Traditional Irish Names
Here is the master list of Irish names. These are the names of saints and names from history and myth. The approximate pronunciations are given, as names vary in dialects. It is also difficult to spell out some sounds in the Irish language into English, as certain sounds don't exist in English.
If you haven't done so already, non-Irish speakers please see the the pronunciation guide.
| name | approx. pronounciation | meaning | other forms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbán (M | OB awn | little abbot | Abban, Abán |
| Ádhamhnán (M) | AH yum nawn | the timorous one | Eunan |
| Aibhne (m) | EV nyeh | ?? | Eveny; Aveny |
| Ailbhe (m/f) | AL vyeh | white/world king | Alvy; Ailbe |
| Ailill (m) | AL yil | elf | Irial |
| Áine (F) | AW nya | delight; pleasure | Anya |
| Ainnir (f) | AN nyir | young woman | Ainder |
| Ana (f) | A na | wealth or abundance | Ana; Dana; Anu |
| Aodh (M | AWD, EE | fire | Áed, Hugh |
| Aodhamair (F) | EY mur | fire | - |
| Aodhán (M) | AW awn | diminutive of Aed. | Aodan; Aidan |
| Aodnait (F) | EY nut | fire | Enat |
| Aoibheann (F) | EE vyin; EE van | beautiful radiance | Eavan; Aoibhínn |
| Aoibhegréine (f) | eev GRAIN yeh | radiance of the sun | Evgren; Aíbgréine |
| Aoife (F) | EE fa; WEE fa | beautiful; radiant | - |
| Aonghus (m) | ENG yus | sole strength | Angus; Óengus; Áengus |
| Bairrfhionn (m) | BER in | fair haired | Berrin |
| Bébhinn (f) | BAY vin | fair lady | Bevan; Bébhionn |
| Bearach (m/f) | BAR akh | pointed or sharp | Berach; Berrach |
| Bláthín (f) | BLAW heen | little flower | - |
| Bláthnaid (f) | BLAW nid | little flower | Blánaid; Bláthnait |
| Blinne (f) | BLI nyeh | form of Monnine (see also) | Monina; Moninne |
| Breacán (m) | BREK awn | freckled; speckled | Breccan |
| Breasal (M) | BRAS sal | brave or strong in conflict | Brassal Basil |
| Bríghid (f) | BREED | high goddess | Bríd; Brigid; Breda ; Bríde |
| Brion(m) | BREE un | noble or high | Brian |
| Brocc (m) | BRUK | badger or sharp-faced | Brock, Broc |
| Brógán (m) | BRO gawn | ?? | Brogan; Bróccán |
| Brónach (f) | BRO nakh | sorrowful | Brona; Bronagh |
| Buadhach (m) | BOO ach | victorious | Buach, Buagh, Boethius, Victor |
| Cairbre | CAR bryeh | charioteer, bearer? | Carbry |
| Cairell (m) | CA rel | ?? | Kerrill; Karel; Coireall |
| Calbhach (m) | COL vakh | bald | Calvagh, Charles |
| Caoilfhionn (f) | KEE lin; KWAY linn | fair and slender | Keelin; Kaylin; Caoilinn; Caoileann |
| Caoimhe (f) | KEE va; KWEE va | beauty or grace | Keeva; Keavy |
| Caoimhín (m) | KEE veen; KWEE veen | beautiful birth | Kevin; Cáemgen |
| Cass (m) | CAS | curly-haired | Cas |
| Cassair (m) | CAS sir | curly-haired | - |
| Cassán (m) | CAS awn | little curly-haired one | Cassan |
| Cathaír (m) | KA heer | battle lord? | Cahir; Cathaoir |
| Cathal (m) | KA hul | strong in battle | Cahal; Cahill, Charles |
| Cathán (m/f) | CA hawn | battler | Cahan; Kane;Cahán |
| Ceallach (m/f) | KAL ukh | bright headed | Kelly |
| Ceara (f) | KYAR a | fiery red | Cara; Carra |
| Cearbhall(m) | KYAR ull | brave in sword-fighting; valorous in battle | Cearúl, Carroll, Charles |
| Cian (m) | KEE in | ancient | Keane |
| Ciar (f) | KEE ir | black | Keir; Kira;Ciara |
| Ciarán (m) | KEE a rawn | black | Kieran |
