Traditional Irish boy names with meanings
These are Irish boys' names with roots in the Irish language, listed A to Z with their meanings and a simple respelling. Press the play button beside a name to hear it.
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133 names. Jump to: A B C D E F G I J K L M N O P R S T U
A
- Adomnán – AH-dum-nawn (Little Adam)
- Aengus – ANG-us (One strength, vigour)
- Aidan – AY-dun (Little fire)
- Ailill – AL-il (King of Connacht)
- Amergin – AV-er-gin (Legendary first poet)
- Aodh – AY (Fire)
- Aodhán – AY-dawn (Little fire)
- Art – ART (Bear)
B
- Bran – BRAN (Raven)
- Brendan – BREN-dan (Prince, debated)
- Brennan – BREN-an (Descendant of Braonán (sorrow, debated))
- Bres – BRESH (Beautiful)
- Brian – BRY-un (Possibly high, noble)
C
- Caílte – KWIL-cha (Swift warrior of the Fianna)
- Cairbre – KAR-bruh (Legendary king)
- Caoimhín – KEE-veen (Gentle, handsome)
- Caolán – KWAY-lawn (Slender one)
- Cathair – KAH-her (Warrior)
- Cathal – KAH-hal (Battle ruler)
- Cathbad – KAH-vad (Battle crow)
- Cian – KEE-an (Ancient, enduring)
- Ciarán – KEER-awn (Little dark one)
- Cillian – KIL-ee-an (Church, or strife; debated)
- Cóilín – KOH-leen (Little dove)
- Colm – KOL-um (Dove)
- Colmán – KOL-mawn (Little dove)
- Colmcille – KUL-um-KIL-la (Dove of the church)
- Conaire – KUN-uh-ree (Legendary high king)
- Conall – KON-al (Strong wolf)
- Conán – KOH-nawn (Little hound)
- Conchobar – KON-uh-var (Hound lover, debated)
- Conlaoch – KUN-lay (Son of Cú Chulainn)
- Conn – KUN (Chief, wisdom)
- Connor – KON-er (Lover of hounds)
- Conor – KON-or (Lover of hounds, debated)
- Cormac – KOR-mak (Uncertain, perhaps charioteer)
- Cúán – KOO-awn (Little hound)
- Cúchulainn – koo-HULL-in (Hound of Culann)
- Cumhall – KOO-al (Of uncertain meaning; father of Fionn mac Cumhaill)
D
- Dagda – DAHG-da (Good god)
- Daithí – DAH-hee (Swift, nimble; debated)
- Darragh – DAR-ah (Oak, fertile)
- Declan – DEK-lan (Uncertain, perhaps full of goodness)
- Dermot – DUR-mut (Without envy (debated))
- Desmond – DEZ-mund (From South Munster)
- Diarmuid – DEER-mid (Uncertain, perhaps without envy)
- Domhnall – DOH-nul (World ruler)
- Dónal – DOH-nal (World ruler)
- Donnacha – DUN-a-kha (Brown warrior)
- Donnán – DUN-awn (Little brown-haired one)
E
- Éamon – AY-mun (Wealthy protector)
- Éamonn – AY-mun (Wealthy protector)
- Éibhear – AY-ver (Milesian prince)
- Enda – EN-da (Birdlike)
- Eochaidh – YOH-hee (Horseman)
- Eoghan – OH-an (Born of the yew, debated)
- Eoin – OH-in (God is gracious)
- Éremón – AIR-uh-mon (First Milesian high king)
- Eunan – YOO-nan (Little Adam)
F
- Faolán – FWAY-lawn (Little wolf)
- Fearghal – FAR-gal (Man of valour)
- Ferdiad – FER-dee-ad (Legendary champion)
- Fergal – FUR-gul (Man of valour)
- Fergus – FUR-gus (Man of vigour)
- Fiachra – FEE-ak-ra (Raven)
- Finbar – FIN-bar (Fair-headed)
- Finbarr – FIN-bar (Fair head)
- Finn – FIN (Fair, white)
- Finnian – FIN-ee-un (Fair)
