Adhamhnán
From Old Irish Adomnán (“little Adam”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
old irish names
Explore names with source-linked origins, etymologies, and pronunciations. Open a name to see its language context and regional pronunciation variants.
Explore names by language and tradition92 names · Page 1 of 2. Origin labels follow the cited name sense; earlier roots and uncertain meanings are explained on each name page.
Aeddan
a male given name from Old Irish áed (“fire”), equivalent to English Aidan, Irish Áedan or Aodhán, or Latin Aidanus
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Áine
A derivative of Old Irish án (“bright, brilliant; splendid, noble”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Alastar
From Old Irish Alaxander, borrowed from Latin Alexander, from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος (Aléxandros), from ἀλέξω (aléxō, “to defend”) + ἀνδρός (andrós), genitive of ἀνήρ (anḗr,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Alban
From Latin Albānus (“resident of Alba”) (a mountain region and an ancient city of Latium). From Scottish Gaelic Alba.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Aodh
From Old Irish Áed, from áed (“fire”). From Old Irish Áed, from áed (“fire”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends H
Aodhagán
From Old Irish Áedacán. By surface analysis, Aodh + -agán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Aoibhe
a female given name from Old Irish, variant of Aoife
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Aoife
Borrowed from Irish Aoife. The name is unrelated to the Biblical name Eva, which was rendered as Éabha in Irish. However, due to the lack of a more precise alternative familiar…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Aonghas
From Middle Irish Aengus, Oengus, from Old Irish Oíngus, from oín (“one”), from Proto-Celtic *oinos, from Proto-Indo-European *óynos (“single, one”). The etymology of the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
Ardal
From Middle Irish Ardgal, from Old Irish ard (“high, noble”) + gal (“warlike ardor, valor”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Art
From Old Irish art (“bear”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends T
Birgitta
From Swedish Birgitta. From Old Irish Brigit. First recorded in Sweden in 1293. Cognate with English Bridget.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Bjólan
From Old Norse Bjólan, from Middle Irish Beóllán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Brandán
Borrowed from Irish Bréanainn (via Latin Brendanus), from Old Irish Brénainn, from Old Welsh breenhin (“prince, king”), ultimately from Proto-Celtic *brigantīnos (“(someone)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Brendanus
From Old Irish Brénainn, from Proto-Brythonic *brɨɣėntin (“king”), from Proto-Celtic *brigantī (“something elevated”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰérǵʰonts (“high”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
Bríd
From Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *Brigantī (“high, exalted”). Cognate with Scottish Gaelic Brìghde and Manx Breeshey.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends D
Brìde
From Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *brigantī (“exalted one”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰerǵʰ- (“to rise”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Brìghde
From Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *Brigantī (“high, exalted”). Cognate with Irish Bríd and Manx Breeshey.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Brigita
Ultimately from Old Irish Brigit, from Proto-Celtic *Brigantī (“high, exalted”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Cailean
From a dialectal form of cuilean (“pup, youth, trickster”), from Middle Irish Cuilén, from Old Irish cuilén (“pup, cub”), from Proto-Celtic *kolignos (“whelp”), possibly of…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Caoimhe
a female given name from Old Irish, equivalent to English Keeva a female given name from Old Irish, equivalent to English Keavy, Keeva, Keevah, or Keva
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Caoimhín
From Old Irish Cóemgen. By surface analysis, caomh (“dear”) + -ín. Compare Serbo-Croatian Dragan.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Cathal
From Old Irish Cathal, from Proto-Celtic *Katuwalos (“strong in battle”), cognate with Gaulish Katouualos, Old Welsh Catgual, Welsh Cadwal. Related to Irish cath (“battle”),…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Ceallach
From Old Irish Cellach.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Cian
From Old Irish Cían, from cían (“long, distant, lasting”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
Ciarán
From Old Irish Cíarán, originally a byname from ciar (“black”) + -án. Popularized by Irish saints dating back from the 5th century.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Coinneach
From Old Irish caín (“handsome”) + -each.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Colmán
