Irish given names draw from the Irish language (Gaeilge) and early Christian naming. Spelling reflects Gaelic phonology: digraphs like bh and mh often sound like v or w, and dh/gh are soft or silent. Long vowels are marked with a fada (á, é, í, ó, ú). Diminutive endings are common, especially -án in masculine names (for example Ciarán, Eoghan) and -ín in feminine forms (seen in anglicized -een). Broad and slender consonant distinctions shape pronunciation and spelling, so related forms can look different while remaining cognate.
Meanings frequently come from adjectives, animals, and martial terms: fionn “fair,” dubh “dark,” oisín “little deer,” and cath “battle” in Cathal. Many names honor early saints and medieval figures rather than surnames; patronymic markers like Ó and Mac belong to family names, not given names. Modern usage mixes revived Gaelic forms with anglicized spellings (Siobhán/Siobhan, Seán/Sean), and some names function as unisex in practice (Ailbhe, Dara/Darragh). There is no single fixed pattern, but historical Gaelic structure and Christian influence dominate.
| Name | Meaning | Origins | Gender | Popularity (last 10y) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liam | Resolute protector | Irish | Boy | 197,107 #1 | |
| Aiden | 'Little fire' or 'fiery one' (derived from Aodh meaning 'fire') | Gaelic, Irish | Boy | 85,518 #2 | |
| Riley | From an Irish surname meaning 'descendant of Raghallach' or an English place name meaning 'rye clearing' | Irish | Unisex | 76,527 #3 | |
| Ryan | Traditionally 'little king' or 'descendant of Rian' (original meaning uncertain) | Irish | Boy | 64,808 #4 | |
| Nora | Honor; also associated with 'light' when linked to Eleanor/Helene | French, Irish, Latin | Girl | 54,790 #5 | |
| Oscar | Friend of deer | Irish | Boy | 50,223 #6 | |
| Rowan | Little red-haired; also 'rowan tree' (tree known for red berries) | Irish | Unisex | 49,938 #7 | |
| Nolan | From Gaelic Ó Nualláin, generally interpreted as 'noble' or 'famous' | Irish | Boy | 48,342 #8 | |
| Connor | Derived from Old Irish Conchobar, commonly interpreted as "lover of hounds" or "hound-desiring". | Irish | Boy | 43,807 #9 | |
| Quinn | Descendant of Conn; associated with 'chief' or 'wise/intelligent' | Irish | Unisex | 36,954 #10 | |
| Kennedy | Derived from the Gaelic meaning 'helmet-headed' or 'helmeted chief' - 'descendant of Cinnéididh'. | Irish | Unisex | 33,277 #11 | |
| Declan | “Full of goodness” (from Gaelic elements meaning 'good' + 'full'; associated with Saint Declán) | Irish | Boy | 31,616 #12 | |
| Finn | Fair, white, fair-haired | Irish | Boy | 29,653 #13 | |
| Kevin | Gentle, handsome; literally 'handsome birth' (from caomh 'gentle/dear' + gín 'birth') | Irish | Boy | 25,410 #14 | |
| Reagan | Little king / little ruler | Irish | Unisex | 22,894 #15 | |
| Maeve | Intoxicating; 'she who intoxicates' / 'mead-woman' | Irish | Girl | 19,768 #16 | |
| Brianna | Feminine form of Brian, meaning "noble" or "strong" | Irish | Girl | 19,097 #17 | |
| Teagan | Little poet; fair | Irish, Welsh | Girl | 14,095 #18 | |
| Alana | From Alan: 'little rock' or 'handsome'; in Hawaiian sometimes interpreted as 'awakening' or 'beautiful'. | Celtic, Irish | Girl | 13,966 #19 | |
| Aidan | Little fire (from Aodh, meaning 'fire') | Irish | Boy | 13,950 #20 | |
| Alaina | Bright, shining (from Helen/Elena); sometimes linked to Alana meaning 'little rock' or 'precious' | Irish | Girl | 13,825 #21 | |
| Bryan | High, noble, strong | Irish | Boy | 13,350 #22 | |
| Brian | Noble, high; likely derived from a word meaning 'high' or 'hill' | Celtic, Irish | Boy | 13,016 #23 | |