- Fintan – FIN-tan (White ancient, fair)
- Fionn – FYUN (Fair, white, bright)
- Fionnán – FIN-awn (Little fair one)
- Flann – FLAN (Red)
- Fraoch – FREEKH (Heather)
G
I
J
- Jarlath – JAR-luth (Tributary lord)
K
L
- Labhrás – LOW-rass (Laurel)
- Laoghaire – LEER-ee (Calf herder)
- Lir – LEER (Sea)
- Lochlann – LOK-lan (Possibly 'land of the lakes')
- Lorcan – LOR-kan (Little fierce one)
- Lugh – LOO (Uncertain, perhaps shining)
M
- Máirtín – MAWR-cheen (Of Mars)
- Malachy – MAL-uh-kee (Messenger)
- Manannán – MAN-an-awn (Of the Isle of Man, sea god)
- Manus – MAN-us (Great)
- Maoldúin – MWAYL-doon (Devotee of the fort)
- Mathúin – MA-hoon (Bear)
- Midir – MEE-dir (Of uncertain meaning; king of the otherworld)
- Mongán – MUN-gawn (Little long-haired one)
- Muircheartach – MWIR-hyar-takh (Skilled mariner)
- Muiris – MWIR-ish (Dark-skinned)
- Murchadh – MUR-uh-khoo (Sea warrior)
N
- Nemed – NEV-ed (Sacred)
- Niall – NYE-al (Champion, or cloud; debated)
- Nuada – NOO-a-da (Uncertain, perhaps cloud-maker)
O
- Odhrán – OH-rawn (Little pale green one)
- Ogma – OG-ma (Of uncertain meaning; the god credited with inventing ogham)
- Oisín – UH-sheen (Little deer)
- Oran – OR-an (Little pale one, sallow)
P
- Pádraig – PAW-drig (Noble, patrician)
- Partholón – PAR-ha-lawn (Early settler of legend)
- Patrick – PAT-rik (Nobleman)
- Peadar – PYA-dar (Rock)
- Proinsias – PRUN-shas (Frenchman)
R
- Raghnall – RAN-ul (Counsel ruler)
- Rían – REE-an (Little king)
- Ronan – ROH-nan (Little seal)
- Rory – ROR-ee (Red king)
- Ruadhán – ROO-awn (Little red one)
- Ruairí – ROO-ree (Red king)
- Ryan – RY-an (Little king (debated))
S
- Séamus – SHAY-mus (Supplanter)
- Seán – SHAWN (God is gracious)
- Seanán – SHAN-awn (Little old one)
- Seoirse – SHOR-sha (Farmer)
- Sétanta – SHAY-tan-tuh (Boyhood name of Cú Chulainn)
- Shane – SHAYN (God is gracious)
- Shaun – SHAWN (God is gracious)
- Stiofán – STIF-awn (Crown)
T
- Tadhg – TIGE (Poet, philosopher)
- Tiarnán – TEER-nawn (Little lord)
- Tiernan – TEER-nan (Little lord)
- Tomás – tuh-MAWSS (Twin)
- Tuathal – TOO-ul (People ruler)
- Turlough – TUR-lock (Possibly 'instigator'; sometimes explained as 'shaped like Thor')
U
- Ultán – UL-tawn (Man of Ulster)
Choosing an Irish name
Many Irish boys' names have both an Irish spelling and an English one, for example Seán and Shane or Pádraig and Patrick. Picking the Irish spelling keeps the original sound, but you may spend a while helping people say it. Press the play button to hear how each is said before you decide.
Looking for something with a story? See Irish boy names from mythology.
Frequently asked questions
What are some traditional Irish boy names?
Cormac, Fionn, Oisín, Tadhg, Seán, Ruairí, Diarmuid and Cillian are all traditional Irish names with long histories.
How do you pronounce Irish boy names?
Irish spelling differs from English, so many names sound different from how they look. Each name here has a simple respelling and a recording.