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Christianity brought in sacred and saints’ names from Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Christians would choose the name of a saint for their child, and prefix to it Mael or Gille, meaning ‘servant of’ or ‘devotee of’. Today, Christian names are still popular, but the prefix is very seldom found.
The Vikings brought with them Norse names such as Olaf, the Gaelic form of which is Amhlaoibh. The Normans, who invaded Ireland in 1169, introduced names such as William, Gerald and Edward. Other names which took the Irish form include some Germanic and Anglo-Saxon, and certain names from Brittany and Wales. With the decline in Irish speaking in the nineteenth century, many Irish names were anglicized or substituted with related English names. However, the Irish forms are still widely used.
The oldest Irish genealogical document which contains ancient Irish names is a manuscript known as the ‘Rawlinson B 502’. Such documents reveal that many of these names are still in use today. The following list gives some of the Irish forms which are still used, how to pronounce them, their meaning, their equivalents and substitutions, and their origins where known.
·N·a·m·e·s o·f W·o·m·e·n·
Ailbhe [AL-va]. ‘gentle one’. In Irish legend, this was the name of a female warrior of the Fianna.
Alannah [eh-LAN-ah]. from the Irish, a leanbh, meaning ‘O child’. Alana.
Bevin [BEV-in], Béibhinn [BEY-vin]. ‘fair lady’. This name was borne by several characters in Irish mythology.
Bree [BREE] ‘power’, ‘high’. Brígh.
Brenda [BREN-dah] (Germanic). From the Old Norse word, ‘brandr’ meaning ‘sword’.
Brianna [bree-ahn-a, bree-AHN-a]. ‘hill’, ‘noble’, ‘strong’. Feminine of Brian.
Bridget [BRIJ-et]. ‘strength’, ‘exalted one’. In Irish mythology, this is the name of the goddess of poetry, metalwork and healing. She is also associated with fertility, fire and the sun. In the 5th century, Brigit founded a monastery in Kildare. She became a patron saint of Ireland, and the name was considered sacred. Brighid. Brigid. Brigit. Bridie. Breed. Breda.
Bronagh [BRO-na]. ‘sorrow’. Saint Brónach was a 6th century mystic.
Caelan [KEE-lin]. ‘slender and fair’. Keelin. Caoilfhionn.
Colleen [Kah-LEEN]. derived from the Irish word, Cailín, meaning ‘girl’.
Dana [DAY-na] or [DA-na]. 'knowledge, wisdom, wealth, abundance'. Derived from Danu, mother of the Irish gods. The divine flow (rivers, flowing water and the sea) is associated with the goddess Danu, and she is associated with the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann meaning ‘people of the goddess Danu’ who worshipped her.
Dymphna [DIMF-ne]. She is the Irish patron saint of the mentally ill. Damhnait. Dympna.
Eavan [ee-VAHN] 'fair form'.
Eibhlín [ev-LEEN] ‘sunlight’, 'shining'. Eibhleann. Eileen. Aileen.
Emma [EM-a] (Germanic). 'universal'. Brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans. A name which has become more popular in Ireland in recent times. Erin [AYRE-in]. ‘Ireland’. Eireann. Éireann.
Fallon [FAL-en]. ‘superiority’, ‘descended from a ruler’. From the Gaelic, follamhnus.
Geraldine [JER-al-deen] (Germanic). 'ruler of the spear'. The Fitzgeralds of Kildare were known as the 'Geraldines'.
Iseult [ee-salt], [i-zult]. (Germanic). 'ice rule'. According to Arthurian legend, Iseult was an Irish princess betrothed to King Mark of Cornwall. She became the lover of his knight Tristram/Tristan. Yseult. Ysolte. Isolda. Isolde.
Kelly [KEL-ee]. 'bright-headed'. From the Irish name Ó Ceallaigh, which is derived from the Irish word, Ceallach.
Kerry m/f [KER-ee]. Kerry is the name of a county in the south of Ireland (Munster), meaning 'Ciar's people' - those with dark (ciar) hair and brown eyes. Carey.
Léan [LAY-an]. 'bright one'. The Irish form of Helen (Greek). Helena (Latin). Léana. Elaine. Eleanor. Ellen. Nellie.
Líadan (LEEA-dan). ‘grey lady’. In Irish legend, she was a poetess who became a nun, beloved of the poet Cuirithir. Líadain.
Maureen [MAWR-een]. ‘great’. derived from the Irish, mór. Móirín. Moreen.
Méabh [MAYV]. ‘intoxicating’. In Irish legend, this was the name of a warrior queen of Connacht. Medb. Meadhbh. Medbh. Maeve.