| Cillian (m) | KIL ee an | church | Killian; Cillín; Cilléne |
| Cináed (m) | KIN awd | possibly from Pictish; meaning is unknown | Kenneth; Cinneath; Cináeth; Cinnead |
| Clíodhna (f) | KLEE uh na | from Celtic mythology; meaning is unknown | Cliona; Cleana; Clíona |
| Coinneach (m sometimes f) | CON yach | ? | Cainneach, Canice, Charles, Kenny |
| Colmán (m) | KUL mawn | from Latin; 'dove' | Colman; Colm |
| Comhghall (m) | KU wull | fellow hostage | Cowal; Comgal |
| Conall (m) | KUL al | strong as a wolf | Connell; Conal |
| Conán (m) | KUN awn | hound or wolf | Conan |
| Conchobhar (m) | KRU hur | lover of hounds | Conor; Conchobar |
| Conlaodh (m) | Kun lee | prudent fire | Conley; Conleth; Conláed |
| Conn(m) | KUN, KOWN | Wisdom, chief | Constantine |
| Cormac (m) | KUR a mac | son of the defiler? | Cormac |
| Coinneach (m) | CON yach | sorrowful | Cainneach, Canice, Charles, Kenny |
| Cuán (m) | KOO awn | diminutive of Cu, meaning "hound" | Cúán |
| Cúmhaí (m) | koo VEE, koo EE | hound of the plain | Hughey, Quinton |
| Curnán (m) | KUR nawn | ? | Curnan |
| Daigh (m) | DEI | flame; fire | Daig |
| Daimhín (m) | DA veen | deer or ox | Davin; Daimíne |
| Dáire (m) | DAW reh | fruitful; fertile | Darragh; Dary Dudley |
| Dáirine (f) | DAW rin yeh | fruitful; fertile | Darina |
| Dáirinn (f) | DAWR inn | daughter of Fionn? | Derinn; Doreen; Dorind |
| Dallán (m) | DAL awn | blind | Dallan |
| Damhnait (f) | DAV nat | fawn | Devnet; Davnat; Damhnat |
| Deaglán (m) | DEG lawn | possibly- full of goodness? | Declan; Declán |
| Dearbhail (f) | DER val | poet's/Ireland's daughter | Derval; Dervla; Deirbhile |
| Deirdre (f) | DAIR dreh | perhaps "chatterer" or could be derived from a name beginning with der- meaning "daughter (of)" | Deirdre; Deedra; Deirdriu |
| Deasmumhnach (m) | DAS moo nach | man from Desmond (in Co. Cork) | Desmond, Deasún |
| Diarmaid (m) | DEER mid | without injunction or envy? freeman? charioteer? | Dermot; Diarmuid; Diarmait |
| Dairinn(f) | DAWR in | daughter of Fionn? | Darina, Doireann, Dorind Doreen, Dorothy, Dolly |
| Domhnall (m) | DUN nal | world mighty | Donal; Dónal, Daniel |
| Donnchadh (m) | DUN a kha | brown lord | Donagh; Donnacha; Donncha, Dennis, Dionysus |
| Dunfhlaith (f) | DUN a la | brown princess | Dunla; Donnfhlaith; Dunflaith |
| Dubhaltach(m) | DOO al tach | dark-limbed, black-jointed | Doalty Dudley |
| Dubhgall (m) | DU gal | dark foreigner | Dougal; Dubgall |
| Dubhghlas (m) | DU las | blue black | Douglas |
| Eadan (f) | AH dan | - | Etan |
| Ealadha (m) | AL a ha | art; craft | Elatha |
| Easnadh (f) | AS na | musical sound | Esnad |
| Eibhear (f) | AY var | ? | Éber, Heber, Harry, Ivor |
| Éile (f) | AYL yeh | ? | - |
| Éirne (f) | AYR nyeh | ? | Erne |
| Éamonn (m) | AY mun | from English; wealthy guardian | Eamon; Éamann |
| Éanna (m) | AY na | birdlike | Enda |
| Earnán (m) | AHR nawn | iron? | Ernan, Ernest |
| Éibhleann (f) | AYV len | beauty; radiance | Evlin; Ébliu; Éblenn; Éibhliu |
| Echna (f) | EKH na | steed | - |
| Éimhín (m & f) | AY veen | prompt; ready | Evin; Aeveen; Éimíne |
| Eirnín (m/f) | ER neen | iron | Ernin; Erníne |
| Eithne (f) | EN a; EN yeh | kernal or gorse | Enya |
| Émer (f) | AY mer | ?? | Emer; Éimear; Éimer |
