Irish baby names have been influenced by the history of the Celtic civilization, the Vikings, the Normans and the English. When you choose one of the more unusual ones, you're making it less likely that your child will share her name with three other classmates each year of school. Some of the others on the list are more common and easier to pronounce without necessarily being the trendiest choices.
Irish Baby Boy Names
A lot of Irish names for little boys are fierce and powerful. Several of them mean fire and defender, spear-like and champion.
Aedus - Fire
Aidan - 7th-century Saint, little fiery one
Ailbe - White
Ailill - Beauty
Alan - Celtic name meaning harmony, noble
Alastar - Irish version of Alexander, means defender of men
Alroy - Red
Angus - One choice
Antaine - Form of Anthony
Ardan - High aspirations
Art - Celtic name, stone or bear
Arthur - Celtic name with unknown meaning
Banan - White
Barry - Spear-like
Bartley/Bart - Irish version of Bartholomew
Beacan - Little one
Blaine - Thin or hollowed, slender
Blair - A plain level field
Bradan - A salmon, from the legend "Salmon of Knowledge"
Brady - One with broad eyes, spirited
Brandan - Prince or raven, sword
Brasil - War or strife
Brendan - Prince, brave
Brett - A Breton
Brian - Force, strength or steep hill
Brody - Anglicized surname, from the muddy place
Cabhan - Grassy hill
Callaghan - Small strife
Canice - Fair or handsome
Carlin - Little champion
Carrick - A rock
Carroll - Champion or warrior, manly
Cassidy - Curly, clever or love
Cedric - Chieftain
Cinnéidigh - Irish version of Kennedy, helmeted head
Colm/Colman - Little dove
Colin - Child
Coman - Little bent one
Conley - Strong-willed
Conor - Wolf lover
Conway - Hound of the plain
Corey - Near a hollow
Cullen - Holly, good-looking
Curran - Hero
Daman - To tame
Darcy - Dark
Delaney - Competitor's child
Donnchadh - Greek god of wine and revelry, Irish for Denis
Desmond - Irish place name
Devlin - One who comes from Dublin, brave
Donahue - Brown warrior
Donald - World ruler
Donnelly - Surname meaning brown valor
Donovan - Dark haired
Douglas - One who lived near a river, dark stranger
Dwyer - Dark wisdom
Eadbhárd - Protector of riches, Irish form of Edward
Girl names from Ireland often represent things like joy, dreams, beauty, and radiance. Occasionally, there's one that breaks the mold and means something like "bear" or "sword," demonstrating that Irish girls aren't just delicate flowers.
Aednat (ey-nit)- Little fire
Afric - 11th-century Irish name
Aibreann (av-rawn) - Month of April
Aideen - Little fire
Aifric - Pleasant
Aileen - Noble
Aine (awn-ya) - Radiance or joy
Aisling (ash-ling) - Dream
Alannah - Child
Aoibheann (eve- een) - Lovely
Aoife (ee-fa) - Beauty
Ashling - Vision, dream
Aurnia - Golden lady
Beatha/Betha - Life
Beibhinn (be-veen) - Fair lady
Bidelia -Strength
Birgitta - Strong
Birte - Powerful
Blath - Flower
Bláthnaid (blaw-nid) - Little flower
Branna - Dark-haired beauty
Bree - Higher power, variant of another Irish name, Bríghe
Brenda - Sword
Briana - Feminine form of Brian
Bride - Goddess of wisdom
Bríghe -Power, strength, virtue
Brigid - Powerful
Bronagh (bro-na) - Sorrowful
Caireann (care-in) - Little friend
Caitlin - Pure
Caitriona - Pure
Caoilfhoinn (key-lin) - Slender, fair
Caoilainn (kay-lin) - Slender, white, pure
Caoimhe (kee-va) - Precious
Cara - Friend
Cassidy - Curly-haired
Catriona - Irish version of Catherine
Ciara - Black-haired one
Cliona - Shapely
Clodagh (klo-dah) - Thought to be related to the Clody River
Colleen - Girl
Cordelia - Jewel of the sea
Daimhin (daw-veen) - Little deer
Daireann (dar-rawn) - Bountiful
Darcy - Dark
Dearbhail (dare-voll) - Daughter of Fal (old name for Ireland)
Dechtire (deck-tir-ah) - Tenth child
Deirdre - Legendary Irish princess
Doireann (dirren) - Fruitful or sullen
Doreen - Gift
Dubheasa (duv-eesa) - Dark beauty
Ealga - Brave
Eibhleann (ave-linn) - Radiant, pleasant
Eilís (isle-esh) - "My God is a vow"
Eithne - Saint name
Emer - Swift
Enda - Birdlike, free spirit
Ennis - Town name
Enya - Kernel
Etain - Jealousy
Ethna - Little fire
Eveleen - Life
Fidelma - Beauty, constant
Fiona - Fair or white
Finnoula (fin-ula) - Fair-shouldered
Gobinet - Mouth or beak
Gormlaith (gorm-lee) - Splendid queen or princess
Grainne - Grain goddess
Íde - Thirst, Irish version of Ida
Isolde - May refer to the Celtic Goddess Adsulata
Kaitlin - More recent spelling of Caitlin
Keela - So beautiful, only poetry can express it
Kelly - War or wood
Kerry - Irish place name
Kyna - Love, affection
Lile - Gaelic form of lily
Mada - Powerful in battle
Maebh (may-vuh) - Bringer of great joy
Maighread - Pearl, Irish version of Margaret
Maire - Gaelic form of Mary
Mairead (mawr-aid) - Another Irish form of Margaret
Maolissa- Follower of Jesus
Maura - Great or dark-skinned
Meadhbh (mave) - Joy or great
Meara - Sea
Mor - Large
Moreen - Little great one
Muadnait (mwa-naht) - Little noble one
Mugain - Irish mythical goddess
Muireann (mur-in) - Sea white, sea fair
Muirgheal (mur-el) - As bright as the sea
Muirne (mir-ne) - Spirited
Myrna - Beloved
Neala - Champion
Niamh (neev) - Radiance or brilliance
Nora - Light
Nollaig (null-ig) - Christmas, noel
Nuala (noo-la) - Fair, especially lovely
Oonagh (ou-na) - A lamb, unity
Orlaith (or-la) - Gold
Paili - Irish form of Polly
Radha (row-a) - A vision
Regan - The king's child
Regina - Queen
Riona - Queenly
Rionach (ria-nock) - Regal
Róisín (roe-sheen) - Little rose
Rosaleen - Horse or rose
Ruari (ro-ree) - Female version of Rory, which means red-haired king
Ryann - Female version of Ryan, which means little king
Sadhbh - Goodness
Saoirse (seersha) - Freedom
Shauna - Feminine Irish form of John
Sheila - Blind
Shelley - Clearing near a slope
Siany - Health
Sibeal (shib-ale) - "God is my oath"
Sile (she-la) - Pure and musical
Sinéad - Unknown
Sive - Goodness
Sorcha - Bright or clear
Talulla - Prosperous lady, abundance
Tara - Hill
Teagan - Beautiful
Treasa - Strength
Ultana - Female version of "an Ullsterman"
Una - Famine or lamb
Yseult (ee-solt) - From the Celtic legend, Tristan and Isolde
Irish Names for Babies
You don't have to have Irish heritage to use an Irish baby name, though it's a good way to celebrate your culture if you do. These names can convey strength, fierceness, goodness, abundance, or perfectly describe a specific kind of beauty. Choose your favorites from the list as a first or middle name (or both) and see which ones sound best with your last name.
