Names by meaning
Personality Traits
Name |
Pronunciation |
Other Forms* |
Meaning |
| Abaoth (m) | AH bee | Abbáeth | lustful |
| Adair | a DARE | Ó Daire | usually Scottish, this name is sometimes found in Ireland. son of Dáire (fruitful) |
| Ádhamhnán (m) | AH yum nawn | Eunan | fearful, timid |
| Aingeal (f) | AHN gel (hard G as in goat) | Angela | this is the Irish word for 'angel', (from Latin) |
| Alannah (f) | a LON na, a LAN na | Alanna, Alana | oh, child! An Irish term of endearment. Also used as a modern feminine form of Alan. |
| Ainbheartach (m) | AN v'yar takh | Ainbertach | doer of evil deeds |
| Anamcha (m) | AN am uh kka | Animosus, Ambrose | spirited |
| Anfudhán (m) | AN fawn | Anfudán | turbulent; fiery person |
| Annora (f) | an NOR a | Onóra, Nóra | Honor (from Latin) |
| Annstas, Stéise (f) | ON stas, STEY sha | Anastasia | re-born (Greek) |
| Baoth (m) | BEE | Báeth | reckless, wanton, vain |
| Baothán (m) | BEE hawn | Báethán | diminutive of Baoth |
| Bradigan | BRA di gan | Ó Bradagáin | spirited? |
| Brady | BRAY dee | Mac Bradaigh | spirited? |
| Brennan | BREN an | Ó Braonáin | possibly, "sorrow" |
| Breslin | BRES lin | Ó Breasláin | strife? |
| Brona (f) | BRO na | Brónach | sorrowful |
| Brónach (f) | BRO nakh | Brona, Bronagh | sorrowful |
| Buan (m) | BOO un | - | lasting; enduring |
| Caochán (m) | KEEKH awn | Keehan | dim-sighted |
| Cara (f) | KAR a, KAIR a | Kara, Carragh | Irish word for " friend" |
| Cian (m) | KEE in | Keane | ancient |
| Coinneach (m, sometimes f) | KAN yakh | Cainneach, Canice, Charles, Kenny | sorrowful |
| Corley | COR lee | Ó Thoirdealbhaigh | abettor; instigator |
| Daibhí (m) | DA vee | Daibhead | Beloved (Hebrew): form of David |
| Dáire (m) | DAW reh | Darragh, Dary, Dudley | fruitful, fertile |
| Dáirine (f) | DAW rin yeh | Darina | fruitful, fertile |
| Dálach (m) | DAWL akh | Daly | one who frequents assemblies |
| Dalbhach (m) | DUL vakh | Dalbach | guileful; full of sorcery |
| Dallán (m) | DA lawn | Dallan | blind |
| Darina (f) | dar EE na | Dáiríne | fruitful |
| Darragh (m) | DAR a | Dáire, Mac Dara | fruitful, son of the oak |
| Dary (m) | DAIR ee | Dáire | fruitful |
| Deaglán (m) | DEG lawn | Declan, Declán | possibly- full of goodness? |
| Declan (m) | DEK lan | Deaglán | possibly- full of goodness? |
| Delaney | de LAIN ee | Ó Dubhshláine | dark health? perhaps refers to river Slaney |
| Dermot (m) | DER mit | Diarmuid, Diarmaid | without injunction or envy? freeman? charioteer? |
| Dianaimh (f) | D'YAN iv | Dianam | flawless |
| Diarmaid (m) | DEER mid | Dermot, Diarmuid, Diarmait, Jeremiah, Jerome, Jeremy, Dudley | without injunction or envy? freeman? charioteer? |
| Duaibhseach (f) | DOO uv shakh | Duaibsech | sad; sorrowful; melancholy |
| Eachann (m) | Eachdonn, Hector | Eachdonn, Hector | form of the Norse name Haakon- "useful; handy" |
| Eadbhárd (m) | Edward | Edward | from the English Edward "wealth protector" |
| Éadroma (f) | AYD rum a | Étromma | giddyness; light-headedness |
| Éimhín (m) | Evin, Éimíne | Evin, Éimíne | prompt, ready |
| Eláir (m) | Hilarius, Hilary | Hilarius, Hilary | from Latin- "cheerful; happy" |
| Étaín (f) | Aideen, Éadaoin | Aideen, Éadaoin | jealousy |
| Evin (f/m) | Éimhín, Aoibheann | Éimhín, Aoibheann | prompt; ready, radiant |
| Fachtna (m/f) | FAKHT na | Festus, Festie, Fantasius | Malicious; hostile |
| Farrell | FAR rul, FAIR rul | Ó Fearghal | valorous |
| Fearchar (m) | FAR char | Farquar | friendly |
| Felic (m) | FEH lik | Felix | From Latin- "happy, blessed" |
| Fial (f) | FEE ul | Feale | modest; honorable; generous |
| Fidelma (f) | fi DEL ma | Feidhelm | ever good |
| Gaimhreadhán (m) | GUV uh rawn | Gaimredán | wintry person |
| Garbhán (m) | GAR vawn | Garvan, Garbán | rough |
| Garvan (m) | GAR vin | Garbhán | rough |
| Grady | GRAI dee | Ó Gradaigh | illustrious |
| Gráinne (f) | GRAW nya | Grania, Grace, Gertrude, Griselda | "inspiring terror" or "grain" |
| Grania (f) | GRON ya, GRAW nya | Gráinne | grain, or inspires terror |
| Íor (m) | EER | Ír | long lasting |