Muirgen m/f [MUHR-gen]. 'sea-born'. In Irish legend, Muirgen was transformed into a mermaid. Murchadh. Morgan.
Neasa [NES-a], [NAS-a]. 'pure', 'holy'. According to some versions of Irish mythology, her original name was Assa, meaning ‘gentle’, but she was renamed Ni-assa, ‘not gentle’, after she became a fierce warrior and sought revenge for the murder of her foster fathers. Possibly a variant of Agnes (Greek). Nessa.
Rachel [RAY-chel] (Hebrew). ‘ewe’. Ráichéal
Saoirse [SEAR-she]. ‘freedom’. Popular during the 20th century, since Irish independence.
Scota [SKO-ta] (Latin). 'Irishwoman'. In the early middle ages, 'Scotia' was a name for Ireland. 'Scotus' signified 'Irishman'. The term 'Scot' was applied to Irish settlers in Caledonia, who later gave their name to the whole country, Scotland.
Shannon [SHAN-en]. The name of the longest river in Ireland. It is composed of the gaelic language elements, sean, meaning 'old' and abhann, meaning 'river'.
Sharon [SHAR-en] (Hebrew). 'the plain'.
Shasta [SHAS-ta]. Invented by the Irish writer, C.S. Lewis, for a character in his classic book series for children, 'The Chronicles of Narnia'. Also the name of a native American tribe and the highest mountain in California, United States.
Shona [SHOW-na] (Latin/Hebrew). 'god has favoured'. Feminine of John. Seonagh. Joan. Joanne.
Síne [SHEE-ne]. Irish form of Jeanne – the French feminine of John.
Siobhán [Shi-VAWN] ‘gift of God’. Joan. Jean. Hannah.
Sive [SIEVE]. ‘sweet’, ‘goodly’. Saibh. Sadb. Sadhbh. Saidbh. Sabia.
Susan [SOO-zan]. 'lily', 'lotus'. Brought to Ireland by the Anglo-Normans. Suzanne. Susanna.
Sybil [SIB-el] (Greek). 'prophet', 'priestess'. Síbéal. Sibyl. Cybil. Isabel.
Tara [TAR-a]. ‘hill’, ‘elevated place’. From the Irish, Teambair n Rí, meaning ‘Hill of Kings’. Tara was a sacred hill in Co. Meath, where the Irish High Kings resided.
Vanessa [va-NES-a]. The name Vanessa was invented by the Anglo-Irish writer, Jonathan Swift. In 1708, he met and tutored Esther Vanhomrigh. Swift created the name by adding ‘Van’ from Vanhomrigh to ‘Essa’, the pet name for Esther. It's also possible that Swift may have derived the name from the mystic goddess, Phanessa.
·N·a·m·e·s o·f M·e·n· Aidan [AY-den]. ‘fire’. From the old Irish name Áedán [AY-dawn], a diminutive of Áed/Aodh. Aodh was the name three high kings. Also the name of two famous Irish rebels who lived in Elizabethan times: Aodh (Hugh) O'Neill and Aodh Rua (Red Hugh) O'Donnell. Aodhagán. Aodhán. Hugh.
Alan [AL-en]. 'of gentle birth', 'harmony' or ‘handsome'. Ailín [al-EEN]. Allen.
Aonghus [AYN-gus]. ‘one strength’, 'one vigour', 'one energy'. Angus. Aonghus was the Irish god of love and youth. Aengus. Aenghus. Gus.
Aran m/f [AR-an]. from the name of the Aran Islands, off the west coast of Ireland.
Brady [BRAY-dee]. ‘spirited’. From the Irish surname, Ó Brádaigh; Mac Brádaigh.
Bran [BRAN] 'raven’. The name of a Celtic deity. In Irish legend, Bran was a sea voyager. His adventures are chronicled in the early Irish literary work, The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febal. Brandan. Brandubh [Bran-duv] meaning, 'black raven'.
Brendan [BREN-dan] (Latin, from Brendanus). ‘prince’. According to legend, Saint Brendan was a 6th century Irish abbot who crossed the Atlantic and reached North America with 17 other monks.
Brian [BRY-an]. 'hill', ‘noble’, ‘strong’. High king of Ireland, Brian Boru, thwarted Viking attempts to conquer Ireland in the 11th century. He was slain in the Battle of Clontarf and the name became popular afterwards. Brían. Briain. Bryan.
Brody [BROH-dee]. ‘ditch’, ‘muddy place’. derived from the Irish surname, Brody. Brodie.
