Irish names for boys
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Most popular Irish names in official statistics
Ireland, 2025
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Northern Ireland, 2025
Source: Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
Featured in baby name books
Abraham
Abraham is a Hebrew name meaning “father of many” or “father of nations,” with forms like Abe, Avram, and the Arabic Ibrahim. The biblical Abraham, first called Abram, is regarded as a forefather of both the Jewish and Arab peoples through his sons Isaac and Ishmael.
Alexander
Alexander is a Greek name meaning “defender of men” or “protector,” with countless forms worldwide, including Alessandro, Alejandro, Alistair, and Sasha. Alexander the Great made the name a byword for strength and leadership, and it has never been more popular; other famous bearers include Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
Arthur
Arthur is a Celtic name usually traced to artos, “bear,” and glossed as “bear-hero” or “rock,” with Arturo and Artur as other forms. The legendary King Arthur made the name famous, and the Duke of Wellington and Tennyson’s Idylls of the King boosted it; it was in the U.S. top fifteen around 1900.
Blaine
Blaine is Gaelic for “thin” or “slender,” with Blain and Blayne as variants. Blaine is also read as “yellow,” from an old Gaelic word.
Brendan
Brendan is an old Celtic name meaning “prince,” which came to Ireland from a Welsh word in early monastic times. Brendan is also read as “little raven.”
Brian
Brian is a Celtic name meaning “noble,” “high,” or “strong.” Brian is also glossed as “brave” or “virtuous.”
Calvin
Calvin means “bald” or “little bald one,” from the French chauve. Calvin was first used in honor of the religious reformer John Calvin.
Carson
Carson is a Scottish name for the son of a marsh dweller, or one who lives in a swamp. Carson has a rugged frontier feel from Kit Carson and Carson City, and a lighter side from Johnny Carson and Carson Daly.
Christian
Christian means “follower of Christ,” and it is often shortened to Chris. Christian comes from Greek and means “anointed one.”
Colin
Colin is a Gaelic name meaning “young creature,” “pup,” or “cub.” Colin is also a long-standing pet form of Nicholas, meaning “people's victory,” and in Ireland it is taken as a diminutive of Colman.
Connor
Connor is Irish for “lover of hounds,” sometimes “wolf lover,” and was the name of an ancient Irish king. Connor has also been glossed as “much desire,” “longing,” “praised,” or “wise man.”
Corey
Corey is an Irish Gaelic name meaning “the hollow” or “hollow in a hill.” Corey was hugely popular from the 1960s to the 1990s, and is tied to '80s stars Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, and Corey Hart.
Delaney
Delaney is an Irish surname read as “dark challenger” or “descendant of the challenger.” Delaney is also traced to French with the meaning “from the alder grove.”
Douglas
Douglas is a Scottish name meaning “black river” or “dark water.” Douglas combines Irish words for black and green, and it is the name of a powerful Scottish clan that fought alongside Wallace and Bruce.
Eamon
Eamon is the Irish form of Edmund and means “wealthy protector” or “rich protector.” Eamon is also read as “prosperous guardian.”
Felix
Felix is a Latin name meaning “happy,” “lucky,” or “fortunate.” Used since ancient times, Felix is a steady classic and a more distinctive alternative to Alex.
Finn
Finn is an Irish name meaning “fair” or “white.” It honors Fionn mac Cumhail, legendary leader of the Fianna, who in folklore built the Giant’s Causeway as part of a challenge to his Scottish rival.
Gerald
Gerald is an old Germanic name meaning “ruler with a spear.” Gerald peaked in the 1930s and was embraced by the Irish, making it a solid alternative to trendy Finn and Liam.
Jack
Jack is an English form of John, carrying the meaning “God is gracious.” Jack is also treated as a version of Jacob, “the supplanter,” or of Jackson; notable Jacks include Jack Nicholson, Jack Nicklaus, and Jack LaLanne.
Jacob
Jacob is a Hebrew name meaning “supplanter,” with “heel” also given. In the Bible, Jacob was the younger twin son of Isaac and Rebekah who took his brother Esau’s birthright and became a great patriarch.
John
John is a Hebrew name meaning “God is gracious” or “God is good,” with forms across Europe such as Juan, Jean, Johann, and Sean. John was a top-five name for centuries until 1980; it remains sturdy and authoritative, evoking leaders like John Kennedy and John Adams as well as artists like John Lennon.
Jonathan
Jonathan is a Hebrew name meaning “gift from God” or “Jehovah gave.” In the Bible, Jonathan was King Saul’s oldest son and David’s loyal friend, warning him of Saul’s plot; the name thus signifies loyalty.
Matthew
Matthew comes from Hebrew and is understood as “gift of God” or “gift of the Lord.” Matthew was one of the twelve apostles, a tax collector who followed Jesus when called and is credited with a gospel.
Neil
Neil is an Irish Gaelic name usually read as “champion,” with “cloud” and “passionate” as other suggestions; the original spelling is Niall. Neil grew popular among kings and chieftains thanks to Niall of the Nine Hostages, gave rise to the surnames O’Neill and MacNeill, and was Latinized as Nigel.
Oscar
Oscar is commonly explained as English for “divine spear” or “spear of the gods.” Oscar is also authentically Irish, meaning “deer lover”; in legend Oscar, son of Oisín, became the mightiest of the Fianna, and the name spread to Scandinavia as Oskar.
Patrick
Patrick is thought of as Irish but comes from the Latin Patricius, meaning “nobleman” or “patrician.” It honors St Patrick, who brought Christianity to Ireland; out of reverence the name was long avoided, and its wide popularity is less than three centuries old.
Robert
Robert is an old Germanic name meaning “bright fame” or “renowned,” with nicknames like Bob, Rob, and Robbie. Robert traveled from Germany through France to England with the Norman Conquest, and Scots cherish it thanks to Robert the Bruce and poet Robert Burns.
Samuel
Samuel is a Hebrew name meaning “God has heard” or “asked of God.” The biblical Samuel, born to Hannah who had asked God for him, became Israel’s last judge and first prophet.
Sean
Sean, the Irish version of John, is understood as “God is gracious,” and it is also spelled Shaun or Shawn. The name grew alongside Eoin, helped by the French Jean that came to Ireland with the Anglo-Normans.
Thomas
Thomas is an Aramaic name meaning “twin,” with Tom and Tommy as nicknames and forms such as Tomás, Tomasz, and Tamas around the world. The apostle Thomas refused to believe in the Resurrection until he could touch Christ’s wounds, giving rise to the phrase “doubting Thomas,” and his fame spread the name from the Middle Ages on.
These lists are only intended to give you name ideas. Make sure to further research each name, as some may have negative connotations.