms*
|
Meaning
|
| Adare
|
uh
DAIR |
Ath
Dara |
oak
tree grove. |
| Alleen
|
al
EEN |
- |
little
cliff |
| Altan
|
AWL
tin |
- |
hillock,
gorge |
| Aran
|
AHR
in, |
Arainn,
Arann |
name
of islands off the western coast of Ireland |
| Ardeen
|
AR
deen |
Airdín
|
little
height |
| Bantry
|
BAN
tree |
- |
descendants
of Beann. Bantry is a famous bay in Ireland. |
| Bellaghy
|
bel
AH hee, bel EYE |
- |
mouth
of the slough or "Eachadh's townland" |
| Beltany
|
|
Bealtaine
|
May,
place where May festivities were held |
| Bree,
Bray |
BREE,
BRAY |
Ó Breaghdha
|
from
Bregia in Co. Meath |
| Cabra/Cabragh
|
CAB
ra |
- |
poor
land |
| Caiseal
|
CASH
ul |
Cashel
|
castle |
| Caislín
|
CASh
leen |
Cashlin,
Cashleen |
little
castle |
| Camlin
|
CAM
lin |
- |
crooked
line |
| Carragh
|
CAR
ra |
an
cora |
weir |
| Carrick
|
CAR
rick |
an
Carraig |
rock |
| Carrigan
|
CAR
I gan |
Kerrigan,
Carigan |
little
rock |
| Cashel
|
CASH
ul |
Caiseal
|
Castle |
| Cashlin
|
CASH
lin, CASH leen |
Caislín
|
little
castle |
| Cavan
|
CAV
in |
- |
the
hollow |
| Cillén,
Cillian (m) |
KIL
ee an |
Killian,
Cillín, Cilléne |
church |
| Clady
|
CLAY
dee |
- |
ground
hardened from trampling/muddy place |
| Clare
|
CLAIR
|
an
Clar |
flat
place |
| Cliffony
|
CLIFF
o nee |
- |
grove
of the hurdles |
| Clodagh
(f) |
KLO
da |
- |
river
in Co. Tipperary |
| Corr
|
COR
|
corr
|
round
hill |
| Corroy
|
cor
ROY |
corr
ruadh |
russet
round hill |
| Dara
(m & f) |
DAR
a |
Mac
Dara, Darach |
son
of the oak |
| Deasún
(m) |
DYA
soon |
Desmond
|
Man
from Desmond (in Cork) |
| Donegal
|
dun
ee GAL |
Dun
na nGall |
fort
of the stranger |
| Ennis |
Inis |
Inis |
island |
| Kilkelly |
kil
KEL lee |
cill
ceallach |
Ceallach's
church |
| Kilkenny |
kil
KEN nee |
Cill
Ciannach |
St.
Ciannach's church |
| Killashandra |
kill
a SHAN dra |
|
church
of the old fort--town in Co. Cavan. Used for a character in an Anne
McCafferey novel. |
| Killeen |
kul
EEN |
coillín |
little
woods |
| Killian
(m) |
KIL
ee an |
Cillian,
Cillén |
church |
| Kilrea |
kil
RAY |
cill
ruadh |
russet
church |
| Liffey
|
LIF
fee |
Life
|
Celtic
goddess name- river running through Dublin |
| Lisburn
|
LIS
burn |
- |
ring-fort
of the gamblers |
| Lislea
|
LIS
lee |
Lios
liadh |
grey
ring-fort |
| Lucan
|
LOO
kin |
- |
place
of the marsh hollows |
| Newry
|
NEW
ree |
- |
yew
tree at the head of the strand |
| Ross
(m) |
RAWS
|
Ros
|
headland |
| Rossin
|
ROS
sin |
roisin
|
little
woods |
| Sheelin
|
SHEE
lin |
- |
lake,
lake of the fairies |
| Slaney
|
SLAY
nee |
Sláine
|
a river,
from a Celtic Goddess name |
| Tory
|
TOR
ee |
tor
|
tower-like
rock. Island off NW coast |
| Tulla
|
TUL
la |
Tulloch
|
little
hill |
| Tyrone
|
tur
OAN |
Tir
Eoghan |
Eoghan's
land |
*names in italics represents
names that have no etymological connection to the Irish name, but were
used as English "translations" based upon the fact that they
have similar sounds or meanings.
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