Traditional Irish Names: Girls

 








 

 
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 other forms* meaning
Ailbhe (m/f) AL vyeh Alvy; Ailbe Either from ail, "rock," albho, "white" or Gaulish albiorix "world king."
Aillean AL yan - meaning is unknown
Áine AW nya Anya "radiance; splendour; brilliance"
Áinfean AWN f'yun Ainbthech "storm;" "fury; violence"
Ainnir AN nyir Ainder "young woman"
Aithche AH h'yeh Atty meaning is unknown
Álmhath AWL uh va Alva meaning is unknown
Ana A na Ana; Dana; Anu "wealth" or "abundance"
Ainfean AN fun - "storm; fury"
Aodhamair AY mur - derived from Aed (see Aodh)
Aodnait AY nut Enat Aodh + feminine ending
Aoibheann EE vyin; EE van Eavan; Aoibhínn "beautiful radiance"
Aoibhegréine eev GRAIN yeh Evgren; Aíbgréine "radiance of the sun"
Aoife EE fa; WEE fa - "beautiful; radiant"
Athracht AH rakht Attracta meaning is unknown
Báine BAWN yeh - "paleness; whiteness"
Banbha BAN uh va Banba the name of an early goddess, and was also used as name for Ireland
Beag (m/f) B'YAG Becc "little; small"
Bébhinn BAY vin Bevan; Bébhionn "fair-haired lady"
Bearach (m/f) BAR akh Berach; Berrach "pointed; sharp"
Bláthín BLAW heen - "little flower"
Bláthnaid BLAW nid Blánaid; Bláthnait "little flower"
Blinne BLI nyeh Monina; Moninne form of Monnine (see also)
Bríghid BREED Bríd; Brigid; Breda ; Bríde "high goddess"
Brónach BRO nakh Brona; Bronagh "sorrowful"
Caoilfhionn KEE lin; KWAY linn Keelin; Kaylin; Caoilinn; Caoileann caol "slender" + fionn "white; fair-haired"
Caoimhe KEE va; KWEE va Keeva; Keavy from caem "beautiful; beloved"
Cathán (m/f) CA hawn Cahan; Kane;Cahán battler
Ceallach (m/f) KAL ukh Kelly possibly "bright-headed" or "strife; contention"
Ceara KYAR a Cara; Carra "fiery red"
Ciar KEE ir Keir; Kira;Ciara "black"
Clíona KLEE uh na Cliona; Cleana; Clíodhna from Celtic mythology; meaning is possibly "shapely."
Clothra KLO ra Clora possibly, "famous"
Cobhlaith KUV uh la Cowley cob "victory" + flaith "princess; lady; soverign"
Coinneach (m sometimes f) CON yach Cainneach, Canice, Charles, Kenny possibly from caoin "beautiful" 
Craobhnait CREEV nit Cróeb "branch; garland"
Cróine CRO in yeh Crón crón "yellow; saffron-colored, swarthy"
Cróinseach CRONE shakh Crónsech crón "yellow; saffron-colored, swarthy" + feminine ending
Cúach KOO akh - meaning is unknown
Daghain DEIN Dagain possibly from dag "good"
Dáirine DAW rin yeh Darina "fruitful; fertile"
Dáirinn DAWR inn Derinn; Dorind, Darina, Doireann, Dorind Doreen, Dorothy, Dolly possibly, "sullen" or more likely, "daughter of Fionn"
Damhnait DAV nat Devnet; Davnat; Damhnat, Dymphna "fawn"
Daráine dar AWN yeh Der Áine "daughter of Áine [Celtic goddess]
Dealbhnait D'YALv nat Delbnat possibly from delb, "shape" + diminutuve ending.
Dealla D'YAL a Della, Dalla meaning is unknown
Dearbhail DJAR val Derval "Daughter of Fál" (another name of Ireland) or "true desire."
