21 Authentic Irish baby names for boys
Written by Jane Chadwick on Jun 13, 2022 | 0 Comments
Over the years, we've been honored to provide special gifts for expectant parents, and new arrivals. Many choose to engrave these cherished heirlooms with their child's name and date of birth. Which got us thinking about baby names.
Where to find authentic Irish baby names?
With an Irish boy's name, Liam, topping the baby name charts in the US since 2017, it seems names with gaelic and celtic origins are on the radar for many prospective parents.
Those on the hunt for an authentic and unique moniker for their little one might search the archives of the library of Ireland or check the Irish central statistics office for the most popular names in Ireland by year.
Or they could read our collection of 21 Irish names for girls and for boys. We've pulled together the most popular Irish names in Ireland as identified by the Central Statistics Office. We’ve also included the origin and meaning of these lovely names as well as a helpful pronunciation guide. Some Irish names can be challenging for those not acquainted with gaelic!
21 Unique Irish names for Boys
1. Conor
How it's said in Ireland: Con-er or Con-or depending on where you are
Roughly translated, Conor means "Lover of Wolves" or "Lover of Hounds". Found in Irish legends and the name of an Irish high king Conaire Mór, the name Conor was always popular in Ireland. In the top 100 names for decades, Conor rose to 1st in 90's and has remained in the top 10 ever since. It was the 4th most popular boy's name in Ireland in 2021. Can also be spelled Connor (279th).
2. Rían
How it's said in Ireland: Ree-an
The 5th most popular boy's name in Ireland in 2021, Rían is the gaelic spelling for another popular Irish name, Ryan (35th in 2021), or without the fada, Rian (104th in 2021). This is an Irish name so ancient its meaning was lost before records began. But many today ascribe it to the Old Irish word rí, meaning king - so with this interpretation, this name roughly translates as “little king”.
3. Liam
How it's said in Ireland: Lee-um or Lee-am depending on where you are
The Irish short form of Uilliam, the gaelic for strong-willed warrior and protector. A popular name worldwide, with Liam in top 100 in US, Germany, Canada, France, Spain, Sweden, Belgium and Switzerland. One of the few Irish names with global currency, it was the 6th most popular name for boys in Ireland in 2021.
4. Cillian
How it's said in Ireland: Kil-ee-an
From the gaelic cill meaning church with the suffix -ín, used affectionately to indicate a diminutive status. Cillian, roughly translated, means little church. Unsurprisingly, Cillian wasbthe name of several early Irish saints, and it remains a hugely popular name in Ireland today ranked 9th in 2021, with popular variations too including Killian (109th in 2021).
5. Tadhg
How it's said in Ireland: Tie-gue
A tricky one to spell and will certainly keep the baristas at Starbucks on their toes, Tadhg is another old Irish name that has always been popular in Ireland. A name of Irish kings and saints, it means poet or storyteller. It was the 10th most popular name for boys in Ireland in 2021 and variants including Tighe, Tadg and Tadhgh are also common.
6. Oisín
How it's said in Ireland: Uh-sheen
Oisín translates as little deer from the old Irish os for deer. Oisín was a famous Irish poet and harper and a warrior of Na Fianna. The demigod son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and Sadhbh and the partner of otherworldly princess Niamh, he is immortalized in the tale of Tír Na n'Óg and the WB Yeats epic, The Wanderings of Oisín. An Irish name with lovely meaning and mythological ties, it's no wonder Oisín has been a consistently popular name choice and 12th for boys in Ireland in 2021.
7. Fionn / Finn
How it's said in Ireland: Fyun or Fin depending on spelling
Both the gaelic and the anglicized version of this Irish name are hugely popular in Ireland ranking 13th (Finn) and 14th (Fionn) in 2021. In gaelic, the name means “small blonde soldier.” This name comes with some serious mythological heft, with Fionn mac Cumhaill the most famous warrior and leader of the Fianna a namesake that everyone in Ireland knows.
8. Seán
How it's said in Ireland: Shawn
Seán is the gaelic translation for the name John. Gaelic has no letter j so when this biblical name came to Ireland, it was adapted to fit the local language. A short and sweet name meaning "gracious", Seán has enjoyed popularity in the USA and Canada for many years ranking 16th in Ireland in 2021.
9. Darragh
How it's said in Ireland: Da-rah
An old Irish name that is rooted in nature – from the old Irish dáire which means oak tree - the name has connections to Dagda, the king of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Darragh can also be written in its original form Dáire or Dara and Daragh. From these ancient origins, this naturalistic and somewhat unusual name remains popular in Ireland, ranking 17th in 2021.
