By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 35 pages
of 35
English, Gaelic
"minstrel, poet"
A literary word name, now synonymous with Shakespeare, Bard also refers more generally to a poet, particularly one who recited epics and traditional poems out loud. Similar in sound to Bernard,…
Irish
"white"
Unusual and attractive entry to the growing Irish name canon.
"small, fair one"
If you like the Irish surname feel, there are loads of more congenial options.
"fair-haired"
This is an ancient saints' name well used in Ireland but a rarity here and unlikely to ever reach the popularity of other Finn-ish names. St. Finbarr (the more common spelling) is the patron saint of…
Partholon is a masculine name from Irish mythology, referring to a legendary figure who led a settlement of Ireland after the Biblical Flood. According to medieval Irish texts like the Lebor Gabála…
Irish variation of Bartholomew, Aramaic
"son of the furrow"
Pathalan is a rare Irish name derived from the somewhat-less-rare Bartholomew. Nearly 30 baby boys were named Bartholomew in the US last year, but none were named Parthalan.
"strife"
Breasal is one native Irish name virtually never used in the US. It's better known via its surname form, Breslin, as in classic New York columnist Jimmy.
"tiny one"
An attractive ancient Irish saint's name that conjures up a beacon of light, this Irish name for boys is well-used in Ireland but rarely heard in the US.
"little man"
This more user-friendly Anglicized form of Beacan, could profit from its kinship with the popular Beckett--with which it could share the nickname Beck. Becan is an Irish saint's name, attached to the…
"little spear"
This was a common name in early Ireland, borne by numerous saints, but pronunciation problems would make it prohibitive here.
"bee"
An Anglicized derivative of the Gaelic name Beatha, meaning "life," best known as the surname of Irish playwright Brendan Behan.
"mild"
This name of an ancient Irish saint -- a favorite disciple of Saint Patrick -- could be an option for parents in search of a more distinctive alternative to Brendan or Aidan.
"little poet"
An Irish surname name with a combination of boldness and élan. Some might connect it to the founder of the group T. Rex -- Marc Bolan.
"white cow"
The famous Battle of the Boyne, in Ireland, vanquished the Catholic king.
Irish and English
"town near the Boyne"
That sound again.
"salmon"
This now-popular name has spawned several different spellings. Many parents choose it solely for its style and sound, but we like the history behind this version: the bradan feasa is the "Salmon of…
"little raven"
Bold Irish surname, full of energy and cheer.
irish
Branigan, also spelled Branagan or Brannigan, is an Irish name full of energy and cheer. It was the title of a 1975 John Wayne movie, and Zapp Brannigan is the antihero of the animated sitcom…
"freckled, speckled"
This Irish name of a saint from the Isle of Aran also appears in myth and fantasy fiction, giving it an intriguing, mystical air. Some modern parents are attempting to update the spelling, as in the…
Breácan is a masculine Irish name pronounced approximately as "BRAY-uh-kun." It derives from the Irish word "breac," meaning "speckled" or "freckled." Historically, it may have been used as a…
