Irish Names

Brona is an Anglicized form of Bronach or Bronagh, the name of a sixth century mystic and follower of Saint Patrick. The name is attracting some modern notice in the US via the character Brona Croft in TV's Penny Dreadful.

Brona

Fursey is an ancient Irish saint's name little-used in modern times.  St. Fursey was born in the seventh century a noble in Ireland but traveled to England and France to found monasteries and spread Christianity.  He is buried in France.

Fursey

Pronounced lee-sha, Laoise is the feminine form of the Irish mythological names Lugh and Lugus, which means light. Lugus was the Celtic god of commerce and craftsmanship, the equivalent of the Roman Mercury, thought to inspire the later Irish hero Lugh. Laoise is among the Top 100 <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish names for girls</a>, but Americans will definitely have pronunciation issues.

Laoise

Ferelith is an unusual yet deeply-rooted Scottish girl's name, also found in ancient Ireland and drawn from the Gaelic Forbhlaith or Forbflaith.  While it went through a period of dormancy after the Middle Ages, there are some modern women named Ferelith, including actress Ferelith Young and Princess of Denmark Anne Ferelith Fenella Bowes-Lyon.

Ferelith

Brigidine is a unique take on Bridget used by singer Sinead O'Connor. But assuming you're not an Irish rock star, you'd probably do better to stop at Brigid.

Brigidine

Breda is a feminine name with multiple cultural roots. Primarily of Irish origin, it's a shortened form of Bridget, derived from the Celtic goddess Brigid, meaning "exalted one" or "strength." In Slavic countries, particularly Slovenia, Breda appears as an independent name. It's also used in the Netherlands as a given name. Breda carries a gentle but strong quality, combining brevity with substance. Unlike more common variants like Bridget or Bridie, Breda remains relatively uncommon in English-speaking countries, giving it a distinctive quality. The name has enjoyed modest usage throughout the 20th century but never reached mainstream popularity, making it an understated choice that balances traditional roots with uniqueness.

Breda

Bríd is a feminine Irish name that represents the original Gaelic form of Bridget. This ancient name honors Brigid, one of Ireland's most beloved patron saints, as well as the pre-Christian Celtic goddess Brigid associated with poetry, healing, and smithcraft. The name features the traditional Irish fada accent mark over the 'i', which slightly changes its pronunciation to 'breed' rather than 'brid.' Though less commonly used outside Ireland in its authentic spelling, Bríd remains a cherished name in Irish-speaking communities and among families honoring their Celtic heritage. The name carries significant cultural weight, representing Ireland's spiritual heritage while offering a concise, distinctive alternative to the more internationally recognized Bridget.

Bríd

Sadhbh was the name of several real and legendary Irish princesses, including the daughters of Conn of the Hundred Battles, of Queen Medb of Connacht, and of King Brian Boru. It's also written Sabha. One of the most authentic <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish names for girls</a>, it is also unfortunately one of the most difficult to export.

Sadhbh

Dearbhla along with its Anglicized form Dervla are both well-used in modern Ireland. There was a medieval Saint Dearbhla.  The spelling Deirbhile is also used.

Dearbhla

A very popular name for boys in Ireland that's well-used throughout the British Isles, Darragh is also occasionally used for girls and certainly sounds feminine or at least unisex to the American ear. Simplified form Dara pushes it further toward the girls' side.

Darragh

Bronagh, along with Anglicized form Brona, is a popular name in Ireland. It's the name of a sixth century mystic as well as a modern television character on Penny Dreadful.

Bronagh

The 6th century Irish saint Mirin emigrated to Scotland and now is the patron saint of both the Glasgow suburb of Paisley and the game of football. 

Mirren is one modern spelling; the Cornish Merryn, best known as the name of the seacoast town St. Merryn, is also related. In all its forms, one of the most classic <a href="https://nameberry.com/list/472/scottish-names-for-girls">Scottish names for girls</a>.

Mirin

Technically a pet form of Brigid and very commonly heard in Ireland, but pronunciation problems complicate Bride as a name choice in America.

