Irish Names — Meanings, Pronunciation & Origins

How do you say Saoirse, Tadhg or Caoimhe? Look up any Irish first name for its real meaning, a simple pronunciation guide, audio, and the story behind it.

Irish girls’ names

• Áine — AWN-ya — radiance, brightness (also written Anya, Awnya)
• Aisling — ASH-ling — dream, vision (also written Ashling, Ashlyn)
• Aoibhe — EE-va — beauty, radiance (also written Eva)
• Aoibhinn — EE-vin — radiant, lovely (also written Eavan, Aveen)
• Aoife — EE-fa — beauty, radiance (also written Eefa, Eva)
• Bláthnaid — BLAW-nid — little flower (also written Blawnid)
• Bríd — BREEJ — exalted one (also written Bridget, Breege)
• Caitlín — kat-LEEN — Irish form of Katherine (also written Kathleen, Caitlin)
• Caoimhe — KWEE-va / KEE-va — gentle, beautiful, precious (also written Keeva, Kweeva)
• Ciara — KEER-a — dark-haired (also written Keera, Kiera)
• Clodagh — CLOH-da — from the River Clodagh (also written Cloda)
• Damhnait — DAV-nit — fawn, little deer (also written Dympna, Devnet)
• Dearbhla — DER-vla — daughter of the poet (also written Dervla)
• Deirdre — DEER-dra — traditionally read as “sorrowful” (also written Deirdra)
• Doireann — DUR-in — meaning debated — often read as “sullen” or “daughter of Fionn” (also written Dorren)
• Éabha — AY-va — Irish form of Eve (also written Ava)
• Eibhlín — eye-LEEN / ev-LEEN — Irish form of Eileen / Evelyn (also written Eileen, Evelyn)
• Eithne — ETH-na / EN-ya — kernel, grain (also written Enya, Ethna)
• Fiadh — FEE-a — wild, a deer (also written Fia)
• Fionnuala — fin-OO-la — fair shoulder (also written Finola, Nuala)
• Gráinne — GRAWN-ya — possibly from grán, “grain” (also written Grania, Granya)
• Laoise — LEE-sha — radiant girl (also written Leesha)
• Máire — MAW-ra — Irish form of Mary (also written Maura, Moira)
• Méabh — MAYV — she who intoxicates (also written Maeve, Medb)
• Meadhbh — MAYV — variant spelling of Méabh (also written Maeve)
• Muireann — MWIR-in — sea-fair, sea-white (also written Mirren)
• Neasa — NASS-a — meaning uncertain (also written Nessa)
• Niamh — NEEV — radiance, brightness (also written Neve, Neave)
• Nóra — NOH-ra — Irish form of Honora (also written Nora, Noreen)
• Órlaith — OR-la — golden princess (also written Orla, Orlagh)
• Ríona — REE-na — queenly (also written Reena)
• Róisín — roh-SHEEN — little rose (also written Rosheen)
• Sadhbh — SIVE — sweetness, goodness (also written Sive)
• Saoirse — SEER-sha — freedom, liberty (also written Seersha)
• Sinéad — shin-AID — Irish form of Jane / Janet (also written Shinade)
• Siobhán — shiv-AWN — Irish form of Joan (also written Shivaun, Chevonne)
• Siún — SHOON — Irish form of Joan / Jane (also written Shoon)
• Sorcha — SUR-a-kha — brightness, radiance (also written Sorka)
• Treasa — TRASS-a — Irish form of Teresa; also “strength” (also written Tressa)
• Úna — OO-na — possibly “lamb” or from uan (also written Oona, Una)

Irish boys’ names

• Aodh — AY — fire (also written Hugh, Aidan (Aodhán))
• Aodhán — AY-dawn — little fire (also written Aidan, Aiden)
• Art — ART — bear; also “stone” (also written Art)
• Brian — BREE-an — high, noble (also written Bryan)
• Caoimhín — KWEE-veen — gentle birth, handsome (also written Kevin)
• Cathal — KA-hal — battle-rule (also written Cahal)
• Cian — KEE-an — ancient, enduring (also written Kian, Keean)
• Cillian — KIL-ee-an — associated with cill, “church” (also written Killian)
• Colm — KUL-um — dove (also written Colum, Callum)
• Conall — KON-al — strong as a wolf (also written Conal)
• Conchobhar — KON-a-khoor / KON-or — lover of hounds (also written Conor, Connor)
• Cormac — KOR-mak — meaning debated — often read as “charioteer” (also written Cormack)
• Dáire — DAW-ra — fruitful, fertile (also written Dara, Darragh)
• Daithí — DAH-hee — swiftness, nimbleness (also written Dahee, David)
• Darragh — DA-ra — oak (also written Dara)
• Diarmuid — DEER-mid — without envy (also written Dermot, Diarmaid)
• Donnchadh — DUN-a-kha — brown-haired warrior (also written Donagh, Donncha)
• Éanna — AY-na — bird-like (also written Enda)
• Eoghan — OH-un — born of the yew (also written Owen, Ewan)
• Eoin — OH-in — Irish form of John (from Latin Johannes) (also written Owen)
• Fearghas — FER-a-gus — man of vigour (also written Fergus)
• Fiachra — FEE-akh-ra — raven (also written Fiachra)
• Fionn — FIN — fair, bright (also written Finn)
• Fionnbharr — FIN-bar — fair-haired (also written Finbar, Barry)
• Liam — LEE-am — resolute protector (from Uilliam, William) (also written Liam)
• Lorcán — LOR-kawn — little fierce one (also written Lorcan, Laurence)
• Micheál — MEE-hawl — Irish form of Michael (also written Micheal)
• Niall — NEE-al — champion (also written Neil, Neal)
• Odhrán — OH-rawn — little pale-green one (also written Oran, Odran)
• Oisín — uh-SHEEN — little deer, fawn (also written Osheen, Ossian)
• Pádraig — PAW-drig — Irish form of Patrick, “nobleman” (also written Padraig, Patrick)
• Peadar — PAD-ar — Irish form of Peter, “rock” (also written Peader)
• Rónán — ROH-nawn — little seal (also written Ronan)
• Ruairí — ROO-ree — red king (also written Rory, Ruari)
• Séamus — SHAY-mus — Irish form of James (also written Seamus, Shamus)
• Seán — SHAWN — Irish form of John (also written Shaun, Shawn)
• Setanta — sheh-TAN-ta — meaning uncertain (also written Setanta)
• Tadhg — TYGE — poet (also written Tag, Teague)
• Toirdhealbhach — TUR-lakh — instigator, prompter (also written Turlough)
• Ultán — ul-TAWN — an Ulsterman (also written Ultan)