Casey [KAY-see]. ‘vigilant’, ‘watchful’. From the Irish surname, Ó Cathasaigh; Ó Casey.
Christie [KRIS-tee]. The Irish form of 'Christopher' (Greek). ‘Christ-bearing’. Christy. Críostóir [CREE-store].
Cillian [KIL-ee-an]. ‘war’, ‘strife’. Killian. Cillin. Ceallach.
Cody [KO-dee]. ‘wealth’, ‘fortune’. From the Gaelic surname, Mac Óda, meaning ‘son of Otto’.
Conn [CON]. ‘chief’, ‘intelligence’. Constantine.
Daithí [DAH-hee]. The Irish form of David (Hebrew). 'loved one' or ‘swift’, 'agile'. Dáithí.
Derek [DEH-rek] (Germanic). 'people ruler'.
Finbar [FIN-bar]. ‘fair head’. Fionnbar. Barry.
Finlay [FIN-lee]. ‘white warrior’. from the Gaelic, fionn, meaning ‘white/fair’, and laogh, meaning ‘warrior’. Fionnlagh. Finley.
Finn [FIN]. ‘fair’. Finn MacCool/Fionn MacCumhaill was a great hero of Irish mythology. He was leader of the Fianna, a band of Irish warriors renowned for the strength and fearlessness. Fionn [FYONN]. Fynn.
Finnán [fin-AWN]. ‘fair’. ‘white’. Fionnán.
Gerald [JER-ald] (Germanic). 'spear ruler'. Imported by the Normans. Gearalt. Gary.
Gerard [je-RAHRD] (Germanic). 'strength of the spear'. 'spear hard'. Imported by the Normans. Gerárd. Gary.
Gréagóir [GRAY-gor] The Irish form of Gregory (Latin). ‘watchful’. ‘alert’.
Hugh [HYEW]. Germanic. 'heart, mind, spirit'. Aodh.
Kevin [KEV-in]. ‘sweet offspring’, ‘comely birth’. Caoimhín [Kwee-VEEN].
Kieran [KEER-ahn]. ‘little dark one’. Kieron. Ciaran. Ciarán [KEER-awhn]. Saint Kieran founded the great monastery of Clonmacnoise.
Luke [LEWK] (Greek). ‘of Lucania’. Brought to Ireland in the 12th century by the Anglo-Normans. Lúcás. Louis. Lewis.
Máirtín [MAR-TEEN], Martán [mar-TAHN]. (Latin, derived from Martinus). 'of Mars'. The Irish form of Martin. Many Gaelic clans bore variants the surname Martin e.g. Ó Máirtín (meaning descendent of Martin) and Mac Máirtín (meaning son of Martin).
Micheál [MEE-haul] The Irish form of Michael (Hebrew). 'who is like God'. Mick.
Muiris [MUHR-ish]. 'moor', 'dark-skinned'. The Irish form of Morris/Maurice (Latin). Pet forms of the name are Moss and Mossy.
Nevan [NEV-an]. ‘little saint’. Naomhán.
Odhrán [O-rawn]. ‘little green one’. Saint Odhrán travelled with Saint Columba, who was one of Ireland’s three patron saints.
Odin [O-din] (Germanic). 'inspiration', 'fury'. Odin was the highest of the gods in Norse mythology.
Patrick [PAT-rik] (Latin). ‘noble’. Pádraig [PAW-rig] or [PAWD-rig]. Pádraic. Pat. Paddy. Patsy.
Raymond [RAY-mend] (Germanic). 'counsel protection'. Brought to Ireland by the Normans. The Irish form of Raymond is Redmond and in Gaelic it is Réamonn. In Ireland, it is often shortened to Ray. Redmund.
Roibeárd [RO-bahrd]. The Irish form of Robert. (Germanic). ‘fame bright’. Popular in Ireland with the Anglo-Normans. Robin or Roibin [RO-bin] was a pet form of the name. Robert Emmet was a famous Irish patriot.
Ross [RAHS]. 'prominent/projecting'. Originally belonged to someone who lived on a headland. Common in South Ulster. Ros.
Rowan [RO-en]. 'little red one'. Ruadhán.
Stephen [STEEV-en] (Greek). 'crown'. The name of the first recorded Christian martyr. Probably introduced into Ireland by the Normans. Irish variants are Stiofán and Steafán. Steven.
Theo [THEE-o]. Theobald. (Germanic). 'people bold'. Introduced into Ireland by the Normans. Theobald Wolfe Tone was a famous Irish patriot. Tiobóid. Toby.
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