Irish Name Suggestions

[readingreverie]

Hello, friends!

I’m currently trying to expand my list of [name_m]Irish[/name_m] names, as I’ve always sort of found myself drawn to them (and that part of my heritage as a whole). I’ve gotten a good list of the ones I like, but I feel like my knowledge is pretty limited, and I figured some of you all might be able to help me expand this list!

I’ve found that my favorite [name_m]Irish[/name_m] (or Celtic) names are generally ones that you might see a multinational family use—something that is [name_m]Irish[/name_m] but would be easy for people unfamiliar with the language to say. Obviously, [name_f]English[/name_f] is widely spoken in [name_f]Ireland[/name_f], and unfortunately (and really sadly), the [name_m]Irish[/name_m] language itself is “definitely endangered,” so it’s quite easy to imagine that a multinational family (with one parent being from [name_f]Ireland[/name_f] and the other being from the US) might use an [name_f]English[/name_f] name, but in this case, I am speaking about names that still feel [name_m]Irish[/name_m], because they are, but wouldn’t be so clearly [name_m]Irish[/name_m] based on spelling. For example, you might see a [name_f]Nuala[/name_f] or a [name_m]Cillian[/name_m], but you wouldn’t see an [name_f]Aoibheann[/name_f] or a Bláthnaid.

Currently, I have…
Girls: [name_f]Bridget[/name_f], [name_f]Clare[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Oona[/name_f], [name_f]Oonagh[/name_f], [name_f]Sorcha[/name_f], [name_f]Sorsha[/name_f], [name_f]Sloane[/name_f], [name_f]Orla[/name_f], [name_f]Nuala[/name_f], [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], [name_f]Deirdre[/name_f], [name_f]Clodagh[/name_f], [name_f]Larkin[/name_f], [name_f]Meabh[/name_f], [name_f]Moira[/name_f], [name_f]Morrigan[/name_f], [name_m]Murphy[/name_m], [name_f]Nora[/name_f], [name_f]Roisin[/name_f], [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_f]Fionnuala[/name_f], [name_f]Síne[/name_f], [name_f]Imogen[/name_f], and [name_f]Elva[/name_f]
Boys: [name_m]Cillian[/name_m], [name_m]Euan[/name_m], [name_m]Finnegan[/name_m], [name_m]Sullivan[/name_m], [name_m]Murphy[/name_m], [name_m]Rory[/name_m], [name_m]Finley[/name_m], [name_m]Finn[/name_m], [name_m]Ronan[/name_m], [name_m]Emmett[/name_m], [name_m]Finnian[/name_m], [name_f]Rooney[/name_f], [name_m]Orin[/name_m], [name_m]Ossian[/name_m], [name_m]Oisín[/name_m], [name_m]Artur[/name_m], [name_m]Callahan[/name_m], [name_m]Colin[/name_m], [name_f]Darcy[/name_f], [name_m]Gallagher[/name_m], [name_m]Gus[/name_m], [name_m]Hugh[/name_m], [name_m]Keir[/name_m], [name_m]Loran[/name_m], [name_m]Neil[/name_m], [name_m]Nigel[/name_m], [name_m]Oscar[/name_m], [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m], [name_m]Rowan[/name_m], [name_m]Seamus[/name_m], [name_m]Tadgh[/name_m], [name_m]Torin[/name_m], [name_m]Ruadh[/name_m], [name_m]Angus[/name_m], [name_m]Fergus[/name_m], [name_m]Flynn[/name_m], and [name_m]Alfie[/name_m]

With this being said, I’d love to hear what [name_m]Irish[/name_m] names you’d suggest to me based on this list! Any interpretation of my list or reasoning you think I might like the names is very welcome!

Thank you all in advance!