| Eoghan (m) | OH in | born of the yew | Owen; Eógan |
| Étaín (f) | AY teen | jealousy | Aideen; Éadaoin |
| Fachtna (m and f) | FACHT na | malicious; hostile | Festus, Festie, Fantasius |
| Fainche (f) | FINE kha | ?? | Fanny |
| Faolán (m) | FWAY lawn | wolf | Fillan; Fáelán |
| Fearchar (m) | FAR char | friendly | Farquar |
| Feardorcha (m) | far DUR a cha | dark man | Frederick, Ferdinand |
| Fearghal (m) | FER ul | manly or valorous | Farrell; Fergal |
| Fearghus (m) | FER a ghus | strength of a man | Fergus |
| Fechín (m) | FEH kheen | raven or battle | Fechin; Fechíne |
| Feidhelm (f) | FY elm | ?? | Fidelma; Fedelm |
| Feidhlim (m and f) | FEH lim | ? | Phelim, Felim Felix, Phillip |
| Feme (f) | FE va | young woman; girl | - |
| Féthnaid (f) | FAY nid | ?? | Fenit; Féthnat |
| Fiachra (m) | FEE a khra | battle-king | Fiacre |
| Fial (m) | FEE ul | modest; honorable; generous | Feale |
| Fianait (f) | FEE uh nit | wild creature; deer | Feenat |
| Finnén (m) | FIN yain | fair | Finnian |
| Finnseach (m) | FIN shakh | blonde lady | Finsha; Finnsech |
| Fionn (m) | FYUN | fair; white | Finn |
| Fionnait (f) | FYUN it | fair-haired; white | Finnat, Fennat |
| Fionúir (f) | FYUN oor | ghost, spirit | Fennore; Fionnbhair; Fionnabair |
| Fionnbharr (m) | FYUN var | fair haired | Finbar |
| Fionnghuala (f) | fyun OO la | fair shouldered | Fenella; Finola; Fionnuala; Nuala |
| Fionntán (m) | FYUN tawn | white ancient/fire | Fintan; Fiontan |
| Flann (m/f) | FLAN | fiery red | Flannacán |
| Garbhán (m) | GAR vawn | rough | Garvan ; Garbán |
| Geiléis (f) | gyel AISH | bright swan | Gelace |
| Gilleagán (m) | GIL uh gawn | little lad | Gilligan |
| Giolla Chríst (m) | GYIL la CHREESHT | servant of Christ | Christian |
| Glaisne (m) | GLASH neh | green, grey, grey-blue | Glasny, Gelasius |
| Gobán (m) | GUB awn | smith | Gobban ; Gobbán |
| Gobnait (f) | GUB nit | smith | Gobnet, Deborah, Abbie, Dora |
| Gormán (m/f) | GUR mawn | dark; swarthy | Gorman |
| Gormghiolla (m) | GURM yu la | grey servant | Gormgiolla |
| Gormlaith (f) | GUR um la | blue/illustrious princess | Gormley |
| Gráinne (f) | GRAW nya | inspiring terror; grain | Grania, Grace, Gertrude, Griselda |
| Grian (f) | GREE un | sun; sun-goddess | - |
| Iarfhlaith (m) | EER la | western kingdom? | Jarlath; Iarlaith; Iarla |
| Iarlugh (m) | EER loo | combination of Iar + Lug (Celtic god names) | Iarlug |
| Íde (f) | EE deh | act of eating | Ita; Íte |
| Iobhar (m) | EE ver | yew tree | Ivar |
| Iomchadh (m) | UM uh cha | ? | Imchad |
| Íonait (f) | EEN nit | faithful; pure; sincere | Enat |
| Irial (m) | EER eeyal | ? | Irél |
| Labhraidh (m) | LA ra | speaker | Lowery; Labraidh |
| Labhrás (m) | LAV raws | laurel bush | Labrás |
| Lachtna (m) | LACHT na | milk-white, milk-like | Lucius |
| Lachtnán (m) | LACHT nawn | milk-white, milk-like | Lawton |
| Laisrén (m) | LAS rain | flame | Laisréan |
| Laoidheach (m) | LEE ach | songful; poetic | Laídech |
| Laoire (m) | LAY reh | calf-herd | Laoghaire, Leary |
| Laoise (f) | LEE sha | radiant girl | - |
| Lasair (m) | LA sar | flame, fire | Lassar |
| Lasairfhiona (f) | la sar EE na | flame wine | Lasarina; Lasairíona |
| Leannán (m) | LYUH nawn | sweetheart | - |
| Líadan (f) | LEE a dan | grey lady | Liadan; Líadáin; Líadain |
