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COOL IRISH NAMES: Names for Little Redheads

March 2nd, 2009

coolirishcover The cover baby of our published-today book Cool Irish Names is an adorable redhead, appropriate for a volume that includes lots of Irish names that mean red hair (there are lists of those that mean blond and dark hair, too, but that’s another post).

Red-haired names have a special significance for me, being a coppery redhead myself. My mom had bright red hair, as does my middle child, Joe. And daughter Rory‘s name is one of the red-haired choices, appropriate since she has my coppery hair.

Here, from our new book Cool Irish Names, is a list of names for your own little redhead. For Irish-American babies, accents and Gaelic spellings are optional:

girls

COCHRANN

CORCAIR (KOR-kar)

FLANNAIT (Fla-nitch)

RÓISÍN (Ro-SHEEN)

SCARLETT (Crimson or Ruby could work in the same way, though they don’t sound very Irish)

boys

ALROY

CORC

CORCÁN

CORCRÁN/Corcoran

DEARGÁN (JAR-gan)

FLANNÁN (Flan-AWN)

LOCHLAN – Though this name does not strictly mean red-haired, it’s a nod to the “land of the lochs,” homeland of the Vikings who brought fair and red hair to Ireland.

either

FLANAGAN

RUAIRÍ , RORY

ROWAN

Tags: cool Irish names, Irish baby names, Irish names for boys, Irish names for girls, names that mean red hair, redhead names

Posted in Irish baby names, ethnic baby names, meanings of names

Comments: 10 Comments

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10 Responses to “COOL IRISH NAMES: Names for Little Redheads”

Elisabeth@YCCII Says:

March 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am

I didn’t know your Rory had red hair. How wonderful! I bet she was an adorable little girl.

Question about the ambisexual names: are they used for both boys and girls in Ireland, or just appropriated that way here? Can’t wait for the book.

E @ Oh! Apostrophe Says:

March 3rd, 2009 at 2:01 pm

YAY! I’ve been waiting for this book… just ordered it- thanks!

Lola Says:

March 3rd, 2009 at 2:46 pm

I’m campaigning to get Clancy off the “either” list. Far too ugly a sound to be on a girl, Clancy is all masculine and rough & tumble! Otherwise a very neat list, I’m partial to Roísín & Rowan (which definitely makes me think “Black Adder” and not “girl”) But still a great name.

Pam Says:

March 3rd, 2009 at 3:46 pm

The ambi names are definitely just appropriated that way here, to give people ideas. People in Ireland and Britain have always acted sort of scandalized that our Rory is a girl, as if we had named her Frederick. And the whole ambi thing is definitely not done as much there. But it’s starting and for the U.S. would certainly be in step with the times.

Lola Says:

March 3rd, 2009 at 5:23 pm

I know, it’s just a trend here that I really dislike, I think it does no one any good and am a loudmouthed chick to boot. No one listen to me!