Names for Irish Dogs

Many people have sent me e-mails asking for good names for their pets. Wolves and hounds were especially meaningful to the Celts. The implied meaning of many wolf and hound names is that of a warrior. Whether you have an Irish Wolfhound, an Irish Setter, a Kerry Blue Terrier or a mutt needing an Irish name, here are some dog-related names. If you'd like to name another kind of animal, or want a name denoting a color or character trait, We also have lists of names you can search by meaning. Perhaps you like names like 'precious' and 'sweetie' for your pets. Here is a list of terms of endearment you might like to use.

Dog and Wolf Names

Name	Approx. Pronounciation	Meaning	Other Forms
Anlan	ON lin	great hound	Anluan
Archu	AWR khoo	hound of slaughter	Archú
Cana	CON na	wolf cub	Cona
Canagan	CON nig in	wolf cub	Canagán
Colin	CAWL in	whelp	Coilean
Conall	CON nul or CUN nul	strong as a wolf	Connell, Conal
Conan	CO nin	hound	Conán
Connell, Conial	CON nil, CON yel	brave; fierce as a hound	Conghal
Connery	CON ner ee	wolf farmer	Conaire
Conor	CON ner	lover of hounds	Connor, Conchobhar
Conry	CON ree	king of wolves/hounds	Conrí
Cooey	KOO vee, KOO ee	hound of the plain	Cúmhaí
Coovara	coo VAR a	hound of the sea	Cú Mhara
Coovey	KOO vee	mead hound	Cú Mheá
Convel	CON vel	wolf warrior	Conmhaol
Cuan	KOO in	hound; wolf	-
CuChulainn	koo KHULL in	hound of Culainn- one of Ireland's most famous legendary	-
Felan, Phelan	FEE lin	wolf	Faolán
Filtiarn	FIL tyarn	lord of wolves	Faoiltiarn
Maccon	mac CON	son of a wolf	mac Con
Madigan, Madden	MAD i gan, MAD din	little dog	Madagán, Madán
Murphy	MUR fee	hound of the sea	Murchu
Olcan	UL kin	wolf	Olcán

Here are names used with affection for sweethearts and children. The meanings are not taken literally, just as when you call someone 'honey' you don't mean that they are sticky and yellow. I have written the literal meanings for you to enjoy anyway. I found most of the anglicized forms in song lyrics and Liam O'Flaherty books.

Name	Approx. Pronounciation	Meaning	Irish Form
Alannah	ah LON a	my child	a leanbh
Aroon	ah ROON	my love	a rún
Asthore	ah STORE	my love	a stór
Astoreen	ah STORE een	my little love	a stóirín
Catcheen	COT een, COCH een	kitten (also is the girls' name Katie)	Caitín
Colleen	CAHL een	little girl	Cailín
Creena	CREE na	(my) heart	Críona
Cushla Macree	COOSH la muh CREE	pulse of my heart	Cuisle mo chroí
Macree	muh CREE	my heart	Mo chroí
Macushla	muh COOSH la	my pulse	mo chuisle
Madreen	MAH dreen	little puppy- be careful, though. This is also a slang term for 'tramp' or 'slob'!	Maidrín
Milish	MILL ish	sweet	milis