Bride

A spelling variation of Adair, a name with plenty of flair and a nature connection too. In addition, it may be a variation of Edgar or Ademar.

Adaire

Aibhne is an Irish and Scottish nature name, derived from abhainn, meaning "river". Like many names, its pronunciation depends greatly on dialect and region, but it may be said as AV-neh, EHV-neh, AYV-neh, AV-nee, EHV-nee, and AYV-nee. 
 
It may appeal to those who like Ava, Ailis, Enya, and Ailbhe, though it is rarely used as a given name.

Aibhne

A rarely used nature name, derived from the Irish and Scottish word abhainn, meaning "river", Aibhne is a unisex choice, much like a its English language counterpart. The pronunciation varies depending on dialect and region, and as such, it may be said as AV-neh, EHV-neh, AYV-neh, AV-nee, EHV-nee, and AYV-nee.

Plural names are a rising trend, with Brooks, Collins, Rivers, and Townes among the collection. In 2024, popular Irish boy name Aidan was elaborated to make it feel more like surname-style choice and perhaps a little more unique too. Aidens and soundalike Aydens were given to eleven boys collectively in 2024, when they made the US stats for the first time. 

Aidens

A variation of the Irish name Ailbhe, Ailbe is notably associated with a 6th-century saint, known for founding a monastery at Emly in Munster. While the Ailbhe form is used predominantly for girls, Ailbe has been given to a handful of boys in Ireland in recent years, perhaps owing to its similarity to Alby,
 
Pronounced AL-bay, it likely comes from the Celtic albiyo meaning "world, light, white", though other possible sources include the Irish ail meaning "rock" or aith-bhric meaning "speckled, freckled".
 
St. Ailbe is known as the patron saint of wolves owing to the legend that Ailbe was raised by a she-wolf, after he had been left in a forest to die as a baby.

Ailbe

A Hispanicized form of Ailen or Ayelen, a Mapuche name with can mean "ember" and an Old Irish word name, translating to "island". It may appeal to fans of Ailani and Ayla.

Ailén

The name of a character in the once scandalous novel Valley of the Dolls now sounds a little more dated than the similar Arden.

Ardis

 are international stars, ranking near the top of popularity lists in Ireland and the US along with many other countries.

 in the US, standing at Number 1, and Riley is the

. Many new Irish baby names are replacing old standards like Kathleen and Patrick.

 include Kennedy, Quinn, Nora, and Maeve.

 include Finn, Ryan, all spellings of Aiden, Declan, and Rowan.

 we're hearing more of include Saoirse, as in actress Ronan; Niamh; and Una. 

 itself look rather different than they do in the US, though there are also several crossovers. Notably, not all of the top Irish baby names are actually Irish: at Number 1 currently are Jack and Sophie.

s in Ireland include the classic Hebrew James and Noah along with Irish names Cillian, Tadhg, and Liam. The 

 include only two Irish-language names, Éabha and Fiadh. Other popular girl names in Ireland are Grace, Emily, and Sophie.

 and Manx names. Along with Finn and Fiadh, other Irish Gaelic choices among the 

 include Eabha, Saoirse, and Aoife for girls; Darragh, Cillian, Oisin and Tadgh for boys.

Irish baby names enjoying international popularity

 include Liam, which ranks among the top names in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Norway as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

 in the Netherlands while variation Fynn is on Germany’s most popular list, and Nora is the second most popular girls’ name in Norway.

 go far beyond the Old School Kevins and Kathleens. If you define unique baby names as 

 on what's conventionally considered a name, then these nontraditional Irish surname names and place names may be ones you want to consider for your daughter or son.

 that work for boys and girls include Bellamy, Brady, and Callahan.

 in the US and most places outside the Emerald Isle -- though some are among the Top 100 names in Ireland -- include Aoife, Cian, Oisin, and Tadgh. Correct Irish spelling and pronunciation can be challenging for non-native speakers.

 both classic and modern, for girls and for boys, here, ordered according to their current popularity on Nameberry.

Irish names with meaning and popularity including top Irish baby names and unique Irish names for girls and boys. (Page 31)

690+ Irish Names (With Meanings and Popularity)