Deirbhile DJIR vil a Dervla, Dervila "daughter of a poet"
Deirdre DAIR dreh Deirdre; Deedra; Deirdriu perhaps "chatterer" or "woman," or could be derived from a name beginning with der- meaning "daughter (of)"
Draighean DRYNE Draigen draigen, "blackthorn"
Dufach DUFF akh Dubhthach dubh "dark; black; dark-haired or complectioned"
Dunfhlaith DUN a la Dunla; Donnfhlaith; Dunflaith donn "brown (haired)" + flaith "princess"
Eachna AKH na Echna, Echnach "steed"
Eadan AH dan Etan possibly a form of Étaín
Eascrach AS krakh Escrach "blooming; blossoming"
Easnadh AS na Esnad "musical sound"
Éibhleann AYV len Evlin; Ébliu; Éblenn; Éibhliu "beauty; radiance"
Éile AYL yeh Éle meaning is unknown
Éimhín (m & f) AY veen Evin; Aeveen; Éimíne prompt; ready
Éirne AYR nyeh Erne possibly derived from the Celtic goddess name Érann
Eirnín (m/f) ER neen Ernin; Erníne "iron"
Eisten ES ten - meaning is unknown
Eithne EN a; EN yeh Enya possibly "kernal" or "gorse"
Émer AY mer, AY ver Emer; Éimear; Éimer possibly derived from eimh "swift"
Étaín AY teen Aideen; Éadaoin from et, "jealousy"
Fachtna (m and f) FACHT na Festus, Festie, Fantasius "malicious; hostile"
Fainche FINE kha Faenche, Fanny "scald-crow," the name of a Celtic war goddess
Feidhelm FY elm Fidelma; Fedelm from feidhle "constancy"
Feidhlim (m and f) FEH lim Phelim, Felim Felix, Phillip possibly from feidhle "constant; always"
Feme FE va - "young woman; girl"
Fial FEE ul Feale "modest; honorable; generous"
Fianait FEE uh nit Feenat "wild creature; deer"
Fionnait FYUN it Finnat, Fennat "fair-haired; white"
Fionúir FYUN oor Fennore; Fionnbhair; Fionnabair "white ghost; spirit"
Fionnghuala fyun OO la Fenella; Finola; Fionnuala; Nuala fionn "white; fair-haired" + guala "shoulder"
Fíonscoth FEEN ska Fínscoth Fína "wine" + scoth "blossom"
Flann (m/f) FLAN Flannacán "fiery red"
Forlaith FUR la Farbhflaith "overlord; soverignty"
Geiléis gyel AISH Gelace "bright swan"
Gobnait GUB nit Gobnet, Deborah, Abbie, Dora, Webby either a feminine form of Gobán (see above), or derived from gob, "mouth."
Gormán (m/f) GUR mawn Gorman "dark; swarthy"
Gormlaith GUR um la Gormley, Barbara Either from gorm, "blue; grey" or an element meaning "illustrious" + flaith, "princess; lady"
Gráinne GRAWN yeh Grania, Grace, Gertrude, Griselda possibly "inspiring terror" or derived from the word for "grain"
Grian GREE un - "sun; sun-goddess"
Íde EE deh Ita; Íte possibly, "thirst," or "the act of eating"
Íonait EEN nit Enat "faithful; pure; sincere"
Laoise LEE sha Luighseach "radiant girl"
Lasairfhiona la sar EE na Lasarina; Lasairíona lassar "flame" + fíne "wine"
Líadan LEE a dan Liadan; Líadáin; Líadain "grey lady"
Liamhain LEE uh vin - "comely, beautiful"
Life LIF yeh Liffey meaning is unknown
Líobhan LYEE von Lí Ban "beauty of women"
Luiseach LWEE shach Luisech, Lucy "radiant girl"
Maol Mhuire (m & f) mal WIR eh Murray, Miles, Milo, Myler "servant or devotee of St. Mary"
Maon (m & f) MAYN - "silent"
Marga MAR ga - meaning is unknown
Meadhbh MAVE Maeve; Medb; Méabh, Marjorie, Mabel, Maud, Madge "she who intoxicates"
Mealla MY'AL a Mell, Mella "lightning"
Miach (m & f) MEE ach - "honorable; proud"
Moinnine muh NIN yeh Monina; Blinne "My ninne"-according to legend, ninne was the first word this saint spoke
Móirín MOR een Moreen from mór, "great; tall" + diminutive ending
Móirne MORN yeh Maria, Maud from mór, "great; tall"
Moncha MUN cha Monica from a Celtic goddess name
Mór MORE Moreen; Móirín Martha, Mary, Agatha from mór, "great; tall"
Muadhnait MOO nit Monat; Mona; Muadnat "noble; good"
Muireann MWIR in Murren; Maren; Mairenn; Muirfhionn, Marion, Madge mur "sea" + fionn "white; fair-haired"
Muirín MWIR in Miren; Muirín mur "sea" + gein "birth"
Muirgheal MWIR yal Muriel; Muirgel "sea-bright" or "sea-white"
Muirne MWIR nyeh Myrna "high spirited; festive"
Naoise (m, sometimes f) NEE sha Nóise, Naois, Nyce, Noah possibly, from nasc "a bond"
Naomh NAV, NEV - "saint"
Nárbhflaith NAR vila Narvla, Narbflaith "noble princess"
Neacht NYACHT - "pure"
Neamhain NYAV in Nemon "battle-fury; warlike frenzy" name of a Celtic war goddess
Neassa NES sa Nessa, Neas, Ness ni "not" + assa "gentle"
Niamh NEEV, NEE uv Niav, Niam "brightness; radiance"
Nuala NOO uh la Fionnuala, Penny, Penelope short form of Fionnuala (white shoulders)
Órlaith OR la Orla, Órla, Orfhlaith ór "gold" + flaith "princess; lady"
Órnait OR nit Ornat, Orna, Odharnait, Odarnait possibly "otter" or "sallow; dark; grey-brown"
Osnait US nit Ossnat os, "deer" + feminine ending
Raghnailt RAN ult Ragnailt, Regina from Old Norse Ragnall, Ragnvaldr, which is derived from regin "advice, counsel" and valdr "ruler."
