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 |
|---|---|---|
| Aideen | Étaín, Éadoin | from et, "jealousy" |
| Aileen | Eibhlín | from old German, Aveline, meaning, perhaps, "desired." It is often used as an anglicization for Helen/Ellen as well. |
| Ailish | Ailís | from old German Adelheidis, 'noble' (where we get the English names Alice and Adelaide) |
| Alva | Álmhath, Almha | meaning is unknown |
| Ashling | Aisling | "dream; vison" |
| Ashlinn | Aislinn | possibly from aisling "dream; vision" |
| Attracta | Athracht, Taraghta | meaning is unknown |
| Atty | Aithche | meaning is unknown |
| Bevan | Bébhinn | "white (or fair-haired) lady" |
| Breda | Bríde, Bríghde | "exalted one;" "high goddess;" "noble" form of Brigid |
| Bridget, Brigid | Bríd, Bríde | "exalted one;" "high goddess;" "noble" |
| Brona, Bronagh | Brónach | "sorrow" |
| Clora | Clothra | "famous" |
| Dana, Danna | Ana, Anu, Danu | pronouced DAN-a (NOT like day-na), it's an anglicization of the name of a Celtic goddess whose name means "wealth; abundance" |
| Dara, Derry | Dáire | "fruitful; to make fertile" |
| Darina | Dáiríne | "fruitful; to make fertile" |
| Darova | Dar Óma | "daughter of [the Celtic god] Ogmios" |
| Deridre | Deirdre, Deirdriu | possibly, "chatterer" or diminutive form of a name beginning with der, "daughter of" |
| Derval, Dervila, Dervla | Dearbháil | May mean either "daughter of Fál" (a Celtic goddess and another name for Ireland) or "daughter of a poet" |
| Devasse, Devassa | Duibheasa | "dark haired lady of the waterfall" |
| Devnet | Damhnait | dam "stag; ox" + diminutive ending |
| Dorren | Doireann | "daughter of Fionn" |
| Dunla | Dúnlaith | dún "fortress" + flaith "lady; princess" |
| Dymphna | Damhnait | dam "stag; ox" + diminutive ending |
| Eavan | Aoibhinn, Aoibheann | "beautiful radiance" |
| Eavnat | Aoibhnait | "radiance" + feminine diminutive ending |
| Efa, Ifa | Aoife | aoibh "beauty" |
| Eileen | Eibhlín | from Evelyn, possibly meaning "desired." |
| Eilish | Eilís | from Elizabeth, "God is my oath" |
| Elsha | Aisling | "dream; vision" (this is an older anglicization not widely used anymore) |
| Emer | Éimear, Émer | possibly derived from eimh "swift" |
| Enat, Ena | Aodhnait | from Aodh "fire" + feminine dimunitive ending |
| Enya | Eithne | either 'kernal' or 'gorse' |
| Esna, Asna | Easnadh | "musical sound" |
| Evgren | Aoibhgréine | "radiance of the sun" |
| Evin, Aeveen (m, sometimes f) | Éimhín | eim "prompt, ready" |
| Evlin, Evlan | Éibhleann | oíph "radiance; splendor; beauty" |
| Evnat, Avnat | Eamhnat | possibly from eim "prompt, ready" + diminutive ending |
| Farvila | Forlaith | "overlordship; soverignty" |
| Fenella | Fionnghuala | "white shoulders" |
| Fennore, Finnore | Fionnúir | "white sprite; white ghost" |
| Fidelma | Feidhelm | "ever good" |
| Fina | Fíona | "vine" |
| Finat, Feenat | Fianat | "wild creature; deer" |
| Finnat, Fennat | Fionnait | fionn "white; fair-haired" + diminutive ending |
| Finola | Fionnghuala | fionn "white" + guala "shoulder" |
| Finva, Finnava | Fionnmhaith | fionn "white; fair-haired" + math "good" |
| Gelace | Geiléis | "bright swan" |
| Grania | Gráinne | "grain," or "inspires terror" |
| Gobnet | Gobnait | "smith" |
| Gormley | Gormfhlaith | "blue princess " or "illustrious princess" |
| Inat, Enat, Inid | Íonait | "faithful; sincere" |
| Ita | Íde, Íte | "act of eating" |
| Kathleen | Caitlín | from Greek Catherine, traditionally associated with word 'pure' |
| Keavy, Keava | Caoimhe | "Beauty; grace" |
| Keelin | Caoilfhionn | "fair-haired and slender" |
| Keira | Ciar, Ciara | from ciar, "black" |
| Lassarina, Lasrina | Lassairfhiona | lassar "flame; fire" + fíne "wine" |
| Maeve | Meadhbh | "intoxocating one" |
| Maura | Máire | from Hebrew Miriam (Mary). Meaning is obscure, possibly, "rebellious," "bitter," or related to the indo-European word for "mother." |
| Maureen | Mairín | diminutive form of Mary |
| Meeda, Mida | Íde, Íte, Míde | a diminutive of Íde, meaning "devouring" |
| Mell, Mella, Malla | Mealla | "lightning" |
| Mirren, Murren | Muireann | muir "sea" + fionn "white; fair-haired" |
| Moira | Máire | form of Mary (see above) |
| Molly | Mallaidh | dimiutive form of Mary (see above) |
| Mona, Monat | Muadhnait | "noble, good" |
| Moreen | Móirín | "great" |
| Myrna | Muirne | "of the sea" |
| Nessa | Neasa | ni "not" + assa "gentle" |
| Narvla | Narbhfhlaith | "noble princess" |
| Niav | Niamh | "brightness; radiance; splendor" |
| Nora | Onóra | from Latin, 'honor' |
| Noreen | Nóirín | diminutive of Nora (see above) |
| Nuala | Fionnghuala, Fionnuala | "white shoulders", diminutive of Fionnuala |
| Oona, Oonagh | Úna | possibly derived from "lamb" |
| Orla | Órfhlaith, Órlaith | ór "gold" + flaith "princess; lady" |
| Orna, Ornat | Órnait | possibly means "otter" or "grey-brown" |
| Reena, Rina | Ríonach | "queenly" |
| Richella | Ríochael | rí "king; soverign" + an unknown element |
| Rifa | Ríofach | meaning is unknown |
| Rosaleen | Róisín | ""rose" is the modern meaning, but originally it came from a Norse word for "horse" |
| Rosheen | Róisín | "rose" is the modern meaning, but originally it came from a Norse word for "horse" |
| Sarnat | Sárnait | either "best; noble" or "ruler" |
| Seeva, Sheeva | Síomha | síth "peace" + math "good" |
| Shaynit, Shayna | Séanait | from sé, "hawk" |
| Sheila | Síle | from Latin Cecilia, 'blind' |
| Slaney, Slanina | Sláine | "health," derived from a Celtic goddess name |
| Tallulah | Tuilelaith | "lady of abundance" |
| Taltena | Taillte | meaning is unknown |
| Tara | Teamhair | "eminence" |
| Teffia, Taffa | Teafa | meaning is unknown |
| Tressa | Treasa | "strength" |
| Triona | Tríona, Caitríona | Pronounced /TREE uh na/, this is a short form of Caitríona, a form of Catherine. |
| Tula, Tuala | Tuathla | tuath "people" + flaith "lady; princess" |
| Una | Úna | possibly, "lamb" |