As a country of so many Irish descendants, we’ve practically come to think of the most popular Irish baby names as American ones. We’ve got generations of Patricks, Seans, Mauras, and Colleens proudly showing off their Irish heritage (or simply their parents’ admiration of Irish names), and they’re great, of course. But the Emerald Isle has generated so many more baby names ripe for the choosing by parents-to-be, and we want to make sure you’re not missing out on them.
Like so much of Europe, Ireland was invaded several times — by Vikings, Normans, English, and more — and influenced by other cultures that didn’t wage war with them. This means that in addition to the Gaelic and Celtic names, the Irish have long used names of Latin, Hebrew, Greek, and other European origins, adding their own special accents to each.
Speaking of accents, if you’re not fluent in Gaelic or very familiar with Irish pronunciations, chances are you don’t know how to pronounce a lot of these names. We’ve been well-schooled on Saoirse (SEER-shuh), but how do you say Aiofe? If you’re moved to choose these name — they can be so pretty and poetic! — you can decide whether to go with the traditional spelling and give your kid the character-building task of teaching people how to say their name, or you can take the easy way out and Americanize the spelling. We think these names are lovely either way, but we’ve provided some pronunciation guides, just in case.
Irish girls names
Ailey: Light Aine: (AWN-ya) Joy Aislinn: (ASH-lynn) Dream Aoife: (EE-fa) Beauty Brigid: (Breed) Strength Cadhla: (KY-la) Beautiful and graceful Ciara: (KEE-ra) Dark Catriona: (ka-TREE-na) Pure, clean Caoimhe: (KWEE-va/KEE-va) Lovely and charming Eavan/Aoibheann: (EE-van) Radiant beauty Eimar: (EE-mer) Swift Eithne: (EN-ya) Graceful Farran: The land Fiadh: (FEE-a) Wild Grainne: (GRAWN-ya) Charming Keira: Dark-haired Laoise: (LEE-sha) Light Maeve: Joy Maille: (MAH-lee) Pearl Niamh: (neeve) Bright, radiant Oona: One Orla/Orlaith: Golden Roisin: (ro-SHEEN) Little rose Saoirse: (SEER-shuh) Liberty Siobhan: (she-VAHN) Kind
Irish boys names
Ailin: Handsome Alsandair: Defender of man Berkley: The birch tree meadow Binean: Good or blessed Braeden: Broad hillside Caolan: (KEE-lin) Slender Calin: Powerful warrior Cian: (KEE-en) Ancient Declan: Man of prayer Eoin: (OH-wen) Young Finnegan: Fair Keir: Dark Logan: From the hollow Lorcan: Little fierce one Malachy: Servant Nolan: Renowned Oisin: (oh-SHEEN) Little deer Oran: White, light, or pale Phelan: Little wolf Ronan: Little seal Ryan: Little king Taveon: Hillside or twin Tadhg: (tige) Poet Veren: Hero
Irish unisex names
Adan: Little fire Arlan/Arlyn: An oath Ceallach: (CAL-luk) Warrior Darragh: (DAH-ra) Fruitful or oak tree Delancy: From the elder tree grove Devin: Poet Kerry: Dark Lennon: Dear one Odrhan: (Oren) Pale Niall: Cloud Quinn: Descendent of the chief, wise Regan: Nobility Rowan: Type of tree Ruairi/Rory: Red Shanley: Hero/hero’s child Shea: Majestic Tiernan: Regal Toryn: Chief
This article originally appeared in March 2020.
If you want to go with a different influence, here are some cool (and weird) celebrity kids’ names we love.
