Irish Translations of English Names

Not all names are translatable into Irish. Most names that are translatable are either biblical, the names of saints or other prominent people, or names brought to Ireland by Vikings, Normans and other settlers. If you don't see your name, it probably doesn't fall into one of the categories listed above.

However, if you really want your name translated, there are other ways. First check out our Problem Name page to see if your name is there. For example, although there is no etymological Irish equivalent of the name Winifred, for many years it was used as a 'translation' of the Irish name Una, due to slight similarity in sound. Many names have cultural, if not linguistic equivalents. These names are listed in italics.

Also, many names can be translated on the basis of meaning. For example, there is no Irish version of Valerie. however, Valerie is a Latin girls' name from a word meaning "health." Sláine is an Irish girls' name with the same meaning. So, there's a connection in meaning. If your name is not on this list, and you really want to translate it, E-mail me, and I'll see what I can do!

If you haven't done so already, non-Irish speakers please see the the pronunciation guide.

ENGLISH NAME	ORIGIN	MEANING	IRISH NAME*	APPROX. PRONOUNCIATION
Aaron	Hebrew, possibly Egyptian origin	meaning uncertain, often associated with Hebrew, "high mountain"	Árón	AW rone
Abigail	Hebrew	father's joy	Abigeál	AHB i gyal
Adam	Hebrew	red earth	Ádhamh, Ádam	AW hav, AW dum
Adrian	Latin	From Hadria	Aidrean	Ah dree an
Agatha	Greek	pure	Agata	AH gah ta
Agnes	Latin	Holy	Aignéis, Úna	AG neysh, OO na
Alan, Allen	Celtic	?	Ailín	AH leen
Alexander	Greek	defender of mankind	Alsander, Alastar	AHL sun dur, AHL uh stur
Albert	Germanic	bright nobility	Ailbhe	AHL vyeh
Alice, Allison, Alicia	old German	noble	Ailís, Ailíse	AY leesh, AY leesha
Anastasia	Greek	re born	Annstas, Stéise	ON stas, SHTAY sha
Andrew	Greek	man	Aindréas, Aindriú, Aindreas	AHN dray is, AHN dryu, AH dras
Angela, Angel, Angelica	Latin	angel	Aingeal	AHN gel (hard g as in goat)
Ann, Hannah	Hebrew	Grace; "God has favored me"	Ánna, Áine	AW na, AW nyeh
Anthony	Latin	meaning unknown	Antoin, Antóin, Antain(e)	AHN tun, AHN toe in, AHN tan (eh)
Augustine	Latin	majestic	Aghaistín/ Aibhistin	AH steen/AH stin
Barbara	Greek	stranger	Bairbre/ Baibín	BAR breh/BA been
Barnabas, Barney	Aramaic	son of the prophet	Brian, Brion	BREE un
Bartholemew	Hebrew	son of Talmai	Parthalán	PAR ha lawn
Basil	English from Greek	king	Breasal	BRA sul
Bernard	Germanic	Bear	Bearnárd, Brian, Brion	BAR nawrd, BREE un
Blanche	French	white	Fionnait, Blinne	FYUN it, BLIN yeh
Carina	latin	dear	Cairenn	CAR in
Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn (see also Kate)	Greek	usu. associated w/ 'pure'	Cáitlín, Caitrín, Cáitriona	KOYT hleen, KOYT hreen, koyt HREE uh na
Charles	German	man	Searlas, Calbhach, Cathal	SHAR lis, KAL vakh, KAH hul
Charlotte/Carla/Caroline/Carol	"	fem of Charles	Searlait	SHAR lit
Christian	Greek	follower of Christ	Giolla Chríst	GYILL a KHREESHT
Christina, Christine, Krista etc.	Greek	follower if Christ	Crístíona	KREE shtee uh na
Christopher	Greek	Christ bearer	Criostoir	KREEST er
Cecilia	Latin	blind	Síle	SHEE la
Columba	Latin	dove	Colm	CULL im
Daisy	English	flower name	Nóinín, Nóra	NOE neen, NOE ra