[DreamingOfTheFuture]

Also Irish born & bred here! My list is Aoibheann, Neasa, Conor & Eoin

Edit: Just saw you’re in the US. Conor you’d get away with, Eoin at a stretch but not a hope for Aoibheann & Neasa

[aylacoggins]

You already have a lot of my favorites but I will add [name_f]Quinn[/name_f] & [name_f]Shea[/name_f]

[daisydarcy]

A few suggestions, which have [name_m]Irish[/name_m] origin but aren’t too complicated:
[name_f]Fia[/name_f] / [name_f]Fiadh[/name_f], [name_f]Erin[/name_f], [name_f]Lennon[/name_f], [name_f]Delaney[/name_f], [name_f]Teagan[/name_f], [name_f]Enya[/name_f], [name_f]Keira[/name_f] / [name_f]Kiera[/name_f], [name_f]Fallon[/name_f], [name_f]Sheridan[/name_f], [name_f]Aisling[/name_f], [name_f]Aine[/name_f], [name_f]Aileen[/name_f], [name_f]Shay[/name_f] / [name_f]Shea[/name_f], [name_f]Dara[/name_f], [name_f]Eilis[/name_f], [name_f]Bree[/name_f], [name_f]Taryn[/name_f], [name_f]Darby[/name_f], [name_f]Brigid[/name_f]
[name_m]Keegan[/name_m], [name_m]Ronan[/name_m], [name_m]Nolan[/name_m], [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m], [name_m]Declan[/name_m], [name_m]Cormac[/name_m], [name_m]Eamon[/name_m], [name_m]Finnian[/name_m], [name_m]Mack[/name_m], [name_m]Donovan[/name_m], [name_m]Niall[/name_m], [name_m]Tiernan[/name_m], [name_m]Malachy[/name_m], [name_m]Devin[/name_m], [name_m]Grady[/name_m]

[OctaviaMay]

Here is my list of Irish names! I love them all and all the ones on your list. I’ve also always been drawn to them- they have such a whimsical quality! Apologies for any repeats:
(My top favourites are bolded)

Summary

• Aoife

• Aisling

• Bronagh

• Brigid “bridie, birdie, bird”

• Caitriona

• Caoimhe

• Clodagh

• Deirdre

• Eilidh

• Fionnuala “nuala”

• Grainne

• Lileas “lillie”

• Morag

• Mariead

• Marsaili

• Oonagh “nan”

• Roisin

• Saoirse

• Siobhan

• Angus “gus”

• Eamon

• Fiachra

• Fergus “fergie, gus”

• Gillespie “gillie”

• Kitto “kit”

• Lorcan

• Llyr

• Malachi

• Oisín

• Padraig “paddie”

• Tadgh

[readingreverie]

@DreamingOfTheFuture Thank you! I do think I like Eoin…the only negative is he reminds me of the word coin

@aylacoggins Thank you! I didn’t know [name_f]Quinn[/name_f] is an [name_m]Irish[/name_m] name, but I suppose it’s sort of obvious based on the look of the name.

@daisydarcy Thank you so much! I do like [name_f]Fiadh[/name_f], [name_f]Enya[/name_f], [name_f]Anne[/name_f], [name_f]Brigid[/name_f], [name_m]Keegan[/name_m], [name_m]Ronan[/name_m], [name_m]Nolan[/name_m], [name_m]Loran[/name_m], [name_m]Eamon[/name_m], and [name_m]Finnian[/name_m].

@OctaviaMay Thank you so much! They are quite fanciful, but in a grounded way. Like a woodland fairy! I like [name_f]Bronagh[/name_f], [name_f]Brigid[/name_f], [name_f]Clodagh[/name_f], [name_f]Deirdre[/name_f], [name_f]Fionnuala[/name_f], [name_f]Lilies[/name_f], [name_f]Oonagh[/name_f], [name_f]Roisin[/name_f], [name_f]Saoirse[/name_f], [name_m]Angus[/name_m], [name_m]Eamon[/name_m], [name_m]Fiachra[/name_m], [name_m]Fergus[/name_m], [name_m]Kitto[/name_m], [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m], [name_m]Llyr[/name_m], [name_m]Oisín[/name_m], [name_m]Padraig[/name_m], and [name_m]Tadgh[/name_m]!

