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Irish Names
 

 

Aoife

Aoife prounouced "ee + fa"

Other forms are Eva and Ava.

It means beautiful, radiant, joyful. Aoife was known as the greatest woman warrior in the world. Aoife was the mother of Cuchulainn's only son, Connlach. Aoife Dearg ("Red Aoife") was a daughter of a king of Connacht who had her marriage arranged by St. Patrick himself.

In 2003 Aoife was the third most popular baby girl name in Ireland.

Pictured, above left, is Aoife Mulholland from the BBC show "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?".


Sinead

Sinead O'ConnorSinead pronounced 'shin' + 'aid'. The English forms include Jane, Janet and Jeanette. Sinead means 'gracious one'.


Moira



Moira is an Irish version of Mary meaning bitter or great. Variations are Maura and Moyra.



Philomena

The girl's name Philomena is of Greek origin, and its meaning is powerful love.

Name of a popularly-worshipped saint who is supposedly a virgin martyr. Her cult was based on a set of bones discovered in Rome in 1802, but in 1961, archaeologists disproved the claim, and her veneration was forbidden by Rome.
The name is popular in Irish communities throughout the world.


Mairead


Mairead or Muiread pronounced 'mawr + aid' or 'mur + aid'
The Irish form of Margaret became popular around the fourteenth century.


Pictured Mairead Nesbitt of Celtic Woman


Carmel

The name Carmel is pronounced kar-MEL.

It is of Hebrew origin, and its meaning is "garden, orchard".

Of early Christian origin, referring the "Our Lady of Carmel", a title of the Virgin Mary.
Biblical place name: Mount Carmel is in Israel, and is often referred to as a kind of paradise.
The name is popular in Irish communities throughout the world.


Dolores


Dolores is of Latin origin. It means lady of sorrows from the virgin Mary.

It is popular amongst Irish communities across the globe.
Pictured Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries.


Andrea

The girl's name Andrea is pronounced AN-dree-ah.

It is of Greek origin but popular amongst Irish communities throughout the world.


The name was not used during the Middle Ages, but has existed since the 17th century. Actresses Andie MacDowell, Andrea McArdle and of course Andrea Corr.


Darcy


Darcy, D'Arcy - the Irish form dorcha means "dark, dark-haired" or "descendant of the dark one." Both a surname and a given name.

Darcey Bussell principal dancer at the Royal Ballet.


Eileen


Eibhleann or Eibhlin pronounced "ave + linn"or"eve + linn"
English versions Eileen, Elaine

aoibheann means "pleasant, beautiful, radiant."

"Eibhlin a Ruan" was a 17th century love-song composed by the harpist Cearbhall O'Dalaigh who used it to persuade his beloved to elope with him on her wedding day and it is still a popular piece of music at Irish weddings.


Molly


The girl's name Molly is pronounced MAH-lee.


It is of Irish origin. It is a form of Mary "star of the sea".


Marie


Marie is of Hebrew origin and is the French form of Mary.




It is a popular name in Irish communities around the world.