Names by meaning
Religious Names
Most of these names have been borrowed from the Bible, or other languages. Of the native Irish names, many are names of saints, or mean 'servant' or 'devotee' of a particular saint. In early Irish Christian times, saints' names were considered too sacred for regular people to have, so they tacked on a "mael" or a "giolla" meaning "servant" or "devotee" of in front of the saint's name.
| Name | Pronunciation | Other Forms | meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eilís (f) | AY leesh | Eilish, Elizabeth | from Hebrew Elizabeth- "God is my oath" |
| Eilish (f) | AY leesh, AY lish | Eilís | from Hebrew- Elizabeth, "God is my oath' |
| Eóin (m) | OH'n | John | from Hebrew John- God has been gracious |
| Giolla Chríst | GYIL la KHREESHT | Christian | servant of Christ |
| Kavanagh | KAV a na | Caomhanach | descendant or follower of St. Caomhan |
| Mael Íosa (m) | mal EE sa | Maelisa, Melissa | servant of Jesus |
| Máeleachlainn (m) | mal LACH lan | Malachy | devotee of St. Sechnall |
| Máire (f) | MOI reh, MOI a | Mary, Moya, Moira | from Hebrew Mary- bitterness? |
| Máirín (f) | MOI reen | Mary, Maureen | from Hebrew Mary- bitterness? |
| Maitiu (m) | MAH tyew | Matthew, Matthias | From Hebrew- "Gift of God" |
| Malachy (m) | MAL a kee | Maeleachlainn | devotee of St. Sechnall |
| Mallaidh (f) | MAH lee | Molly | dim. of Mary- Hebrew, trad. associated with "bitterness." |
| Malone | mal OAN | mal Eoin | servant of St. John |
| Maol Mhuire (m & f) | mail VIR eh | Murray, Miles, Milo, Meyler | devotee of St. Mary |
| Maura (f) | MAW ra, MORE a | Máire | Hebrew, trad. associated with "bitterness." |
| Maureen (f) | mawr EEN, more EEN | Mairín | Hebrew, trad. associated with "bitterness." pet form of Máire |
| Moira (f) | MOY ra | Máire | Hebrew, trad. associated with "bitterness." |
| Molly (f) | MOL ee | Mallaidh, Maille | Hebrew, trad. associated with "bitterness." pet form of Mary |
| Naomh (f) | NAV, NEV | - | saint |
| Naomhán (m) | NEV awn | Nevan | dim. of Naomh ("saint") |
| Nevan (m) | NEV an | Naomhán | saint |
| Nollaig (m/f) | NUL ig | Noel | Christmas |
| Orthanach (m) | UR han ach | - | potent in prayers or charms |
| Parthalán (m) | PAR ha lawn | Bartholomew, Bartley | from Hebrew, "son of Talmai" |
| Séamus (m) | SHAI mus | Séamas, James | from Hebrew- supplanter |
| Seán (m) | SHAWN | John, Shaun, Shawn | from Hebrew- God is gracious |
| Seofraid, Siothrún (m) | SHU fred, SHUH hroon | Geoffrey | from English-peaceful God? |
| Seosamh (m) | SHO sav | Joseph | from Hebrew- God will increase |
| Seosamhín (f) | SHO sav een | Josephine | from Hebrew- God will increase |
| Shaina (f) | SHAI na | Shayna | from Hebrew- God is gracious |
| Shane (m, sometimes f) | SHAIN | Seán | from Hebrew- God is gracious |
| Shaun, Shawn (m, sometimes f) | SHAWN | Seán | from Hebrew God is good |
| Shawna (f) | SHAW na | Shauna | from Hebrew- God is gracious |
| Sibéal (f) | shi BAIL | Elizabeth, Isabel | from Hebrew- God is my oath |
| Síne (f) | SHEE na | Sheena | Fem. of John, via French Jeanne, it is the Irish cognate of Jane. |
| Sinéad (f) | sha NADE | - | Fem. of John via French Jeannette. It is the Irish cognate of Janet |
| Siobhán (f) | shi VAWN | Shivaun, Susannah, Hannah, Susan, Judith, Judy. in USA: Chavonne, ShaVaughn etc. | Fem. of John via French Jehanne. It is the Irish cognate of Joan. |
| Stiofán (m) | SHTEE fawn | Stiamhna, Stiana, Stephen, Steven | form of Stephen (Greek- "crown") |
| Téodóir (m) | TAI uh dor | Theodore | from Greek- God's gift |
| Toiréasa (f) | tur AI sa | Teresa | from Greek- harvest? |