[ashthedreamer]

Some of my favorites not mentioned:

Boys:
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m]
[name_m]Desmond[/name_m]
[name_m]Declan[/name_m]
[name_m]Graham[/name_m]
[name_m]Jack[/name_m] (I don’t know that there’s anything [name_m]Irish[/name_m] about him, but I’ve met a lot of Jacks with [name_m]Irish[/name_m] surnames, maybe that’s why he feels [name_m]Irish[/name_m] to me?)
[name_m]Finlo[/name_m]
[name_m]Finnian[/name_m]

Girls:
[name_f]Brigid[/name_f] (basically [name_f]Bridget[/name_f], but I love [name_f]Brigid[/name_f] way more than [name_f]Bridget[/name_f] personally… not sure why?)
[name_f]Aoife[/name_f]
[name_f]Alva[/name_f] (I think this is technically a boys’ name in [name_m]Irish[/name_m] but I love it for both genders)
Maggie/Margaret
[name_f]Annabel[/name_f]
[name_f]Lilias[/name_f]
Fiadh/Fia
[name_f]Fenella[/name_f]
[name_f]Fianna[/name_f]

Although some of these I’m maybe going Gaelic in general and leaning toward the Scottish side, I think [name_f]Lilias[/name_f] is technically Scottish? So apologies if I did that accidentally; don’t have a ton of time so I’m not looking names up.

[OctaviaMay]

Oh, also directing you to this older thread!

Cottagey Scottish Gaelic names
It’s mostly Scottish Gaelic names but most work for [name_m]Irish[/name_m] Gaelic too, with occasional changed spelling. Plus the names are wonderful!

[kitkat]

I would love to see the phonetic pronunciations included next to some of these names bc I know they are nothing like what a native [name_f]English[/name_f] speaker would sound it out as

[Dragonrescuer]

[name_m]Irish[/name_m] name ideas:

[name_f]Kathleen[/name_f]
[name_f]Colleen[/name_f]
[name_f]Eileen[/name_f]
[name_f]Maureen[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerry[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassidy[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_m]Seanan[/name_m]
[name_f]Fia[/name_f]
[name_f]Flannery[/name_f]
[name_f]Keely[/name_f]

[name_m]Bellamy[/name_m]
[name_m]Brian[/name_m]
[name_m]Cagney[/name_m]
[name_m]Cary[/name_m]
[name_m]Casey[/name_m]
[name_m]Connelly[/name_m]
[name_f]Darby[/name_f]
[name_f]Delaney[/name_f]
[name_m]Devin[/name_m]
[name_m]Doyle[/name_m]
[name_m]Ferris[/name_m]
[name_m]Flynn[/name_m]
[name_m]Neil[/name_m]
[name_m]Nigel[/name_m]
[name_m]Oscar[/name_m]
[name_m]Rory[/name_m]
[name_m]Ryan[/name_m]
[name_m]Shane[/name_m]
[name_m]Sweeney[/name_m]
[name_m]Tiernan[/name_m]

[Greyblue]

