Irish Translations of English Names: Women
Irish Translations of English Names: Men
What is your name in Irish? For example, if your name is John, the Irish translation is Seán or Eoin. Here are the Irish equivalents of some common English names. English names are in themselves usually translations of other foreign names (e.g. Mary comes from a Hebrew name closer to 'Miriam'), so the origin of the name is included.
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: Women's Names to see if your name is there. We also have Problem Name Page: Men's Names. 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.
If you haven't done so already, non-Irish speakers please see the the pronunciation guide.
| ENGLISH NAME | ORIGIN | MEANING | IRISH NAME* | APPROX. PRONOUNCIATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abigail | Hebrew | "my father's joy" | Abigeál, Gobnait | AHB i gyal |
| Adrian, Adrianne, Adrienne | Latin | "From Hadria [place in Asia minor] | Aidrean | Ah dree an |
| Agatha | Greek | "pure" | Agata | AH gah ta |
| Agnes | Greek | "Holy" | Aignéis, Úna | AG neysh, OO na |
| Alice, Allison, Alicia | old German | "noble" | Ailís, Ailíse | AY leesh, AY leesha |
| Anastasia | Greek | "re-born" | Annstas, Stéise | ON stas, SHTAY sha |
| 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 |
| Barbara | Greek | "foreigner; stranger" | Bairbre/ Baibín, Gormlaith | BAR breh/BA been |
| Blanche | French | "white" | Fionnait, Blinne | FYUN it, BLIN yeh |
| Carina | Latin | "keel" | Cairenn | CAR in |
| Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn (see also Kate) | Greek | usually. associated w/ 'pure,' though actual meaning is unknown | Cáitlín, Caitrín, Cáitriona | KOYT hleen, KOYT hreen, koyt HREE uh na |
| Charlotte/Carla/Caroline/Carol | German | feminine form of of Charles, meaning "man." | Searlait | SHAR lit |
| Christina, Christine, Krista etc. | Greek | "follower of Christ" | Crístíona | KREE shtee uh na |
| Cecilia | Latin | "blind" | Síle | SHEE la |
| Daisy | English | flower name | Nóinín, Nóra | NOE neen, NOE ra |
| Dorothy | Greek | "gift of God" | Dairinn | DAHR in |
| 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" or "God is my oath" | Eilís, Sibéal | AY leesh, shi BALE |
| Emily | Germanic | Possibly: "industrious" | Eimíle | EM ee la |
| Esther, Hester | Persian | "star" | Eistir, Aislinn, Aisling | ESH ter, ASH leeng |
| Eva, Eve | Hebrew | "life" | Eábha, Aoife | AW va, YAW va, EE fa, WEE fa |
| Evelyn | Germanic | possibly means "desired" | Eibhlín, Aibhilín | ei LEEN, AHV i leen |
| Flora, Florence | Latin | "flowering" | Bláthnaid, Blánaid | BLAW nid |
| Frances | Latin | "from France" | Proinséas | PRAHN shis |
| Geraldine | French from Germanic | "rules with a spear" | Geraroidín | GER ar jeen |
| Gertrude | German | "spear of strength" | Gráinne | GRAWN yeh |
| Gillian | English from Latin | feminine of Julian "downy-bearded" | see Julia | |
| Grace | English | "grace" | Gráinne | GRAWN yeh |
| Hannah (see Ann) | Hebrew | another form of Anna | ||
| Helen | Greek | "Light" | Léan, Léana | LAY in, LAY in a |
| Honora, Honor | Latin | "honor" | Onóra, Nóra | uh NO ra/NO ra |
| Isabel, Isabella | Hebrew | Spanish, French and Italian forms of Elizabeth-see also | Isibéal, Sibéal | ISH bale, shi BALE |
| Jeannette, Janet | Hebrew | "God is gracious" | Síne, Sinéad | SHEE na, shi NADE |
| Joan, Jean, Jane | Hebrew | "God is gracious" | Siobhán, Siún | shi VAWN, SHOO in |
| Josephine | French via Hebrew | feminine form of Joseph "God will add" | Seosaimhín | SHO sa veen |
| Judith, Judy | Hebrew | "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 |
| Lily | English | "Lily flower" | Líle | LEE leh |
| Louise, Louisa | Germanic | "famous warrior" | Aloisia | ALL wee sha |
| Madeleine | French, from Hebrew | from Magdala | Madailéin | MAH da lane |
| Margaret | Greek | "Pearl" (see also Megan) | Mairéad, Maighread | mar ADE |
| Martha | Aramaic | "lady" | Marta | MAR ta |
| Mary, Maureen, Molly | Hebrew | meaning is disputed. | Máire, Máirín, Mallaidh | MAW ra, MOY ra, MOY a, MAW eereen, MAH lee |
| Megan/Maggie/Peggy/Meg | pet forms of Margaret (see also) | Pearl (From Greek) | Peig, Peigí | PEG, PEG ee |
| Molly | Hebrew | meaning is disputed. | 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 |
| Noel/Noelle | French | "Christmas" | Nollaig | NULL ig |
| Patricia | Latin | fem. of Patrick meaning "noble; high-born" | Pádraigín | PAW drig een, PORE ick een |
| Paula, Pauline | Latin | "small" | Póilín | PO eeleen |
| Penelope, Penny | Greek | a type of duck | Fionnuala, Fionnghuala | finn YOU uh la, finn OO la |
| Rachel | Hebrew | "ewe" | Ráichéal | RAW shale |
| Regina, Gina | Latin | "queen" | Ríonach, Riona | REE uh nakh, REE uh na |
| Rose | English | "a rose" | Róisín | RO sheen |
| Sarah, Sara | Hebrew | "princess" | Sorcha, Saraid | SUR a kha, SAWR id |
| Sophia, Sophie | Greek | "wisdom" | Sadhbh | SIVE |
| Susan | Hebrew | "lily; rose" | Siui, Sosaidh, Súsanna | SHU ee, SUS ee, SOO suh na |
| Theresa | Greek | possibly "summer" or "harvest" | Tóireasa, Treasa | TOR ish a, TRA sa |
| Vivian, Viviane, Vivienne | Latin | "life" | Bébhinn | BAY vin |
*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.