Irish Translations of English Names: Men's Names
Irish Translations of English Names: Women
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron | Hebrew, possibly Egyptian origin | meaning uncertain, often associated with Hebrew, "high mountain" | Árón | AW rone |
| Adam | Hebrew | "red earth" | Ádhamh, Ádam | AW hav, AW dum |
| Adrian | Latin | "From Hadria" | Aidrean | Ah dree an |
| Alan, Allen | Celtic (?) | meaning is disputed | Ailín | AH leen |
| Alexander | Greek | "defender of mankind" | Alastar, Alusdrann | AHL sun dur, AHL uh stur |
| Albert | Germanic | "bright nobility" | Ailbhe | AHL vyeh |
| Andrew | Greek | "man" | Aindréas, Aindriú, Aindreas | AHN dray is, AHN dryu, AH dras |
| Anthony | Latin | used in Latin, but probably from an unknown word of Etruscan origin. | Antoin, Antóin, Antain(e) | AHN tun, AHN toe in, AHN tan (eh) |
| Augustine | Latin | "majestic" | Aghaistín/ Aibhistin | AH steen/AH stin |
| 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 |
| Charles | German | "man' | Searlas, Calbhach, Cathal | SHAR lis, KAL vakh, KAH hul |
| Christian | Greek | "follower of Christ" | Giolla Chríst | GYILL a KHREESHT |
| Christopher | Greek | "Christ bearer" | Criostoir | KREEST er |
| Columba | Latin | "dove" | Colm | CULL im |
| Daniel | Hebrew | "God is my judge" | Daniél, Domhnall/Dónal | DAHN yale, DOE nal |
| David | Hebrew | "beloved" | Daibhí, Daibhead | DAH vee, DAH vid |
| Dominic | Latin | "Lord" | Damhnaic, Damhlaic, Doiminic | DAV un ak, DAV uh lak, DUH min ik |
| Edmund | Germanic | "wealthy guardian" | Éamonn, Éamann | AY mon |
| Edward | Germanic | "wealthy protector" | Eadbhárd | AYD vard |
| Eric | Germanic | "always" or "one" + "ruler" | Eiric | EH rik |
| Felix | Latin | "Happy; blessed" | Felic, Feidhlim | FEL ik, FEL im |
| Francis | Latin | "from France" | Proinséas, Proinsias | PRAHN shis |
| Gabriel | Hebrew | Conquerer | Gabriel, Gaibrial | GAH breel, GAH bryul |
| Geoffrey, Jeffrey | German | God's peace? | Seafraid, Seathrun | SHEH frid, SHEH hrun |
| 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 |
| Gregory | Greek | watchman; vigilant | Gréagóir, Greagoir | GRAY agore |
| Harry | German | home ruler | Annraoi, Anraí | ON ree |
| Henry | German | home ruler | Annraoi, Anraí | ON ree |
| Herbert | Germanic | illustrius warrior | Hoireabard | HUR uh burd |
| Hugh, Hugo | 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 |
| Jacob, James | Hebrew | he who replaces | Séamus, Séamas | SHEH mus |
| John | Hebrew | God is gracious | Seán (via the Old French form Jehan), Eóin (via the Latin form Ioannes) | 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 |
| Laurence | Latin | from Laurentius | Labhrás | LOW raws, LAWV raws |
| Leo, Leon | Latin | lion | León | LEE own |
| Louis, Lewis | Germanic | famous warrior | Alaois, Alabhaois Lughaidh | ALL eesh, ALL a veesh, LOO ee |
| Luke | Greek | Man from Lucania | Lúcás | LOO caws |
| Magnus | Latin | great | Mánus | MAW nus |
| Mark, Marcel | Latin | Of the (Roman) god Mars | Marcas, Marcus, Mairsial | MAR cas, MAR shal |
| Martin | Latin | warlike | Mairtín | MAR steen |
| Matthew | Hebrew | gift of God | Maitiu, Máta | MA tcheeu, MAW ta |
| Maurice | Latin | dark skinned | Muiris | MWEE rish |
| Michael | Hebrew | who is like God? | Mícheál | MEE hawl/MEEL |
| Morgan | Welsh | sea circle | Murchadh | MUR uh kha |
| 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 | French | Christmas | Nollaig | NULL ig |
| Oliver | Latin | olive tree | Oilibhéar | ULL i vare |
| Patrick | Latin | nobleman | Pádraig, Padraic | PAW drig or PORE ik |
| Peter | Greek | rock | Peadar, Piaras | PADTH ur, PEEA ras |
| Paul | Latin | small | Pól | POLE |
| Phillip | Greek | lover of horses | Pilib | PILL ib |
| Ralph | Germanic | crafty counselor | Rádhulbh | RAW ulv |
| Raymond | German | counselor; protector | Réamann | RAY man |
| 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 |
| Roland | German | famous land | Rodhlann | RUH lan |
| Samuel | Hebrew | God has heard | Somhairle | SO uhr lyeh |
| Simon | Hebrew | To hear, or to be heard | Síomón | SHEE mone |
| Solomon | Hebrew | Peace | Solamh | SUL uv |
| Stephen | Greek | crown | Stíofán, Stiana | SHTEE fawn, SHTEE uh na |
| Theobald | Germanic | brave people | Tiobóid | TEE bohd |
| Theodore | Greek | God's gift | Téodóir | TAY uh dore |
| Thomas | Greek | twin | Tomás | tuh MAWS |
| Timothy | Greek | honoring God | Tadhg, Tomaltach | TYG, TOM ul takh |
| Victor | Latin | victorious | Buadhach | BOO akh |
| Vincent | Latin | Conquerer | Uinsean | In shan |
| Walter | Germanic | Army commander | Ualtar, Uaitár | UL tur, IT awr |
| William | German | constant protector | Uilliam/ Liam | ILL ee um/LEE um |
*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.