Maybe…

[name_f]Shona[/name_f]
[name_f]Sile[/name_f] / [name_f]Sheila[/name_f]
[name_f]Dervla[/name_f]
[name_f]Cassidy[/name_f]
[name_f]Delaney[/name_f]
[name_f]Keeley[/name_f]
[name_f]Eilish[/name_f]
[name_f]Enya[/name_f]
[name_f]Mairead[/name_f]
[name_f]Kerrigan[/name_f]
[name_f]Myrna[/name_f]
[name_f]Nessa[/name_f]
[name_f]Annora[/name_f]
[name_f]Honora[/name_f]
Sive
[name_f]Fia[/name_f]
[name_f]Teagan[/name_f]
[name_f]Talullah[/name_f]
Tuala
[name_f]Naoise[/name_f]
Lourda
[name_f]Maven[/name_f]
[name_f]Cara[/name_f]
[name_f]Brona[/name_f]
[name_f]Ashling[/name_f]
[name_f]Tierney[/name_f]
[name_m]Tiernan[/name_m]
[name_m]Nevan[/name_m]
[name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] (have met multiple, none directly Irish)
[name_m]Conan[/name_m]
[name_m]Keane[/name_m]
[name_m]Donovan[/name_m]
[name_m]Teague[/name_m]
[name_m]Cosmo[/name_m]
[name_m]Cormac[/name_m]
[name_f]Dara[/name_f] / [name_m]Darragh[/name_m]
[name_m]Fintan[/name_m]
[name_m]Connell[/name_m]
[name_m]Ivor[/name_m]
[name_m]Desmond[/name_m]
[name_m]Lochlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Redmund[/name_m]
[name_f]Shay[/name_f]
[name_m]Keir[/name_m]
[name_m]Carey[/name_m]
[name_m]Eammon[/name_m]
[name_m]Niall[/name_m]

[readingreverie]

@ashthedreamer Thank you! I like [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m] (which I meant to put on my list instead of [name_m]Loran[/name_m] ), [name_m]Jack[/name_m], [name_m]Finlo[/name_m], [name_m]Finnian[/name_m], [name_f]Brigid[/name_f], [name_f]Alva[/name_f], [name_f]Fiadh[/name_f], and [name_f]Fianna[/name_f]!

@OctaviaMay Thank you!!

@kitkat Let me know which ones and I’ll try to give a pronunciation!

@Dragonrescuer Thank you!! I like [name_f]Fia[/name_f], [name_f]Flannery[/name_f], [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m], [name_m]Ferris[/name_m], [name_m]Flynn[/name_m], [name_m]Neil[/name_m], [name_m]Nigel[/name_m], [name_m]Oscar[/name_m], and [name_m]Rory[/name_m]!

@Greyblue Thank you! I like [name_f]Sile[/name_f], [name_f]Eilish[/name_f], [name_f]Enya[/name_f], [name_f]Myrna[/name_f], [name_f]Honora[/name_f], [name_m]Five[/name_m], [name_f]Fia[/name_f], [name_f]Talullah[/name_f], [name_f]Maven[/name_f], [name_m]Lorcan[/name_m], [name_m]Cosmo[/name_m], [name_m]Darragh[/name_m], [name_m]Fintan[/name_m], [name_m]Ivor[/name_m], [name_m]Keir[/name_m], and [name_m]Eammon[/name_m]!

[somemelodioussonnet]

I know what you mean about loving these names. [name_f]My[/name_f] sons are named [name_m]Rory[/name_m] & [name_m]Nolan[/name_m].

[name_m]Cole[/name_m]
[name_m]Doyle[/name_m]
[name_m]Egan[/name_m]
[name_m]Ewan[/name_m]
[name_m]Grady[/name_m]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
[name_m]Patrick[/name_m]
[name_m]Quinlan[/name_m]
[name_m]Rafe[/name_m]

[name_f]Colleen[/name_f]
[name_m]Dylan[/name_m]
[name_f]Shea[/name_f]
[name_f]Sinead[/name_f]

[eireann]

Sorry for any repeats but consider them a +1

[name_f]Alana[/name_f]
[name_f]Caitlin[/name_f]
[name_f]Erin[/name_f]
[name_f]Ciara[/name_f] (or [name_f]Keira[/name_f], as I know Americans usually default to see-air-uh)
[name_f]Eilish[/name_f]
Fia/Fenella/Finola
[name_f]Morrigan[/name_f]
[name_f]Sheridan[/name_f]
[name_f]Tallulah[/name_f]

[name_m]Bellamy[/name_m]
Regan/Reagan
[name_m]Tadhg[/name_m] (I much prefer the original [name_m]Tadhg[/name_m] over Tadgh/Teague)
[name_m]Cormac[/name_m]
[name_m]Kellan[/name_m]
[name_m]Rory[/name_m]
[name_m]Bray[/name_m]
[name_m]Roan[/name_m]
[name_m]Madden[/name_m]
Callaghan/Callahan

[name_m]Brogan[/name_m] also works for both. I’d love to see it on a boy but the only Brogans I know are girls (and I know 4!)

