[Opinions] Irish Names
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Since it is St. Patrick's Day, I thought it would be appropriate to share a few of my favorite Irish names and their meanings. Most of them are guilty pleasures. Does anyone else have some favorite Irish names? Feel free to share.
Male:
Connor- "dog lover" or "wolf lover"
Desmond- Irish surname which was derived from Deasmhumhain
Diarmaid- "without envy."
Declan- "Chief"
Edan- "Fiery"
Lorcan- "little fierce one"
Riordan- "little poet king"
Devin- "dark, black" or "Devine"
Female:
Delaney- Anglicized DUBHSHLÁINE meaning "dark, black defiance"
Bree- "power, high"
Fiachra- "raven." This is also the name of the patron saint of gardeners, a 7th-century Irish abbot who settled in France.
Male:
Connor- "dog lover" or "wolf lover"
Desmond- Irish surname which was derived from Deasmhumhain
Diarmaid- "without envy."
Declan- "Chief"
Edan- "Fiery"
Lorcan- "little fierce one"
Riordan- "little poet king"
Devin- "dark, black" or "Devine"
Female:
Delaney- Anglicized DUBHSHLÁINE meaning "dark, black defiance"
Bree- "power, high"
Fiachra- "raven." This is also the name of the patron saint of gardeners, a 7th-century Irish abbot who settled in France.
Replies
I used to love Connor as a name, but a really terrible association has put me off the name.
For Irish girls' names, I have a soft spot for Brigit, spelled this way (Bridget is "bridge" with a 't' on the end). I also like:
Alannah
Aoife
Bláthnat (ultimate GP for me)
Caitria
Deirdre (was in my Top 10 at one point)
Erin
Fiona
Líadan
Maeve
Mavourneen
Muriel (Anglicized from Muirgel)
Nessa
Niamh
Saorise
For boys, I like:
Alastar (though I prefer the spelling Alistair, which is Scottish)
Brendan
Colin
Cormac
Declan
Desmond
Donovan
Doran
Finn
Kieran (Anglicized from Ciarán)
Liam
Lochlann (though I prefer the spelling Lachlan, which is Scottish)
Murdoch
Murrough (reminds me of William S. Burroughs)
Owen
Riordan
Ronan
Sean
Torin
Even though I just posted quite a few names, and I love Irish culture... I'm more partial to Welsh names, actually.
For Irish girls' names, I have a soft spot for Brigit, spelled this way (Bridget is "bridge" with a 't' on the end). I also like:
Alannah
Aoife
Bláthnat (ultimate GP for me)
Caitria
Deirdre (was in my Top 10 at one point)
Erin
Fiona
Líadan
Maeve
Mavourneen
Muriel (Anglicized from Muirgel)
Nessa
Niamh
Saorise
For boys, I like:
Alastar (though I prefer the spelling Alistair, which is Scottish)
Brendan
Colin
Cormac
Declan
Desmond
Donovan
Doran
Finn
Kieran (Anglicized from Ciarán)
Liam
Lochlann (though I prefer the spelling Lachlan, which is Scottish)
Murdoch
Murrough (reminds me of William S. Burroughs)
Owen
Riordan
Ronan
Sean
Torin
Even though I just posted quite a few names, and I love Irish culture... I'm more partial to Welsh names, actually.
This message was edited 3/19/2015, 11:02 AM
Guess I missed the St. Patrick's Day part of this, but my favorite Irish names...
Maeve - "intoxicating"
Saoirse - "freedom"
Aine - "radiance"
Aoife - "beauty"
Orla - "golden princess"; was a family nn for me actually
Una - "lamb"
Conall - "strong wolf"
Eamon - Irish form of Edmund
Finnen - "white"
Ronan - "little seal"
Honestly, the only ones I'd use IRL are Maeve, Conall, and Eamon. The others I just like the sound of.
Maeve - "intoxicating"
Saoirse - "freedom"
Aine - "radiance"
Aoife - "beauty"
Orla - "golden princess"; was a family nn for me actually
Una - "lamb"
Conall - "strong wolf"
Eamon - Irish form of Edmund
Finnen - "white"
Ronan - "little seal"
Honestly, the only ones I'd use IRL are Maeve, Conall, and Eamon. The others I just like the sound of.
This message was edited 3/18/2015, 9:07 PM
Out of yours I love Edan & Lorcan....
My favorites:
Aine: "radiance", I think it is feminine, but strong.
Aoife: "beauty", I like the sound & the mythology behind it.
Caoimhe: "beautiful, gentle, kind". It's a pretty spelled "Keeva".
Emer: "swift"
Caitria: I'm not usually a Cait/Cate name fan, but I like the balance it has.
Fiona: "vine"
Maeve: "intoxicating"
Bran: "raven", Simple, but with strength.
Conan: "little wolf". Despite Conan O'Brien, I still love this (and Conan O'Brien, hah).
Ciaran: "black"
Colin: Colin has a boyish sweetness that I love.
Cormac: "wheel", "raven". It just has a strength that I like.
Faolan: I love F names. They have spunk.
Doran: "wanderer"
Eamon
Oscar: "deer lover" I would name my son this today, if DH would agree.
Tiernan: "little lord"
I'm not usually a fan of -an names on boys, but... well, I like a lot of the Irish ones...
My favorites:
Aine: "radiance", I think it is feminine, but strong.
Aoife: "beauty", I like the sound & the mythology behind it.
Caoimhe: "beautiful, gentle, kind". It's a pretty spelled "Keeva".
Emer: "swift"
Caitria: I'm not usually a Cait/Cate name fan, but I like the balance it has.
Fiona: "vine"
Maeve: "intoxicating"
Bran: "raven", Simple, but with strength.
Conan: "little wolf". Despite Conan O'Brien, I still love this (and Conan O'Brien, hah).
Ciaran: "black"
Colin: Colin has a boyish sweetness that I love.
Cormac: "wheel", "raven". It just has a strength that I like.
Faolan: I love F names. They have spunk.
Doran: "wanderer"
Eamon
Oscar: "deer lover" I would name my son this today, if DH would agree.
Tiernan: "little lord"
I'm not usually a fan of -an names on boys, but... well, I like a lot of the Irish ones...
I don't seek out Irish naes and won't be going through my whole list but I do know these work:
Ena / Eithne
Fia / Fiadh
Maeva / Meadbha
Eveny / Aibhne
Ena / Eithne
Fia / Fiadh
Maeva / Meadbha
Eveny / Aibhne
Aibhne/ Eveny is nice. It has the charm of Ebony without the word association.
My favorites have to be Emer and Finnuala, or just Nuala. I couldn't use them IRL, because no one here would say it right. But they are swoonably lovey. Add Moira and Maureen and Kathleen to those too.
I also enjoy Fintan and Donal. I tried to convince Dh to love Donal, but to no avail.
I am sure I like tons of other "Irish" names... but those stand out as faves.
I also enjoy Fintan and Donal. I tried to convince Dh to love Donal, but to no avail.
I am sure I like tons of other "Irish" names... but those stand out as faves.
I'm adding Moira to my list. Thank you!