Irish Names By Meaning

 








 

 

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 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.