10. Patrick
How it's said in Ireland: Pat-rick
One of the most quintessentially Irish names going despite not actually being a name of gaelic origin, Patrick has been a hugely popular name in Ireland for centuries. With a fantastic meaning of noble patrician derived from latin, and Paddy one of the cutest short-form names you could find, it's not hard to see why Patrick ranked 19th in the Irish name stakes for boys in 2021.
Photo Credit: St. Patrick Banishes the Serpents © Jim FitzPatrick 2022
11. Cian
How it's said in Ireland: Key-an or key-in depending on where you are
Father to the warrior King Lugh, Cían is another gaelic name with mythological roots. Cían is gaelic for "enduring one," but it is more common to see the name without the fada (accent) today, ranking 23rd in 2021 as "Cian".
12. Shay
How it's said in Ireland: Shay
Shay can be a short-form for Séamus or a variation on the Irish last name Shea. With a meaning that translates as majestic or courteous as well as learned, scientific or ingenious, Shay was a common nickname in Ireland for decades. Shay established itself as a given name in the 1980s and is now a popular and even stylish choice in Ireland, ranking 52nd in 2021.
13. Donnacha
How it's said in Ireland: Dun-u-kha
Popular in Ireland (ranking 52rd in 202) but little known elsewhere, Donnacha is another name that can be traced back to ancient Irish royalty. With the high king of Ireland and a son of Brian Boru one of the most notable Irish royals to bear this name, roughly translated it means brown-haired warrior.
14. Senan
How it's said in Ireland: Sen-an
With the gaelic Senán roughly translating as 'little wise one', this was the name of a famous 6th-Century saint in Ireland and an ancient founder of monasteries. The easy-to-pronounce anglicized version, Senan, has gone from strength to strength since the 1960s and was 56th in 2021 - another name to watch as it only seems to be growing in popularity.
15. Aidan
How it's said in Ireland: Ay-dan
The anglicized version of an ancient gaelic name Aodhán, which means bringer of fire, Aidan is another Irish name that has traveled well. A popular choice in the US, Canada and the UK, Aidan ranked 73rd in Ireland in 2021.
16. Daithí
How it's said in Ireland: Dawh-hee
A gaelic name with several forms including Dáithí, Daithí or Dathí, as well as the anglicized Daithi or Dathi. With a light and friendly sound, a regal past with the name held by the last pagan high king, and a rough translation that means swiftness or nimbleness, Daithí is an old name with a modern feel that is growing in popularity, ranking 78th in 2021 in Ireland.
17. Odhran
How it's said in Ireland: O-rawn
The name of an ancient Irish saint, this is now one of the country’s most popular boy names. It roughly translates as little pale green one, making it a distinctive choice and one made by more than 80 Irish parents in 2021, ranking Odhran 81st in Ireland.
18. Eoin
How it's said in Ireland: Oh-when
Another gaelic translation for the biblical name John, Eoin is a popular choice in Ireland ranking 83rd in 2021. Variations include Eóin and Eoinn, but the similar-sounding Eoghan/Eòghan are old Irish names with a different derivation.
19. Cathal
How it's said in Ireland: Caw-hill
Roughly translated as strong in battle, Cathal is an old Irish name that has always been popular in Ireland. The name of numerous Irish kings, Cathal is perhaps not the easiest for non Irish speakers to pronounce - hint the ‘th’ is silent. Despite the challenge, Cathal still ranked 89th in Ireland in 2021.
20. Tiernan
How it's said in Ireland: Tear-nan
Tiernan is a common name in Ireland, primarily as a second name but growing in popularity as a first name too. Tiernan ranked 92nd in 2021 just inside the top 100. Derived from the gaelic word tighearna, roughly translated Tiernan means lord with the name associated with several ancient rulers and saints in Ireland.
21. Ronan
How it's said in Ireland: Row-nan
The anglicized form of the gaelic name Rónán which means little seal - rón is the gaelic for seal. Another Irish name with naturalistic roots, Ronan ranked just inside the top 100 at 97 in 2021.
What is your favorite Irish baby name?
Do you have a favorite Irish or Gaelic name? Did we miss one? Let us know in the comments below.
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Jane Chadwick
My Irish Jeweler
Born in Dublin but reared in Canada, as a child I had an interest in Ireland that will be familiar to many young emigrants. I was completely fascinated, wanting to know all about the land of my parents and grandparents. Rare month-long family trips back "Home" cemented my love for Ireland. And I wore my Irish heritage with pride, sporting my tiny silver Claddagh gifted to me by my Irish grandparents until my finger grew too large for it!
As a young adult I moved back to Dublin, studying Geology and Mineralogy in university at historic Trinity College Dublin. After living in Denmark and the Netherlands working as a scientist and university mineralogy lecturer, I finally settled back home in Dublin. I joined the growing family at My Irish Jeweler in 2016, bringing my useful knowledge of metals and minerals as well as my perspective as an Irish emigrant with a love for HOME.
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