You’re probably familiar with popular Irish baby names like Megan, Sean, Tara and Conor, but our list of 20 vintage Irish baby names includes some more unusual names that aren’t as familiar.
Irish baby names have always been a popular choice for many new parents, carrying on family traditions and embracing the history of these Celtic names. However, many Irish names are still considered unusual, perhaps due in part to the unique spelling and pronunciation.
We’ve rounded up 20 great choices for Irish baby names that still have plenty to offer when it comes to choosing a name for your new bundle!
Vintage Irish Baby Names for Boys
Ardgal or Ardghall
Pronounced “ard-gawl” or “ard-awl”, the name means “high valour” and is derived from the Irish ‘ard’ (high) and ‘gal’ (valour).
Bradán
Pronounced “braw-don”, from the Irish for salmon.
Cadán
Pronounced “cay-dawn”, meaning “little battle”.
Cairbre
Pronounced kahr-bra, meaning charioteer in Gaelic.
Colman
Means “little dove”.
Dagda
Pronounced “dag-daw”, means “good god”. In Irish myth, Dagda (called also The Dagda) was the powerful god of the earth, knowledge, magic, abundance and treaties.
Eirnin
Pronounced “air-nin”, meaning “iron”.
Ferdia
Fear Dhia means “man of God”. Ferdia was a warrior of Irish mythology.
Lorcan
Means “silent” or “fierce” and was possibly used as a nickname for a brave warrior.
Proinsias
Pronounced “pron-she-iss”. The Irish form of Francis, originating from St. Francis of Assisi and means “little French man”.
Vintage Irish Baby Names for Girls
Aíbreann
Pronounced “ab-rawn”, meaning April in Irish.
Aurnia
Pronounced “aw-n-eeah”, this is a Latinized form of the name of Orflath, a daughter of the 12th-century Irish chieftain Donal Óg McCarthy.
Beibhinn
Pronounced “bay-vinn”, meaning “fair lady” in Irish.
Daimhín
Pronounced “daw-veen”, meaning “little deer” from ‘damh’ (deer) and the diminutive ‘in’.
Étaín
Pronounced “e-tane”, from ‘et’ (jealousy). She was a sun and horse goddess who was the lover of Midir.
Íde
Pronounched “ee-dah”, possibly derived from Old Irish ‘ítu’ (thirst).
Muirne
Pronounced “mor-nah”, meaning “high-spirited, festive”. Muirne loved Conall who was from an opposing tribe. Her father, a druid, opposed the match and had Conall killed, but not before Muirne had conceived a son, who grew up to be the legendary warrior Fionn Mac Cool and who later avenged the death of his father.
Neasa
Pronounced “nyass-ah”. In Irish legend she was the mother of Conchobhar, king of Ulster. According to some versions of the legend she was originally named Assa meaning “gentle”, but was renamed Ni-assa “not gentle” after she sought to avenge the murders of her foster fathers.
Síomha
Pronounced “she-vah”, meaning “good peace” from Irish ‘síth’ (peace) and ‘maith’ (good).
Sláine
Pronounced “slaw-na”. She was the daughter of Brian Boru.
About the Author: Jill Holtz