This was very difficult as I usually go for the ultra [name_m]Irish[/name_m] looking names

[atomicginge]

Girls - [name_f]Aibhilin[/name_f], [name_f]Aisling[/name_f], Seonagh, [name_f]Fionnuala[/name_f], Caireann, [name_f]Aoife[/name_f], [name_f]Sinead[/name_f], [name_f]Siobhan[/name_f], [name_f]Coleen[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], [name_f]Caitriona[/name_f], [name_f]Eimear[/name_f], [name_f]Dearbhla[/name_f], [name_f]Ciara[/name_f], [name_m]Bernie[/name_m], Eadaoin, [name_f]Eileen[/name_f], [name_f]Rosaleen[/name_f]

Boys - [name_m]Aonghus[/name_m], [name_m]Donnacha[/name_m], [name_m]Sean[/name_m], [name_m]Diarmaid[/name_m], [name_m]Colm[/name_m], [name_m]Brendan[/name_m], [name_m]Ronan[/name_m], [name_m]Cathal[/name_m], [name_m]Seamus[/name_m], [name_m]Eamon[/name_m], [name_m]Eoin[/name_m]

[readingreverie]

@somemelodioussonnet Your songs have great names! Thank you. I like [name_m]Ewan[/name_m], [name_m]Rafe[/name_m], and [name_f]Sinead[/name_f]!

@eireann Thank you so much! I like [name_f]Eilish[/name_f], [name_f]Fia[/name_f], [name_f]Finola[/name_f], Fenlla, [name_f]Morrigan[/name_f], [name_f]Tallulah[/name_f], [name_m]Bellamy[/name_m], [name_m]Tadgh[/name_m], [name_m]Rory[/name_m], [name_m]Roan[/name_m], and [name_m]Callahan[/name_m]!

@atomicginge Thank you! I like [name_f]Fionnuala[/name_f], [name_f]Sinead[/name_f], [name_f]Caitriona[/name_f], [name_f]Eimear[/name_f], [name_f]Dearbhla[/name_f], [name_m]Aonghus[/name_m], [name_m]Ronan[/name_m], [name_m]Seamus[/name_m], [name_m]Eamon[/name_m], and [name_m]Eoin[/name_m]!

[Little_Molly]

… [name_f]Molly[/name_f]

[readingreverie]

Haha, as a [name_f]Mollie[/name_f], I don’t think I’d use it, but I do fully encourage others to add it to their lists!

[orangeblossom]

Other posters have already suggested most of the more common names, but as a Gaeilge speaker myself, how about:

[name_f]Fiadh[/name_f]
Muirne
[name_f]Riona[/name_f]
[name_f]Gráinne[/name_f]
[name_f]Croia[/name_f]
[name_f]Eilís[/name_f]
Séadnhainseadh (“nan-she”)
[name_f]Aoibheann[/name_f] (“ee-vin”)
[name_f]Neila[/name_f]
[name_f]Sadbh[/name_f] (“sai-v”)
[name_f]Eithne[/name_f] (“ee-na”)
[name_f]Ailbhe[/name_f] (“el-va”)
[name_f]Cliodhna[/name_f]
[name_f]Mealla[/name_f]
Majella
Máirín
[name_f]Síle[/name_f] (Cecilia in Irish)

Oísín
[name_m]Cathal[/name_m] (Charles in Irish)
Cadán

[readingreverie]

@orangeblossom Thank you! I like [name_f]Croia[/name_f], [name_f]Eilís[/name_f], [name_f]Neila[/name_f], [name_f]Sadbh[/name_f], [name_f]Eithne[/name_f], [name_f]Ailbhe[/name_f], [name_f]Cliodhna[/name_f], [name_f]Mealla[/name_f], and Oísín!