690+ Irish Names (With Meanings and Popularity)
Across 35 pages
of 35
Ennis
Irish
"from the island"
Irish town names are now fair game -- as are most other places with connections to Ireland -- but are much better suited to boys.
Finn
Irish
"white, fair"
The most enduringly popular hero of Irish myth was Finn McCool, whose name is one of the coolest ever. When used for the female protagonist of How to Make an American Quilt , Finn established its…
Nuala
Irish, short form of Fionnuala
"white shoulders"
Officially a shortening of the traditional and tricky Gaelic Fionnghuala/Fionnuala, Nuala makes a lovely choice all on its own. Nuala is well-used in Ireland.
Flanna
Irish
"red-haired"
Flanna is an uncommon name for a red-haired girl, not as familiar -- or some would say, as pretty -- as its nickname, Flannery.
Flannery
Irish
"descendant of Flannghal"
Long before the vogue of using Irish surnames for girls, writer Flannery O'Connor gave this one some visibility. It has a warm (flannelly) feel and the currently popular three-syllable ee-ending…
Blathnaid
Blathnaid is a feminine Irish name with ancient Celtic roots. Pronounced roughly as 'BLAW-nid' or 'BLAH-nid,' it derives from the Irish word 'bláth,' meaning 'flower' or 'blossom.' The name carries…
Kaitlynn
Spelling variation of Kaitlyn or Caitlin
Kaitlynn seems to be trying too hard to make its pronunciation plain. At this point, everyone knows that the name however you spell it is pronounced like Kate plus Lynn, so why go all the way to…
Augusteen
Augusteen is an uncommon feminine name that derives from the Latin name Augustus, meaning 'great' or 'venerable.' It combines the classic root with a feminine ending, creating a distinctive variation…
Eimile
Eimile is a feminine name with Gaelic roots, primarily considered an alternative spelling of Emily or Émilie. This distinctive variation maintains the melodic quality of its more common counterparts…
Aimiliona
Aimiliona is an elaborate feminine name that appears to be a unique creation, possibly drawing inspiration from names like Amelia, Emilia, or Meilani, with a flowing, polynesian-influenced sound.…
Kaitlin
Spelling variation of Caitlin
Kaitlin is a variation of Caitlin that's on a steep decline; it dropped out of the Top 1000 in 2013, after more than three decades on the list.
Émer
Irish mythology name
The wife of legendary Irish hero Cu Chulainn, blessed with the gifts of beauty sweet speech, wisdom, needlework, and chastity -- a mixed bag.
Eileanóra
Eileanóra is a feminine name of Gaelic origin, representing the Irish form of Eleanor. The name ultimately derives from the Provençal name Aliénor, possibly meaning 'the other Aenor' or from Greek…
Caitlin
Irish variation of Catherine
"pure"
An Irish and Welsh form of Catherine, Caitlin was a boom name of the eighties, rocketing from obscurity (Americans first heard it via the wife of doomed poet Dylan Thomas) to the height of popularity…
Arlise
Irish
"pledge"
This feminine form of Arliss, is familiar via the recent HBO series. But why not just use Arliss?
Enya
Irish
"fire"
This phonetic Anglicization of the Irish name Eithne was made familiar by the single-named Irish singer and composer. St. Eithne was the daughter of a king and an early Irish convert to Christianity.
Éire
Irish place-name
Eire was a mythological goddess who named Ireland after herself. Rarely used today, even in Eire.
Eilish
Anglicized variation of Eilis, Irish form of Hebrew Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
Eilish is one of those Irish names that, thanks to a celebrity, has suddenly become much more familiar outside of Ireland. Irish-American singer Billie Eilish (Eilish is actually one of her middle…
Kady
Irish
"first"
Kady, though it has an authentic Irish meaning, may also be a variation of Katy short form of Kadence, or combination of initials K. and D. Though Kady is more distinctive, everyone will just hear it…
Eilis
Irish variation of Elizabeth
"pledged to God"
Familiar in the US thanks to the lovely movie Brooklyn , based on the Colm Toibin novel of the same name. Popular in medieval times, it is still used in Ireland (properly spelt with a fada: Eilís)…