Irish baby names have become international stars, ranking near the top of popularity lists in Ireland and the US along with many other countries.
 
Liam is the top Irish name in the US, ranking Number 1 for boys. Along with Liam, Irish names in the US Top 100 for boys include Aiden, Ryan, Connor, and Brayden. 
 
For girls, Riley is the top-ranked Irish baby name in the US. Along with Riley, Irish names in the US Top 100 for girls include Nora, Kennedy, Quinn, and Reagan.
 
Irish 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. Finn ranks among the top names in the Netherlands while variation Fynn is on Germany’s most popular list, and Nora is the second most popular girls’ name in Norway.
 
The <a href="https://nameberry.com/popular_names/Ireland">top baby names in Ireland</a> include the Irish names Aoife, Saoirse, Oisin, and Cillian.
 
Irish names have emigrated from their native land in waves, with old-school Irish names such as Bridget and Patrick giving way to the mid-century Irish favorites Kathleen and Kevin, Shannon and Sean. 
 
Browse our full menu of Irish baby names both classic and modern, including <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/804/irish-names-for-girls">Irish names for girls</a> and <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/510/irish-names-for-boys">Irish boys' names</a>, here. The top names below rank among the current US Top 1000 Baby Names and are ordered by popularity. Unique names rank below the Top 1000 and are listed alphabetically.

Irish Names

Fia may be most notable at this moment as the Anglicized version of the Irish Fiadh, one of the fastest-rising names in the Republic of Ireland. The meaning of Fia or Fiadh is sometimes given as "deer" but that's in the sense of a wild deer, as the name relates to the ancient word for wild. 
In Portuguese, Fia means weaver, and Fia may also be a short form of the Italian or Spanish Sofia or Fiammetta or any other fia-related name.
 
Whatever its origin and meaning, Fia is a light and pleasant alternative to the mega-popular Mia, though we predict it will rise up the charts in the future.

Kara and the soundalike (though not necessarily related) Cara are among the most multi-cultural names around. Cara has roots in Latin, Italian, Irish, Spanish, and Portuguese, and Kara can be viewed as simply as K-starting version of Cara. 

But Kara is also uniquely a Norse mythology name, drawn from the name of a valkyrie meaning "wild stormy one".. Kara was a Valkyrie, lover of Helgi, who charmed his enemies in battle by enchanting them with song.

Both Cara and Kara peaked in the 1980s but Kara remains more popular than the Cara variant.

Kara

Beatha

A unisex name in the same vein as Casey, Cassidy, and Kelly, Carey and its alternative spelling Cary were familiar choices for boys in the first half of the 20th-century, and became popular in the 50s and 60s. By the 70s however, things had shifted: Carey was more popular for girls, reaching number #304 at its 1975 peak when it was given to nearly 760 girls.
 
Usually considered an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó Ciardha, the name ultimately comes from ciar meaning "black". It is possible however that it may be used as a variant of the Welsh Carew ("fort on the hill!); a twist on the Irish mac Fiachra ("son of Fiachra, son of the crow"); a name from the Byronic root karɨd ("to love); or an anglicized for of the German Gehring ("spear"). 
Notably borne by actress Carey Mulligan, Carey, like the similar sounding Kerry and Carrie, have fallen out of style in recent years, given to just five girls in 2024 for example.

Carey

Dacey is a delicate and lacy Irish name with real possibilities. 

Dacey

Out-of-date for a boy, innovative for a girl. 

Barry

Evaleen is a delicate feminine name with Irish and English origins, a variation of Evelyn or a combination of Eva and the suffix '-leen.' It emerged in the early 20th century when elaborate variations of traditional names were fashionable. The name carries meanings associated with its root forms: 'life,' 'light,' or 'bird-like' from Eva/Eve, combined with the diminutive ending that adds a sense of endearment. While never reaching widespread popularity, Evaleen experienced modest use in English-speaking countries during the early 1900s before declining. It maintains an antique charm and lyrical quality that appeals to parents seeking a vintage name with Irish connections and a soft, melodious sound.

Evaleen

Modern Irish form of the mythological name Étaín.

Éadaoin

This name of a mythical beauty transformed into a scarlet fly by a jealous wife is popular in its native land; here, while pleasant to the ear, it's bewildering on paper. 

Étaoin

Caitlyn is following all variations on the Irish classic Caitlin down the US baby name charts, following decades of popular usage. The original Anglicized form Kathleen is now starting to feel fresher than these more modern forms. 

 Transgender athlete and former Kardashian spouse Caitlyn Jenner chose this spelling for her post-transition name in 2015.

Caitlyn

Old Irish name that's taken off in its Anglicized forms, mainly Ashlyn or Ashlynn. Nonetheless, this more traditional version debuted in the US Top 1000 in 2015.
 Aislinn Paul is a Canadian actress known for her role of Clare Edwards in Degrassi: The Next Generation.

Aislinn

Aiden/Aidan is just beginning to wander into the girls' side of the name popularity list, but it's so huge for boys in all its spellings that it will be a long time before it can be called a unisex name.

Nearly 8000 baby boys were given the Aiden spelling alone in the US last year, and only 43 baby girls -- less than one percent of the total.

Aiden

Eistir is an uncommon feminine name with possible Celtic or Norse origins, though its exact etymology remains somewhat obscure. It may be related to ancient words for spring or dawn, possibly connecting it to renewal and beginnings. The name has a mystical, ethereal quality that evokes images of northern landscapes and ancient traditions. Unlike more mainstream Celtic names, Eistir remains quite rare, giving it a distinctive character that appeals to parents seeking something truly unique. Its unusual sound pattern combines softness with strength, featuring the flowing 'eis' sound followed by a more definitive 'tir' ending. The name's rarity means a child named Eistir would likely be the only one in her class, offering individuality without sacrificing melodious pronunciation.

Eistir

Fania would make an interesting choice for a child of Irish Russian heritage, being a Celtic name with a Russian Tania-like feel. 

Fania

That er sound -- as in Myrna, Myrtle, and Bernice -- sounds terminally dated. 

Erna

Farrell is usually considered a boy's name, though the soft sound of this Irish surname makes it perfectly appropriate for a girl, reminiscent of Farrah.

Farrell

Finella and cousin Fenella, which are found most often in Scotland, would make pleasing imports.

Finella

Finola, the readily accessible version of some of the more problematic Gaelic versions of the name, would make a welcome addition to the stockpot of Irish girls' names. 

Finola

Caitlin, but with the popular -lynn suffix.

Katelynn

Irish town names are now fair game -- as are most other places with connections to Ireland -- but are much better suited to boys. 

Ennis

Irish baby names - Irish girl blowing bubbles

Irish names

Irish names with meaning and popularity including top Irish baby names and unique Irish names for girls and boys. (Page 6)

690+ Irish Names (With Meanings and Popularity)

Fia