Anglicizations of Irish Names
Here are some common anglicizations of Irish names. An anglicization is a name normally spelled in Irish Gaelic that has been re-spelled into English to make the pronunciation easier for English speakers. Some of them are more common than their Irish counterparts (like Finbar for Fionnbharr). Some have fallen into obscurity (like Derry for Daire).
If you haven't done so already, non-Irish speakers please see the the pronunciation guide.
| Name | Original Irish Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aidan (m) | Aodhan, Aodan | little fire |
| Aileen (f) | Eibhlín | from old German, Aveline, meaning, perhaps, "Hazelnut." It is often used as an anglicization for Helen/Ellen as well. |
| Ailish (f) | Ailís | from old German Adelheidis, 'noble' (where we get the English names Alice and Adelaide) |
| Ardal (m) | Ardghal | high valor |
| Barry (m) | Bairre, Barra | pointed, sharp |
| Bevan (f) | Bébhinn | white (or fair) lady |
| Breda (f) | Bríde, Bríghde | exalted one |
| Brendan (m) | Breandán | from Welsh meaning "prince" |
| Brian, Bryan (m) | Brían, Bríon | may possibly mean "high; noble." |
| Bridget, Brigid (f) | Bríd, Bríde | exalted one; high goddess; noble |
| Brona, Bronagh (f) | Brónach | sorrow |
| Conleth (m) | Connlaodh | chief lord |
| Connell (m) | Conall | strong as a wolf |
| Conor (m) | Conchobhar | lover of hounds |
| Cormac (m) | Cormac | possibly, "defile" |
| Darina (f) | Dáiríne | fruitful |
| Dary (m) | Dáire | fruitful |
| Declan (m) | Deaglán | meaning is obscure, perhaps "full of goodness" |
| Dermot (m) | Diarmuid, Diarmaid | meaning is obscure, perhaps "without injunction or envy," "freeman" or "charioteer" |
| Derval, Dervila (f) | Dearbháil | May mean either "daughter of Ireland" or "daughter of a poet" |
| Devnet (f) | Damhnait | fawn |
| Donagh (m) | Donnchadh | brown lord |
| Donal (m) | Domhnall, Dónal | world mighty |
| Dougal (m) | Dubhgall | dark foreigner |
| Eamon (m) | Éamon(n), Éamann | from Edmund, "wealthy guardian" |
| Eavan (f) | Aoibhinn, Aoibheann | beautiful radiance |
| Eileen | Eibhlín | from Evelyn, "hazlenut" |
| Eilish (f) | Eilís | from Elizabeth, "I pledge to God" |
| Enda (m) | Éanna | birdlike |
| Enya (f) | Eithne | either 'kernal' or 'gorse' |
| Eveny (m) | Aibhne | meaning is unknown |
| Ever (m) | Éibhear | Irishman |
| Evin, Aeveen (m, sometimes f) | Éimhín | prompt, ready |
| Fenella, Finola (f) | Fionnghuala | fair shoulders |
| Fergal (m) | Fearghal | manly, valorous |
| Fergus (m) | Fearghus | the strength of a man |
| Fidelma (f) | Feidhelm | ever good |
| Fina (f) | Fíona | vine |
| Finbar (m) | Fionnbharr | fair haired |
| Finian (m) | Finnén | fair, pale |
| Finn (m) | Fionn | fair, pale |
| Finola (f) | Fionnghuala | white shoulders |
| Fintan (m) | Fiontán | white ancient, or white fire |
| Grania (f) | Gráinne | grain, or 'inspires terror' |
| Gobnet (f) | Gobnait | smith |
| Gormley (f) | Gormfhlaith | blue or illustrious princess |
| Iarla (m) | Iarfhlaith | western kingdom? |
| Ita (f) | Íde,Íte | act of eating |
| Ivar (m) | Íobhar | yew tree |
| Jarlath (m) | Iarfhlaith | western kingdom? |
| Kathleen (f) | Caitlín | from Greek Catherine, traditionally associated with word 'pure' |
| Kean (m) | Cian | ancient or enduring |
| Keavy, Keava (f) | Caoimhe | Beauty; grace |
| Keelin (f) | Caoilfhionn | fair and slender |
| Kenneth (m) | Cináed | white? |
| Kevin (m) | Caoimhín | beautiful child |
| Kieran (m) | Ciarán | black |
| Kilian (m) | Cillian | possibly, "church" |
| Keira (f) | Ciar, Ciara | black |
| Lochlan, Laughlin (m) | Lochlainn | viking |
| Lonan (m) | Lonán | blackbird |
| Lorcan (m) | Lorccán | cruel or fierce |
| Maeve (f) | Meadhbh | intoxocating one |
| Malachy (m) | Maeleachlainn | devotee of St. Sechnall |
| Maura (f) | Máire | from Hebrew Miriam (Mary). Meaning is obscure, possibly, "rebellious," "bitter," or related to the indo-European word for "mother." |
| Maureen (f) | Mairín | " |
| Moira (f) | Máire | " |
| Molly (f) | Mallaidh | " |
| Mona (f) | Muadhnait | noble, good |
| Myrna (f) | Muirne | of the sea |
| Neil (m) | Niall | cloud, or vehement |
| Nessa (f) | Neasa | not gentle |
| Nevan (m) | Naomhan | saint |
| Nora (f) | Onóra | from Latin, 'honor' |
| Noreen (f) | Nóirín | little Nora |
| Nuala (f) | Fionnghuala, Fionnuala | fair shoulders |
| Oona, Oonagh (f) | Úna | lamb? |
| Oran (m) | Odhrán | dun colored |
| Orla (f) | Órfhlaith, Órlaith | golden princess |
| Oscar (m) | Osgar | deer lover |
| Ossian (m) | Oisín | deer, stag |
| Owen (m) | Eoin, Eoghan | from Hebrew, 'God is good' |
| Patrick (m) | Pádraig | from Latin, 'noble man' |
| Pierce/Pearse (m) | Piaras | from Hebrew, 'rock' |
| Ronan (m) | Rónán | little seal |
| Rory (m) | Ruadhrí | red king |
| Rosaleen (f) | Róisín | little rose, or little horse |
| Rowan, Rohan (m) | Ruadhán | red haired |
| Shaun, Shane (m, sometimes f) | Seán | from Hebrew Yochanan (John): 'God is gracious' |
| Sheila (f) | Síle | from Latin Cecilia, 'blind' |
| Sorley (m) | Somhairle | from Norse, 'summer wanderer' |
| Tallulah (f) | Tuilelaith | lady of abundance |
| Teague (m) | Tadhg | poet |
| Tiernan (m) | Tiarnán | lord |
| Tierney (m) | Tiarnach | lord |
| Tressa (f) | Treasa | strength |