Cool Irish Names: Names for Little Redheads
Posted March 2nd, 2009
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
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cool Irish names, ethnic baby names, Irish baby names, Irish names for boys, Irish names for girls, Meanings of Names, names that mean red hair, redhead namescomments
10 Responses to “Cool Irish Names: Names for Little Redheads”
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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! 
Pam Says:
March 3rd, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I don’t know about that –I think you wield a lot of power in nameberryland!
Joe Allen Says:
March 19th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Clancy is not a man only name. My best friend is called Clancy. She’s a girl. It’s very feminine, ask Clancy…
Mary Says:
July 13th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Joe Allen–Clancy was in the unisex category. I would DEFINITELY name my girl Clancy–it’s so beautiful! It does seem more feminine than masculine.
CC Says:
October 4th, 2009 at 7:07 am
My name is Clancy and I’m a girl.
I absolutely hate it though and i want to change my name to Chloe.
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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.