| Jarmy (m) | JAR mee | Diarmaid, Dermot | without injunction or envy? freeman? charioteer? |
| Kean (m) | KEEN, KANE | Cian | ancient or enduring |
| Laobhán (m) | LAY vawn | Láebán | crooked, skewed |
| Larkin | LAR kin | Ó Lorcáin | rough or fierce |
| Leannán (m) | LYUH nawn | - | sweetheart |
| Lonnóg (f) | LUNN oag | - | bold; eager |
| Lorcan (m) | LOR can | Lorccán, Laurence | cruel or fierce |
| Lorcán (m) | LUR a cawn | Lorccán, Lorcan | cruel or fierce |
| Maeve (f) | MAIV | Meadhbh | intoxicating one |
| Maon (m & f) | MAIN | - | silent- Celtic god name |
| Meadhbh (f) | MAVE | Maeve, Medb, Méabh, Margery | she who intoxicates |
| Meegan | MEE gan | Ó Miadhagáin | honorable |
| Miach (m & f) | MEE uch | - | horable; proud |
| Mochta (m) | MUCH ta | - | great |
| Mór (f) | MORE | Moreen, Móirín, Mary, Agatha, Martha | great |
| Muirne (f) | MWIRN yeh | Myrna | high spirited, festive |
| Myrna (f) | MUR na | Muirne | high spirited, festive |
| Neacht (f) | NYACHT | - | pure |
| Neasa (f) | NES sa | Nessa, Neas, Ness | not gentle |
| Neil (m) | NEEL | Niall, Neal | cloud, or vehement |
| Neila (f) | NEE la | - | cloud or vehement- modern fem. of Neil |
| Nelda (f) | NEL da | - | cloud or vehement- modern fem. of Neil |
| Nessa (f) | NES sa | Neasa, Neas, Ness | not gentle |
| Niall (m) | NEE ul | Neil, Neal, Néill, Nicholas, Nigel | cloud or passionate; vehement |
| Niallán (m) | NEE ul awn | Neylon, Nealon | dim. of Niall (cloud or passionate; vehement) |
| Nóirín (f) | no REEN | Noreen | little Nóra (see also) |
| Nora (f) | NO ra | Onóra, Annora, Honora, Nóra | from Latin- honor |
| Noreen (f) | nor EEN | Nóirín | little Nóra (see also) |
| Ólchobhar (m) | OLE chur | Ólchobar | lover of drink |
| Onóra (f) | uh NO ra | Annora, Nora | Honor (from Latin) |
| Póilín (f) | PO aleen | Pauline, Pauleen | from Latin Paul (Fem. form)- small |
| Pól (m) | POLE | Paul | from Latin- "small" |
| Quinn | KWIN | Ó Cuinn, Con, Coinneach | sense; intelligence or pleasant person |
| Rádhalbh(m) | RAW ulv | Ralph | From the German Raedwulf (Ralph)- crafty counselor |
| Reilly | RYE ul ee, RYE lee | Ó Raghallaigh, Riley | valiant? |
| Robhartach (m) | RO ar takh | Robartach | "rushing; impetuous" |
| Rodhlann (m) | RUH lan | Roland | from Germanic, "famous land" |
| Roibeard (m) | RU bard | Robert | from Germanic- "bright fame" |
| Sadhbh (f) | SIVE | Sive, Sadbh, Sophie, Sophia, Sarah, Sally, Sabina | sweet, goodly |
| Samhradhán (m) | SOW rawn | Samradán | summery person |
| Saraid (f) | SAR ad | Sárait, Sarah | excellent, best |
| Seanán (m) | SHAN awn | Senan | old, ancient |
| Searc (f) | SHARK | Serc | Love; affection |
| Shannon (m/f) | SHAN nin | Shannen, Shannyn etc. | Celtic goddess name, a river named for her. Also an anglicization of surname Seanán- "old one." Shannon is also the name of Ireland's main international airport. |
| Sive (f) | SIVE | Sadhbh | sweet |
| Sláine (f) | SLAW nyeh, SLAWN ya | Slaney, Slanina | health, from a Celtic goddess name |
| Somhairle (m) | SO ar leh | Sorley, Samuel, Charles | from Norse, "summer wanderer" |
| Sorcha (f) | SUR a ka | Sarah, Sally | bright, radiant |
| Sorley (m) | SORE lee | Somhairle | from Norse, summer wanderer |
| Suaibhseach (f) | SOO uv shach | Suaibsech | gracious; kindly |
| Suanach (f) | SOO un ach | - | drowsy |
| Suibhne (m) | SIV neh | - | well-going |
| Taichleach (m) | TAL akh | Tallach | placating; peacemaking |
| Tallula (f) | ta LOO la | Tuilelaith | lady of abundance |
| Tassach (m) | TASS ukh | - | perhaps, "idle; inactive" |
| Téide (f) | T'YAY d'yeh | Téite | wantonness |
| Toirdhealbhach (m) | TUR a lakh | Turlough, Tairdelbach, Charles | abettor |
| Torna (m) | TOR na | - | puffed-up? |
| Turlough (m) | TUR lukh | Toirdhealbhach | abettor |
| Uallach (f) | OO uhl ach | - | proud; arrogant |
| Uallachán (m) | OO uhl ach awn | Houlihan | little proud; arrogant man |
| Uallgarg (m) | OOL a gar ug, WAL a gar ug | - | fierce pride |
| Uilleam (m) | WILL yam, ILL yam | William, Liam | from Germanic William- "resolute protector" |
* 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.