Daniel	Hebrew	God is my judge	Daniél, Domhnall/Dónal	DAHN yale, DOE nal
David	Hebrew	beloved	Daibhí, Daibhead	DAH vee, DAH vid
Dennis, Denis	French	Dionysus, god of wine	Donnchadh, Donnacha	DUN a kha
Dominic	Latin	Lord	Damhnaic, Damhlaic, Doiminic	DAV un ak, DAV uh lak, DUH min ik
Dorothy	Greek	gift of God	Dairinn	DAHR in
Edmund	English	wealthy guardian	Éamonn, Éamann	AY mon
Edward	Germanic	wealth protector	Eadbhárd	AYD vard
Eleanor	Germanic	"foreigner" also thought to be a pet form of Helen (see also)	Eileanóra, Eileanór, Aileanóra	El un OR a, el un OR, al un OR a
Elizabeth, Isabel	Hebrew	I pledge to God	Eilís, Sibéal	AY leesh, shi BALE
Emily	Germanic	Possibly: industrious	Eimíle	EM ee la
Eric	Germanic	"always" or "one" + "ruler"	Eiric	EH rik
Ernest, Ernie	Germanic	seriousness	Earnán	ARN nawn
Esther, Hester	Persian	star	Eistir, Aislinn, Aisling	ESH ter, ASH leeng
Eugene	Greek	well-born	Aodh, Eoghan	EE, OH in
Eva, Eve	Hebrew	life	Eábha, Aoife	AW va, YAW va, EE fa, WEE fa
Evelyn	Germanic	hazlenut?	Eibhlín, Aibhilín	ei LEEN, AHV i leen
Felix	Latin	Happy; blessed	Felic, Feidhlim	FEL ik, FEL im
Flora, Florence	Latin	flowering	Bláthnaid, Blánaid	BLAW nid
Frances, Francis	Latin	from France	Proinséas, Proinsias	PRAHN shis
Frederick	Germanic	peaceful ruler	Feardorcha	far DUR a kha
Gabriel	Hebrew	Conquerer	Gabriel, Gaibrial	GAH breel, GAH bryul
Geoffrey, Jeffrey	German	God's peace?	Seafraid, Seathrun	SHEH frid, SHEH hrun
Geraldine	French	rules with a spear	Geraroidín	GER ar jeen
Gerald	French	rules with a spear	Gearalt	GER alt
Gerard	old English	brave with a spear	Gearoid, Gearard	GER id, GER ard
George	Greek	farmer	Seoirse	SHOR sa
Gertrude	German	spear of strength	Gráinne	GRAWN yeh
Gillian	see Julia
Grace	English	grace	Gráinne	GRAWN yeh
Gregory	Greek	watchman; vigilant	Gréagóir, Greagoir	GRAY agore
Hannah (see Ann)	Hebrew
Harry	German	home ruler	Annraoi, Anraí	ON ree
Helen	Greek	Light	Léan, Léana	LAY in, LAY in a
Henry	German	home ruler	Annraoi, Anraí	ON ree
Herbert	Germanic	illustrius warrior	Hoireabard	HUR uh burd
Honora	Latin	honor	Onóra, Nóra	uh NO ra/NO ra
Hugh	Germanic	heart, mind, or spirit	Úga, Aodh, Uisdean, Eoghan	OO ga, EE, ISH jen, OH in
Irving	Scottish	surname deriving from a place name	Éireamhón	AY ra vone
Isaac	Hebrew	to laugh	Íosac	EE suk
Isabel, Isabella	Hebrew	I pledge to God (Sp. and Fr. form of Elizabeth-see also)	Isibéal, Sibéal	ISH bale, shi BALE
Jacob, James	Hebrew	he who replaces	Séamus, Séamas	SHEH mus
Jean, Jane	Hebrew	God is good	Síne, Sinéad	SHEE na, shi NADE
Joan	Hebrew	God is good	Siobhán, Siún	shi VAWN, SHOO in
John	"	"	Seán, Eóin	SHAWN, OH n
Jonathan	Hebrew	gift of God	Ionatán or Seonac	YO na tawn or SHON ak
Joseph	Hebrew	God will increase	Seosamh	SHO sav
Josephine	"	"	Seosaimhín	SHO sa veen
Judith, Judy	"	woman from Judea	Iúidít, Síle, Siobhán	YOO deet, SHEE la, shih VAWN
Julia, Gillian	Latin	fem. of Julian, "downy bearded"	Iúile	YOO eel yeh
Kate, Katie, Kathy	Greek	pet forms of Catherine (see also)	Cáit, Cáitín	KAWTCH, CAWTCH een
Laurence	Latin	from Laurentius	Labhrás	LOW raws, LAWV raws
Leo, Leon	Latin	lion	León	LEE own
Lily	English	Lily flower	Líle	LEE leh
Louis, Lewis	Germanic	famous warrior	Alaois, Alabhaois Lughaidh	ALL eesh, ALL a veesh, LOO ee
Louise, Louisa	Germanic	famous warrior	Aloisia	ALL wee sha
Luke	Greek	Man from Lucania	Lúcás	LOO caws
Madeleine	French, from Hebrew	from Magdala	Madailéin	MAH da lane
