Irish Names that Start With D

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

Much fresher Irish imports available for colleens now.

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

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.

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.

With the fashions for tree names, place names, and nickname names, Derry is a three-way winner.

Daire, along with brother names Dara and Darragh, is among the Top 100 boys' names in Ireland today. An ancient name with an inspirational meaning, pronunciation could prove confusing to Americans.

This genial Irish surname feels much more current than Donald.

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.

Compact, to-the-point surname name. Bear in mind the stock-market association - it may be a bit much with the last name Jones.

Much stronger than Dale for a boy.

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

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.

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.

Once-popular boys' name works better now for girls, as a kind of Dara/Karen blend.

This Irish Gaelic name would be more accessible in other cultures in its modern Dervla form.

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

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

Donnelly is among the more appealing Irish surname names, less well used than Donovan. Related options include the place name Donegal and the mythological god name Donegan.

Clear and strong, if a little heavy.