| Lennon | Derived from the Gaelic Leannán, often interpreted as 'lover' or 'sweetheart'; originally a surname meaning 'descendant of Leannán'. | Irish | Unisex | 12,655 #24 | |
| Erin | Ireland; of Ireland; Irish | Irish | Girl | 12,626 #25 | |
| Colin | From Nicholas: "victory of the people"; from Gaelic Caolán/Cailean: "slender, narrow; little one" | Irish | Boy | 12,470 #26 | |
| Brady | From Ó Brádaigh - 'descendant of Brádach' (Brádach likely meaning 'spirited' or 'broad') | Irish | Boy | 12,351 #27 | |
| Cody | Descendant of Cuidightheach; 'helpful one' or 'benefactor' | Irish | Boy | 11,611 #28 | |
| Delaney | Originally 'descendant of Dubhlán' - from Gaelic dubh 'black', often interpreted as 'descendant of the dark(-haired) one'. | Irish | Unisex | 11,211 #29 | |
| Sean | God is gracious | Irish | Boy | 10,242 #30 | |
| Kiara | Varies by origin: 'dark, black' (Irish Ciara) or 'bright/clear' (Italian/Latin Chiara) | Irish, Italian, Latin | Girl | 10,212 #31 | |
| Killian | Likely 'little church' (diminutive of 'cill'); sometimes linked to 'strife' or 'war' via Ceallach | Irish | Boy | 9,972 #32 | |
| Mckenna | Originally 'son of Cionaodh' (Cionaodh linked to Aodh, 'fire') | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Unisex | 9,941 #33 | |
| Raegan | Little king; descendant of Ríagán | Irish | Unisex | 9,841 #34 | |
| Casey | Vigilant, watchful (sometimes interpreted as brave) | Irish | Unisex | 9,185 #35 | |
| Devin | From Gaelic Damhán meaning "little deer" or "fawn"; sometimes interpreted as "poet" or "little dark one". | Irish | Unisex | 8,680 #36 | |
| Sullivan | Traditionally interpreted as "little dark-eyed one" or "hawk‑eyed"; exact etymology is uncertain but relates to Gaelic elements for "eye." | Irish | Boy | 8,456 #37 | |
| Collins | Son/descendant of Colin; from Irish Coileán meaning 'young hound'. | English, Irish | Unisex | 8,376 #38 | |
| Desmond | From South Munster | Irish | Boy | 8,285 #39 | |
| Kane | Irish: from Ó Catháin / Cathán (from cath 'battle') - 'little battle' or 'warrior'; Hebrew: variant of Cain (Qayin) - 'acquired'; Hawaiian: Kāne - 'man' or a major god; Japanese: kane - 'metal, gold, money'. | Gaelic, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Irish, Japanese | Boy | 8,265 #40 | |
| Cassidy | Descendant of Caiside; Caiside likely means 'curly-haired'. | Irish | Unisex | 7,780 #41 | |
| Donovan | Descendant of Donnabhán; Donnabhán likely means 'little brown/dark one' or 'brown-haired'. | Irish | Boy | 7,736 #42 | |
| Callan | Diminutive of Cathal - 'little battle' (battle-mighty) | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Boy | 7,644 #43 | |
| Keegan | Son/descendant of 'little Aodh' (Aodh = 'fire' or 'fiery') | Irish | Boy | 7,538 #44 | |
| Makenna | Descendant of Cionaodh; often interpreted as 'born of fire' or 'child/beloved of Aodh'. | Irish, Scottish Gaelic | Girl | 7,463 #45 | |
| Grady | Noble, illustrious | Irish | Boy | 7,391 #46 | |
| Kira | Multiple: 'dark-haired' (Irish); 'lady/noble' (Greek/Russian); 'ray/beam of light' (Sanskrit); 'shining/sparkling' (Japanese). | Greek, Hindi, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Persian, Russian, Sanskrit | Girl | 7,342 #47 | |
| Conor | Lover of hounds (often interpreted as 'wolf-lover' or 'hound-lover') | Irish | Boy | 7,141 #48 | |
| Keira | Dark-haired; 'little dark one' (from Gaelic ciar 'dark, black') | Irish | Girl | 6,992 #49 | |
| Kinley | Derived from Gaelic elements meaning 'fair' + 'hero' - 'fair-haired hero' or 'son/descendant of the fair hero'. | Irish, Scottish | Unisex | 6,990 #50 |
Aggregated births across Ireland, United Kingdom, United States, Australia for every Irish-origin name in our dataset.