Raichbhe RA v'yeh Raichbe Meaning is unknown
Rathnait RAH nit Ronit, Renny "grace; prosperity"
Ríochael REE khale, REE khul Richella "king; soverign" + an unknown element
Ríofach REE uh fakh Ríomthach, Ríomhthach meaning is unknown
Ríona REE uh na Ríonach, Regina from "king; soverign; queen"
Róinseach RONE shach Róinsech from rón, "a seal" (animal)
Róisín RO sheen Rosheen, Rosaleen originally comes from Norse word for "horse." Also means "little rose."
Rónnad RONE it Rónnat rón, "seal" + feminine ending
Rós ROS Rose "rose" is the modern meaning, but originally it came from a Norse word for "horse"
Rúadhnait ROO uh nit Rúdnat rúad, "red haired" + feminine ending
Sadhbh SIVE Sive, Sadbh, Sophie, Sophia, Sarah, Sally, Sabia, Sabina "sweet, goodly"
Saorla SEER la, SAYR la Saorlaith, Saoirfhlaith sáer "noble" + flaith "princess; lady"
Saraid SAR ad Sárait, Sarah from sár "noble; best"
Sárnait SAWR nit Sárnat from sár "noble; best" or else from an older root meaning "chief; ruler"
Scáthach
SKAW hokh - "shadowy; ghostly; frightening"
Scoithniamh SKUH nyee uv Scothniam scoth "blossom, bloom" + niam "shining; radiant"
Scoth SKUH - scoth "blossom, bloom"
Scothnait SKUH nit - scoth "blossom, bloom" + feminine ending
Séanait SHAI nat Ségnat from sé, "hawk" + feminine ending
Searc SHARK Serc "love; affection"
Séighín (m & f) SHAY een, SHANE Séigíne from sé, "hawk"
Síomha SHEE va Sheeva, Síomhaith sith, "peace" + math "good"
Sláine SLAW nyeh, SLAWN ya Slaney, Slanina "health," derived from a Celtic goddess name
Sorcha SUR a ka Sarah, Sally "bright, radiant"
Suaibhseach SOO uv shach Suaibsech "gracious; kindly"
Suanach SOO un ach - "drowsy"
Taillte TAL tyeh Teltina, Tailltiu meaning is unknown
Teafa TYAF a Tethba, Teffia a place name in Co. Longford, meaning is unknown
Teamhair T'YA wur Tara, Teamair "elevated place"
Téide T'YAY d'yeh Téite "wantonness"
Treasa TRA sa Tressa, Trása, Teresa from treise "strength"
Tuamnait TOO um nit Tómnat fem. of Tómmán- meaning is unknown
Tuathla TOO uh la Tuathflaith, Tuathfhlaith, Tuala tuath "people" + flaith "princess; lady"
Tuileach TIL yakh Tailech perhaps, "prominent forehead"
Tuilelaith TIL yeh la, TILL el a Tailefhlaith, Tallula, Twilleliah tuile "abundance" + flaith "princess; lady"
Uaine OO in yeh, WAN yeh - either from uaine "green" or from an older word meaning "lady."
Uainionn OO in yin Uanfind "foam-white"
Uaithne (f and m) OO in yeh, WAN yeh - "greenish", from a Celtic tribal name
Uasal OO a sal - "noble"
Uallach OOL akh   "proud; arrogant" the name of an 8th century Poetess of Ireland.
Úna OO na Una, Oona, Oonagh, Agnes, Winifred, Winnie, Juno possibly derived from uan meaning "lamb."

* 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.