From Middle Irish Colmán, from Old Irish Colmán. Equivalent of colm (“dove”) + -án (diminutive).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Conchúr
From Old Irish Conchobar, from cú, con (“hound”) + cobar (“desiring”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Declan
From Old Irish Declán, whence the modern Irish equivalent Deaglán.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Deirdre
From Irish Deirdre, from Old Irish Derdriu. From Old Irish Derdriu. From Old Irish Derdriu.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends E
Derry
From Irish Doire, from doire (“oak grove”), from Old Irish daire (“oak forest”), from Proto-Celtic *daru.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
Diarmaid
From Old Irish Diarmait; anterior etymology unknown. Possibly from Old Irish dí- (“un-, dis-”) + airmit (“injunction”) (compare áirigh (“to reckon, count”)) or format (“envy”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
Diorbhail
From Old Irish Derbáil.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Dochartach
From dochar (“disadvantage, hurt, loss, injury, misery”) + -tach.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Dòmhnall
From Middle Irish [Term?], from Old Irish Domnall, from Proto-Celtic *Dubnowalos. Cognate with Irish Dónall.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Dónall
From Middle Irish Domnall, from Old Irish Domnall, from Proto-Celtic *Dubnowalos. Cognate with Scottish Gaelic Domhnall.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Donncha
From Old Irish Donnchad, from donn (“brown”) and cath (“battle”). Compare Scottish Gaelic Donnchadh.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Donnchadh
From Old Irish Donnchad, from donn (“brown”) plus either cath (“battle”) or cáid (“noble”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Dùghall
dubh (“black, dark”) + gall (“stranger, foreigner”). Compare Irish Dubhghall.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Éadaoin
From Old Irish Étaín.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Eimhir
From Old Irish Emer.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Eithne
From Middle Irish Eithne, from Old Irish Eithne. From Middle Irish Eithne, from Old Irish Eithne. Cognate with Old Norse Eðna.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
Emer
From Old Irish Emer; cognate with Irish Eimhear and Scottish Gaelic Eimhir.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Eochaidh
From Old Irish Eochaid, from Primitive Irish ᚓᚊᚑᚇᚇᚔ (eqoddi), from Proto-Celtic *ekʷos (“horse”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Eòghann
From Middle Irish Eógan, from Primitive Irish ᚔᚃᚑᚌᚓᚅᚔ (ivogeni, gen.sg.), from Proto-Celtic *Iwogenos (literally “yew-born”). Cognate with Irish Eoghan.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Eòin
From Old Irish Iohain, from Latin Iōannēs, from Ancient Greek Ἰωάννης (Iōánnēs), from Hebrew יוֹחָנָן (Yôḥānān, literally “God is gracious”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
Eubha
From Old Irish Eua, from Latin Eva, from Ancient Greek Εὔα (Eúa), from Biblical Hebrew חַוָּה (ḥawwā).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Fearchar
A proto-Celtic form *Ver-caro-s has been reconstructed. The first element may be related to modern Gaelic fìor 'true', or to modern Gaelic fear 'man' (cf. Fergus). The second…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Fearghal
From Old Irish Fergal.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
Fearghas
From Old Irish Fergus. From Old Irish Fergus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
Fiachra
From Old Irish Fíachrai, from Primitive Irish ᚃᚓᚊᚏᚓᚊ (veqreq), from Proto-Celtic *Weikorīxs (literally “fighting king”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Fiadh
From fiadh, pre-reform spelling of fia, from Old Irish fíad (“wild; game, deer”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends H
Fínín
From Old Irish Fíngin (literally “wine-born”), from fín (“wine”) + gein (“birth”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
Fionn
From Old Irish Finn, an epithet from the adjective find (“white, bright, fair, handsome”). Doublet of fionn. From Old Irish Finn, an epithet from the adjective find (“white,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends N
Fionnabhair
From Middle Irish Finnabair, from Old Irish Findabair, from Proto-Celtic *Windo-seibaris; cognate with English Guinevere and Jennifer.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends R
Fionnghuala
From Old Irish Finnguala, from find (“fair”) + guala (“shoulder”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
Fionnlagh
From Old Irish Findláech, analysable as fionn (“fair-haired”) + laoch (“hero, champion”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends H
Gilleasbaig
From gille (“servant”) + easbaig (“bishop”), with the second element of the name being derived from Latin episcopus. The origin of the Anglicisation Archibald is obscure, but…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends G