Irish Baby Names

Do you remember Stephen Dedalus, the Irish figure in James Joyce’s semi-autobiographical novel, "The Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man"? Yes that name was also taken from the Greek mythology and most of the Irish names allude to the past, be it Biblical, Pagan, Hebrew or Aramaic.

Let me give you a few examples:

• Patrick, Patricia, Richard, Gerard, William, Shane, Seamus, Ryan, `Aine, Brian, Niall, Reece, Kyle, Ethan, Dillon, Cameron, Aron, Adhamh, Aidan, Akaisha, Alana, Becan, Beattie, Bevin, Blaine, Bryna, Caitrin, Canice, Cara, Caragh, Carlin, Carrol, Cassidy,
• Cathmor, Chevonne, Clancy, Dermot, Desmond, Devlin, Donahue, Dwaine, Dymphna, Eilis, Eithne, Enya, Fallon, Fenella, Gair, Hogan, Illona, Jarlath, Kathel, Keara, Keeley, Keenan, Kelly, Kermit, Keverne, Kinnard, Kyna, Laoghaire, Lawler, Mab, Malone, Moira, Moriarty, Neala, Niamh, Nuala, Onora, Phelan, Quillan, Raghnailt, Reardon, Renny, Riona, Roarke, Rois, Ryley, Sheehan, Sile, Tara, Tiernan, Ultan, Una, Vevila.

Irish Baby Girl Names

• Aednat, which can be pronounced, as "Eynit" and the English versions of which would be Enat or Ena, the meaning of which is "little fire".
• Aibhlinn, which is pronounced "Eveleen"; this name can be traced back to Norman roots and it means "a long-desired child"
• Beibhinn, which is pronounced as "Beveen" and the meaning of which would be " a fair woman" and that can be alluded to the Viking History.
• Cathleen, which can be alluded to St.Catherine who came to Ireland with Christianity, a prominent figure known for her courage and purity.
• Daimhin or "Davin" which means the diminutive of deer
• Ealga or "Alega", which means "noble or brave"
• Fianna or "Feeina", alludes to the legendary band of Fionn Mac Cool
• Gael, which is very common Irish name and refers to a native Irish speaker and it also alludes to the Irish hero.
• Ide or "Ita", which means "thirst for knowledge"
• Keela or Kyla, which means "beauty that only poetry can capture"
• Maebh or "Maeve", which means "a cause of great joy" or "she who bewilders".
• Neala or "Nila", which means female champion.
• Regan, which means the "the king’s child"
• Shauna or Shawna, which is the feminine form of Sean
• Teagan, which means "beautiful" in Irish.
• Ultana, which has also been name of numerous saints.
• Yseult or "Eesolt", which means a woman who is betrothed to King Of Cornwall.

Irish Baby Boy Names

• Aengus or "Engiss", which means "mighty".This name can be alluded to mythology since Aengus was the God of love and youth.
• Ailbe or "Allbay" means white.
• Ardan or "Aredawn", which means "high aspiration".
• Bartley, which is the Irish for Bartholomew, was one of the twelve apostles.
• Brian, the meaning of which is "high, noble, strong".
• Cabhan or "Kavan" which means grassy hill. Conchobhar or "Conor", which means a "hound lover" and can be alluded to the legend of the Conchobhar MacNessa, King of Ulster.
• Davin is one of the popular names, which means "little deer".
• Daire or "Darragh" or "Derry", means "oak" in Gaelic and also "fruitful and fertile".
• Diarmuid or "Deermid", which means "without enemy".
• Donal or Donald, which means "world mighty". This name also is used for Daniel.
• Eirnin or "Airnin" which means "iron" and the associated Germanic word means "vigor".
• Eoghan or "Eugene" is a very popular Irish name, which means "one who is well born" or "one who is born of the yew tree".
• Faolan or "Phelan", which comes from the word "wolf" and it also refers to the disciple of Fionn Mac Cool who was an exemplar of loyalty.
• Ferdia, which means "God’s man", can be alluded to the legend of Ferdia and his foster-brother Cuchulainn.
• Fergal is pronounced as "Fergull" and it means "brave, courageous and valorous".
• Gearoid or "Gerard" means "Spear Carrier" and can be alluded to the rich history of Ireland.
• Glendon or Glendan which means "valley’ or a "settlement fortress".
• Hugh which is pronounced as "hue" is a translation of an ancient name "Aodh" meaning of which is "fire". This name has strong nationalistic connotations.
• Iollan or "Ulan" is a mythological baby name, which is also related to the legend of Conchobhar Mac Nessa and it means "one who worships a different God".
• Jarlath is a name that refers to piety and love since it is taken from the name of St.Jarlath who was revered for his ability to teach.
• Liam or "William" literally means, "Desire helmet" and suggests "strong protector". It is one of the very popular names in Ireland.
• Lochlan or "Loklun" means," Land of the Lochs" but nowadays it is like paying tribute to the Viking ancestors.
• Murtagh or "Murtah" which means "sea skilled" also is favorite name among the Irish people.
• Niall or"Neil" is a very popular name allover the world but it has strong Irish connections, in fact it alludes to the legend of Nine hostages wherein as part of a test Niall kissed the princess in guise of an ugly woman to get water and in turn got sovereignty of Erin.

This is a brief list of baby names that would help you to know better about the Irish names and their history.