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)Explore Love Irish