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Irish Names
 

 

Fiona



Translated as the fair one.


Dechtire


Dechtire pronounced 'deck + tir + ra'

Dechtire was the sister of Conchubar and the mother of
Cuchulainn. The fairies transformed her into a bird but at times she was able to be a woman again and conceived Cuchulainn with the sun-god Lugh.


Muireann


Muireann, Moirin or Miren pronounced 'mur + in'.

Muireann means "sea white, sea fair." The very appropriate name of the 6th century mermaid caught by a fisherman in Lough Neagh. He brought her to St. Comghall who baptized her which transformed her into a woman.


Ruari


Ruari pronouced "ro + ree"


It comes from rua + ri which means "red-headed king".


It is often used as the feminine of the name Rory.


Ealga


"ale + ga"

"noble, brave." The poetic name for Ireland, Innis Ealga, means "The Noble Isle."


Bronagh



Bronagh pronounced 'bro + nah.


Though rooted in bronach "sad, sorrowful" St. Bronagh must have been a popular figure in her home area of County Down where her bell is venerated because so many girls in that area are named for her now as they have been for over 1000 years.


Aoibhegréine


(eev GRAIN yeh)

Todays Irish name translates to mean radiance of the sun.


Brid


(BREED) Old Irish goddess name from Celtic brig "power, renown, mighty." Most famous woman saint of Ireland is Brigid (patron saint of scholars), who was abbess of Kildare, previously the site of the shrine of a pagan goddess of the same name. In myth, there were three sister goddesses of the Tuatha De Danaan named Brigid: goddess of poetry; goddess of healing; and the goddess of smith work.


Beibhinn





Beibhinn pronounced "be + veen"



Other versions : Bevin and Bevan



A blend of bean "woman, lady" and finn "fair, white" originally described Viking women.


Brian Boru's mother was called Beibhinn and he named his daughter for her.


In legend, the golden-haired giantess Beibhinn sought sanctuary with Fionn Mac Cool so she would not have to marry the giant "Hugh The Splendid."


Maolisa


Pronounced "mail + issa".
maol + Iosa "follower of Jesus." A name first used by clerics as early as the tenth century.
It is used for boys and girls. The English equivalent is Melissa.


Sibeal

Sibeal pronounced "shib + ale"

Other forms are Sybil and Elizabeth

Form of Isabel which is a Spanish form of the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning "God is my oath." Forms of Elizabeth have always been popular throughout the Celtic world.


Aednit


Pronounced "ey-nit", this name is the feminine of Aidan and means "little fire".


Eachna


Pronounced "eak+na", this Irish name comes from the province of Connacht and means 'steed or horse'.


Maebh


Pronounced 'May-v', this lovely name means 'cause for great joy' or 'she who intoxicates'.


Cara


In Irish Cara simply means a 'friend'. Pictured is the famous Irish singer Cara Dillon.


Grainne


Grainne pronounced grawn-ya.
Derived from Gaelic grán meaning "grain". This was the name of an ancient Irish grain goddess. The name also belonged to the fiancée of Fionn mac Cumhail and the lover of Diarmuid in later Irish legend, and it is often associated with gráidh "love".