| Liamhain(f) | LEE uh vin | comely, beautiful | - |
| Life (f) | LIF yeh | ? | Liffey |
| Líobhan (f) | LYEE von | beauty of women | Lí Ban |
| Lochlann(m) | LAKH lin | a Viking | Laughlin, Lochlan, Lachlan, Laurence |
| Lomán (m) | LUH mawn | bare | Loman; Lommán |
| Lonán (m) | LUH nawn | blackbird | Lonan |
| Lorcán (m) | LUR cawn | cruel or fierce | Lorcan; Lorccán |
| Lughaidh (m) | LOO ee | light; brightness | Lúí, Louis, Aloysius, Lewy |
| Luiseach (f) | LWEE shach | radiant girl | Luisech, Lucy |
| Mac Nisse (m) | mok NISH seh | son of Ness (goddess name) | - |
| Mac Táil (m) | mok TAWL | son of adze | - |
| Maeleachlainn(m) | mal LACH lan | servant or devotee of St. Seachnall | Malachy |
| Mainchín (m) | MAN cheen | monk | Munchin, Mannix |
| Maine (m) | MAN yeh | ? | Many |
| Mael Íosa (m) | mal EE sa | servant of Jesus | Maelisa |
| Maolán (m) | MAYL awn | warrior | Mullen |
| Maol Mhuire (m & f) | mal WIR eh | servant or devotee of St. Mary | Murray, Miles, Milo, Myler |
| Maon (m & f) | MAYN | silent | - |
| Marcán (m) | MAR kawn | steed | Marcan |
| Marga (f) | MAR ga | ? | - |
| Meadhbh (f) | MAVE | she who intoxicates | Maeve; Medb; Méabh, Marjorie |
| Meallán (m) | MEL awn | lightening | Mellan |
| Meallá (f) | MYEL a | lightening | Mell, Mella |
| Mel (m) | MEL | ?? | Mel |
| Miach (m & f) | MEE ach | honorable; proud | - |
| Mochta (m) | MUCH ta | great | - |
| Moinnine (f) | muh NIN yeh | My ninne- ninne was the first word this saint spoke | Monina; Blinne |
| Móirne (f) | MORN yeh | great | Maria, Maud |
| Molaisse (m) | muh LAWSH a | pet from of Laisrén ("flame; fire") | Molaise |
| Moncha (f) | MUN cha | from a Celtic goddess name | Monica |
| Mór (f) | MORE | great | Moreen; Móirín Martha, Mary, Agatha |
| Morann (m) | MuL an | ? | Morand |
| Muadhnait (f) | MOO nit | noble; good | Monat; Mona; Muadnat |
| Muircheartach (m) | MWIR char tach | sea battler | Briartach, Murtagh, Mortimer, Maurice, Monty |
| Muireann (f) | MWIR in | sea fair | Murren; Maren; Mairenn; Muirfhionn, Marion, Madge |
| Muireadhach (m) | MWIR akh | lord; master | Murray; Murdough Muiríoch |
| Muirín (f) | MWIR in | born of the sea | Miren; Muirín |
| Muirgheal (f) | MWIR yal | sea-bright/ sea-white | Muriel; Muirgel |
| Muirne (f) | MWIR nyeh | high spirited; festive | Myrna |
| Murchadh (m) | MUR a kha | sea battler | Murrough |
| Murchú (m) | MUR choo | hound of the sea | Murphy |
| Naithí (m) | NAH hee | ? | Nath-í, Nathy |
| Naoise (m, sometimes f) | NEE sha | bond? | Nóise, Naois, Nyce, Noah |
| Naomh (f) | NAV, NEV | saint | - |
| Naomhán (m) | NEV awn | dim. of Naomh ("saint") | Nevan |
| Nárbhflaith (f) | NAR vila | noble princess | Narvla, Narbflaith |
| Neacht (f) | NYACHT | pure | - |
| Neamhain (f) | NYAV in | battle-fury; warlike frenzy: name of a Celtic war goddess | Nemon |
| Neasa (f) | NES sa | not gentle | Nessa, Neas, Ness |
| Neasán (m) | NYAS awn | Stoat? | Nessan |
| Niall (m) | NEE ul | cloud or passionate; vehement | Neil, Neal, Néill, Nicholas, Nigel |
| Niallán (m) | NEE ul awn | dim. of Niall (cloud or passionate; vehement) | Neylon, Nealon |
| Niamh (f) | NEEV, NEE uv | brightness; radiance | Niav, Niam |
| Nuadha (m) | NOO a | cloud-maker: Celtic god name | - |
| Nuala (f) | NOO uh la | short of Fionnuala (white shoulders) | Fionnuala, Penny, Penelope |
| Odhrán (m) | UR awn | sallow | Oran, Odrán, Órán |
| Ógán (m) | OH gawn | youth; lad | Hogan |
| Oilleóg (m) | ILL yoge | dim. of Oillil ("sprite; elf") | Oilléog |
| Oillill (m) | AHL yil | sprite; elf | Aillill, Elias |
| Oisín (m) | USH een | little deer | Ossian, Oissíne |
| Olcán (m) | UL cawn | wolf | - |
| Ólchobhar (m) | OLE chur | lover of drink | Ólchobar |
| Onchú (m) | UN choo | fierce hound | - |
| Órlaith (f) | OR la | golden princess | Orla, Órla, Orfhlaith |
| Órnait (f) | OR nit | sallow | Ornat, Orna, Odharnait, Odarnait |
| Orthanach (m) | UR han ach | potent in prayers or charms | - |
| Osán (m) | US awn | little deer | Ossán |
| Osgar (m) | US gar | deer lover | Oscar |
| Osnait (f) | US nit | deer | Ossnat |
| Rathnait (f) | RAH nit | grace; prosperity | Ronit, Renny |
| Rathnait (f) | RAH nit | ? | Rathnat |
| Ríoghán (m) | REE awn | little king | Ryan, Rian, Rígán |
| Ríona (f) | REE uh na | queenly | Ríonach, Regina |
| Ríordán (m) | REE ur dawn | royal poet | Reardan |
| Róinseach (f) | RONE shach | seal | Róinsech |
| Róisín (f) | RO sheen | originally comes from Norse word for "horse." Also means "little rose." | Rosheen, Rosaleen |
| Rónán (m) | RO nawn | little seal | Ronan |
| Rónnad (f) | RONE it | seal | Rónnat |
| Rós (f) | ROS | 'rose' is the modern meaning, but originally it came from a Norse word for "horse" | Rose |
| Ross (m) | RAWS | headland | Ros |
| Rúadhán (m) | ROO awn | red haired | Ruan, Rowan, Rohan, Rúadán |
| Rúadhnait (f) | ROO uh nit | red-haired | Rúdnat |
| Ruaidhrí (m) | RU a ree | red king | Rory, Ruairí, Ruaidrí, Roderick, Roger |
| Ruarc (m) | ROO ark | hero; champion | Rourke |
| Sadhbh (f) | SIVE | sweet, goodly | Sive, Sadbh, Sophie, Sophia, Sarah, Sally, Sabia, Sabina |
| Samhradhán (m) | SOW rawn | summery person | Samradán |
| Saorla (f) | SAYR la | noble queen | - |
| Saraid (f) | SAR ad | excellent, best | Sárait, Sarah |
| Sárán (m) | SAWR awn | chief, noble; best | - |
| Sárnait (f) | SAWR nit | chief, noble; best | Sárnat |
| Scoithín (m) | SKUH heen | blossom, bloom | - |
| Scoithniamh (f) | SKUH nyee uv | shining; radiant blossom | Scothniam |
| Scolaí (m) | SKUL lee | town crier, scholar | Scolaighe, Scully |
| Scoth (f) | SKUH | blossom, bloom | - |
| Scothnait (f) | SKUH nit | blossom, bloom | - |
| Sé (m) | SHAY | hawk-like, noble | Séaghdha, Shay, Shea |
| Seachlann (m) | SHACH lan | from Latin "secondus" | Sechnall, Seachnall |
| Séadhna (m) | SHAY na | traveller; wayfarer | Sétna, Séadna |
| Séanait (f) | SHAI nat | hawk | Ségnat |
| Seanán (m) | SHAN awn | old, ancient | Senan |
| Searc (f) | SHARK | Love; affection | Serc |
| Séighín (m & f) | SHAY een, SHANE | hawk | Séigíne |
| Síoda (m) | SHEE da | Silk? | Sheedy |
| Siollán (m) | SHULL awn | ? | Sillán |
| Síomha (f) | SHEE va | good peace | Sheeva, Síomhaith |
| Sláine (f) | SLAW nyeh, SLAWN ya | health, from a Celtic goddess name | Slaney, Slanina |
| Sléibhín (m) | SHLAI veen | mountain man | Slébíne, Slevin |
| Somhairle (m) | SO ar leh | from Norse, summer wanderer | Sorley, Samuel, Charles |
| Sorcha (f) | SUR a ka | bright, radiant | Sarah, Sally |
| Suanach (f) | SOO un ach |