Irish names
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Á starting Irish names
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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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Unusual Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, The Best Baby Names for Boys, 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Made Easy
Brenda
Brenda comes from Old Norse and means “sword,” related to the English word brand. Brenda is also linked to Brendan, with readings like “little raven,” “on fire,” or “firebrand.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), The Everything Baby Names Book, Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Girls, Numerology for Baby Names
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.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Irish Names for Children, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Brian
Brian is a Celtic name meaning “noble,” “high,” or “strong.” Brian is also glossed as “brave” or “virtuous.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Your Child Can Live With
Calvin
Calvin means “bald” or “little bald one,” from the French chauve. Calvin was first used in honor of the religious reformer John Calvin.
Sources: 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 10,000 Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Best Baby Names for Girls, Numerology for Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Best Baby Names for Girls, Unusual Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Irish Names for Children
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Unusual Baby Names
Holly
Holly is an English plant name from the evergreen holly tree, traditionally given to girls born near Christmas. Used since the 1930s and peaking in the 1970s, Holly is more popular in Britain; it has a cheerful, jolly feel.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Girls, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Baby Names Book, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Jacqueline
Jacqueline is a French feminine form of Jacques, and so of Jacob, meaning “supplanter” or “he who replaces.” Jacqueline is forever linked to first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, whose style gave the French name an American polish.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Girls, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Margaret
Margaret comes from Greek and means “pearl.” Margaret dates to a third-century saint, was Scotland’s national female name by the 11th century, and was a U.S. top-ten name for much of the early 1900s.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Girls, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
Mary
Mary is linked to the sea, read as “drop of the sea” and later “star of the sea,” from Latin stella maris. Mary also traces to the Hebrew Miriam, meaning “bitter” or “sea of bitterness.”
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, The Best Baby Names for Girls, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Classic Biblical Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, Irish Names for Children, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Irish Names for Children
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Irish Names for Children, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names Made Easy, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, The Everything Baby Names Book, Irish Names for Children, Numerology for Baby Names
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.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Boys, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book
Valerie
Valerie is a Latin name meaning “strong” or “healthy,” the French form of Valeria, which comes from the Roman clan name Valerius. Sitcom actresses Valerie Harper and Valerie Bertinelli gave the name a girl-next-door feel, though some think it sounds a bit 1960s.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Girls, The Everything Baby Names Book, Numerology for Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time
Veronica
Veronica is a Latin name meaning “true image,” with Veronique and Veronika as foreign forms and Ronnie and Vera as nicknames. By legend, Saint Veronica wiped Jesus’s face with her veil as he carried the cross, and the cloth kept the image of his face, though she never appears in the Bible itself.
Sources: 10,000 Baby Names, 1,107 Baby Names That Stand the Test of Time, Baby Names Book, Baby Names (Laura Emerson), Baby Names Made Easy, Baby Names Your Child Can Live With, The Best Baby Names for Girls, Classic Biblical Baby Names, The Everything Baby Names Book
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These lists are only intended to give you name ideas. Make sure to further research each name, as some may have negative connotations.