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This page is updated regularly with a selection of Irish names, along with some details of their origin. Want to see your name featured?
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Tadhg / Teagan
Gaelic male name derived from the names Teague and Tadhg - all Gaelic forms of Timothy. Meaning attractive, wise poet, philosopher, king. Alternative spellings Teaghan, Teighan, Tegan. This was also the name of an 11th-century king of Connacht. Tadhg is most common in south-west Ireland, particularly in County Cork and County Kerry. The name has enjoyed a surge in popularity recently, becoming the 64th most common name for baby boys in 2006 according to the Central Statistics Office in Ireland.
Patricia
 The girl's name Patricia is pronounced pa-TRISH-ah.
It is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "noble; patrician". Feminine form of Patrick. The Romans once were divided socially and politically into two major classes, the plebeians and the patricians. To be patrician meant one was highly ranked, an aristocrat.
Patricia has 21 variant forms: Pat, Patreece, Patreice, Patrica, Patrice, Patricka, Patrina, Patrisha, Patrisse, Patrizia, Patryce, Patsy, Patte, Pattee, Pattey, Patti, Pattie, Patty, Tricia, Trish and Trisha.
Duffy
 Today's name is Duffy. It is the 45th most common name in Ireland. The Gaelic equivalent is O Dufaigh which means dark or black. The name Duffy in Ireland is derived from the Gaelic, O'Dubhthaigh, common in Monaghan, Donegal and Roscommon. The name is now very numerous in each of the Provinces with the exception of Munster where the local version Duhig or Doohig is used.
Ultana
 Has been used mainly in the North of Ireland as a female form of Ultach "an Ulsterman." There have been eighteen saints named Ultan. St. Ultan of Ardbraccan, c. 650 AD, noted for his care of the poor, orphans and the sick is considered the patron saint of children and a hospital for sick children in Dublin is named after him.
Deirdre
 Deirdre pronounced deer + dre or dare + dreh. Deirdre was said to be the most beautiful woman in ancient Ireland, she was bethrothed to the High King Conchobhar Mac Nessa but she fell in love with his nephew Naoise. Deirdre and Naoise eloped to Scotland where they lived a blissful exile for many years. By offering forgiveness, Conchobhar tricked them into returning to Ulster where Naoise was slain by the jealous Conchobhar. Deirdre threw herself from Conchobhar's chariot rather than live with the man who had caused Naoise's death. It was said that her grave was near to Naoise's and that a yew tree grew from each plot. The yew trees grew toward one another till their branches intertwined, joining the two lovers even after death.
McDonagh
 Today's name is McDonagh. The name McDonagh in Ireland is derived from the native Gaelic MacDonnchadha. They were mainly located in Counties Cork and Sligo where the majority of descendants can still be found. Variants include MacDonogh, Donaghy and McDonough.
Rosaleen
 Rosaleen comes from the Latin name Rosa and means 'little rose'. The Irish form is Roisin. Records show that the name has been in use in Ireland since the sixteenth century.
When the expression of Irish patriotic poetry and song was outlawed during Ireland's troubled and turbulent past, the Irish bards would disguise their nationalistic verse as love songs. In the figure of Roisin Dubh ("Dark Rosaleen"), a Gaelic poem translated by James Clarence Mangan in 1835, the name became a poetic symbol of Ireland, reflecting the Irish tradition of disguising outlawed patriotic verse as love songs.
"O my Dark Rosaleen, Do not sigh, do not weep! The priests are on the ocean green, They march along the deep. There 's wine from the royal Pope, Upon the ocean green; And Spanish ale shall give you hope, My Dark Rosaleen!"
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