Irish Names that Start With D

Used far more for boys with this spelling, but still has a nice impish Irish feel for a girl.

Dark horse Irish surname.

An old Irish surname that was big in the 1960s, but would be an unexpected choice for a child now.

With both the Dillon and Dylan spellings, usage of this gender-neutral names runs about ten to one boys to girls. But Dylan is used about 20 times as often as Dillon for both genders. Which might be a vote in favor of Dillon, though for better or worse, this spellings distances the name from singer Bob and poet Thomas.

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.

Much stronger than Dale for a boy.

This genial Irish surname feels much more current than Donald.

Much fresher Irish imports available for colleens now.

Tongue twister of a name common in Ireland in both its Gaelic and its Anglicized forms. American or British parents looking for an Irish name that's still largely unknown in the outside world might consider this.

Strong but gentle Irish last-name-first. Could bring to mind long-running rock group Duran Duran.

A common Irish surname that's seldom heard as a first name, but has an appealing meaning.

This Irish surname packs a lot of attitude, projecting an image of spunk and sass. The Welsh singer Duffy, born Aimee Anne Duffy, is best known for her songs Mercy and Warwick Avenue.

This somewhat boisterous Celtic name would be at home in a noisy pub or out walking on the moors. In Scotland, it was originally a nickname for someone with dark hair or a swarthy complexion.

Barely-used Irish surname that's more streamlined than popular Donovan.

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.

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

Irish name with an intriguing lilt.

Dugan is an open, friendly, and cheery Irish surname that would be suited to a dark-haired boy.

Donal is, yes, just Donald with the final d cut off, but that somehow gives it a jauntier, fresher feel. Donal Logue is a Canadian actor and Donal Skehan is an Irish cookbook author.

Makes Donna into a cool twenty-first-century unisex Irish surname.