Irish surnames have eclipsed traditional first names as baby names, especially for girls. Irish surnames such as Riley, Kennedy, and Finley are more popular baby names in the US today than traditional Irish names such as Bridget and Patrick.

Riley is the top Irish name of any kind of baby girls in the US today, with Ryan the top Irish surname used as a first name for boys. Along with Riley and Ryan, the other top Irish surname names used as first names in the US are Connor and Nolan for boys, Kennedy and Quinn for girls. 
One fresh factor in Irish surnames for babies: Names that start with Mac or O' are now fair game as first names. So if you want to name your baby O'Brien or McNamara, go right ahead. Here's a whole group of rollicking Irish surnames that work for both girls and boys....or you can use one from your own family background. 

To explore Irish name options beyond surnames, click here for our full list of <a href="http://nameberry.com/baby-names/168/Irish-To explore Irish name options beyond surname-names, click here for our full list of <a href="http://nameberry.com/baby-names/168/Irish-Names">Irish baby names</a>.

Irish Last Names (With Meanings and Popularity)

Banning

Barry

Beagan

Bellamy

Blaine

Bohannon

Bolan

Boyne

Brady

Branagan

Branigan

Brannigan

Brannon

Brennan

Breslin

Brody

Brogan

Broggan

Brosnan

Buckley

Burke

Byrne

Byrnes

Cagney

Calhoun

Callaghan

Callahan

Callan

Callaway

Callister

Calloway

Campbell

Cannon

Carbry

Carey

Carlin

Carmody

Carney

Carroll

Casey

Cassidy

Cavan

Cavanagh

Cavanaugh

Channing

Clancy

Cleary

Clooney

Cluny

Cochran

Coleman

Collins

Coltrane

Conlan

Conley

Connelly

Connery

Connolly

Connor

Conroy

Conway

Corrigan

Costello

Craig

Crosby

Crowley

Cullen

Cullinan

Curran

Dagan

Dahy

Daley

Daly

Darcy

Deegan

Delancey

Irish last names 

Irish Last Names and surnames, with meanings and popularity, including Quinn, Kennedy, Nolan, used as first names for baby girls and baby boys, with top Irish last names and unique Irish surnames, including origins, meanings, and popularity. (All Names)

400+ Irish Last Names (With Meanings and Popularity) - All Names