Magnus	Latin	great	Mánus	MAW nus
Margaret	Greek	Pearl (see also Megan)	Mairéad, Maighread	mar ADE
Mark, Marcel	Latin	Of the (Roman) god Mars	Marcas, Marcus, Mairsial	MAR cas, MAR shal
Martha	Aramaic	lady	Marta	MAR ta
Martin	Latin	warlike	Mairtín	MAR steen
Mary, Maureen, Molly	Hebrew	bitterness	Máire, Máirín, Mallaidh	MAW ra, MOY ra, MOY a, MAW eereen, MAH lee
Matthew	Hebrew	gift of God	Maitiu, Máta	MA tcheeu, MAW ta
Maurice	Latin	dark skinned	Muiris	MWEE rish
Megan/Maggie/Peggy/Meg	pet forms of Margaret (see also)	Pearl (From Greek)	Peig, Peigí	PEG, PEG ee
Michael	Hebrew	who is like God?	Mícheál	MEE hawl/MEEL
Molly	Hebrew	bitterness? pet form of Mary	Mallaidh	MAH lee
Monica	Latin from possibly N. African	unknown	Moncha	MUN uh kha
Morgan	Welsh	sea circle	Murchadh	MUR uh kha
Nancy	Latin	dim. of Agnes ("pure"), also Ann "God's grace"	Nainsí	NAN shee
Nicholas	Greek	victory of the people	Cóilín, Nicolás, Aonghas	CO ileen, NIC uh laws, AYN ghus
Nigel	Latin	form of Neil	Niall	NEE ul
Noah	Hebrew	meaning is disputed	Nóe, Naoise	NO eh, NEESH a
Noel/Noelle	French	Christmas	Nollaig	NULL ig
Oliver	Latin	olive tree	Oilibhéar	ULL i vare
Patrick	Latin	nobleman	Pádraig, Padraic	PAW drig or PORE ik
Patricia	Latin	fem. of Patrick	Pádraigín	PAW drig een, PORE ick een
Peter	Greek	rock	Peadar, Piaras	PADTH ur, PEEA ras
Paul	Latin	small	Pól	POLE
Paula, Pauline	Latin	small	Póilín	PO eeleen
Penelope, Penny	Greek	a type of duck	Fionnuala, Fionnghuala	finn YOU uh la, finn OO la
Phillip	Greek	lover of horses	Pilib	PILL ib
Rachel	Hebrew	ewe	Ráichéal	RAW shale
Ralph	Germanic	crafty counselor	Rádhulbh	RAW ulv
Raymond	German	counselor; protector	Réamann	RAY man
Regina, Gina	Latin	queen	Ríonach, Riona	REE uh nakh, REE uh na
Richard	German	strong ruler	Risteard	RISH taird
Robert	English	bright fame	Roibeard	RUB erd
Roderick, Roddy	Germanic	famous power	Ruairí	ROO a ree
Roger	Germanic	famous spear	Ruairí	ROO a ree
Rose	English	a rose	Róisín	RO sheen
Roland	German	famous land	Rodhlann	RUH lan
Samuel	Hebrew	God has heard	Somhairle	SO uhr lyeh
Sarah, Sara	Hebrew	princess	Sorcha, Saraid	SUR a kha, SAWR id
Simon	Hebrew	To hear, or to be heard	Síomón	SHEE mone
Solomon	Hebrew	Peace	Solamh	SUL uv
Sophia, Sophie	Greek	wisdom	Sadhbh	SIVE
Stephen	Greek	crown	Stíofán, Stiana	SHTEE fawn, SHTEE uh na
Susan	Hebrew	lily; rose	Siui, Sosaidh, Súsanna	SHU ee, SUS ee, SOO suh na
Theobald	Germanic	brave people	Tiobóid	TEE bohd
Theodore	Greek	God's gift	Téodóir	TAY uh dore
Thomas	Greek	twin	Tomás	tuh MAWS
Theresa	Greek	harvest	Tóireasa, Treasa	TOR ish a, TRA sa
Timothy	Greek	honoring God	Tadhg, Tomaltach	TYG, TOM ul takh
Victor	Latin	victorious	Buadhach	BOO akh
Vincent	Latin	Conquerer	Uinsean	In shan
Vivian, Viviane, Vivienne	Latin	life	Bébhinn	BAY vin
Walter	Germanic	Army commander	Ualtar, Uaitár	UL tur, IT awr
William	German	constant protector	Uilliam/ Liam	ILL ee um/LEE um
Winifred	Welsh	blessed peace	Úna	OO na

*Irish names were often "translated" into English with names that had no etymological connection, but which sounded similar or had similar meanings. The names in italics represents Irish Gaelic names that may have no connection to the English name given linguistically, but were historically connected to the English name through this process.

Don't see your name? Check out our Problem Name page! It might be listed there.