The most popular Irish boy names are in Irish Gaelic as well as English – see the top Irish names for boys, like Aidan, Finn, and more!
Choosing a name for your boy is an exciting experience that parents look forward to. However, the trial of choosing a name seems more daunting as the delivery date comes closer.
If you want to try something unique, pick an Irish name for your lad. We love them because they are unique and inspirational.
This article will take you through hundreds of amazing boy names that will make the ordeal of picking a name easier. So let’s dive right in!
Contents
Pronunciation
Top 14 Irish Names for Boys
Common Names
Old Irish Names
Modern Names
Unique Names
Popular Names
Unusual Names
Traditional Names
Badass Names
Strong Names
Middle Names
Gaelic Boy’s Names
Celtic Boy’s Names
How to Pronounce Irish Boy Names
Irish names are interesting because they are written in one way but pronounced in another.
Pronouncing Irish names can be a challenging experience. The Gaelic dialect is quite different from English, and they have their own set of rules for pronunciation.
Here are a few popular names and their correct pronunciation. Let’s see how many you get right.
- Cillian is pronounced as “kil–ee–an.”
- Diathi is pronounced “dah–hee.”
- Cian is pronounced “kee–an” or “keen.”
- Eoin is pronounced “oh–in.”
- Seamus is pronounced “shay–mus.”
- Oisin is pronounced “uh–sheen” or “oh–sheen.”
- Sean is pronounced “shawn.”
Undoubtedly, Irish is an interesting language that keeps you guessing how its words are pronounced correctly!
Top 14 Irish Names for Boys
There are hundreds of Irish names for boys to help you pick one for your little baby boy. We have put together a great list for you to browse through!
The traditional names have greater depth in their origins and meanings. We intend to make the experience of picking out a name for your baby boy easier and a fun experience.
Check out these Irish names that can be perfect for your little munchkin.
Alfie
It has the words aelf and raed compounded, meaning “wise counsel.”
Alan
The name means “noble” and has other variants: Allen and Allan.
Brion
It means “honorable” and “strong.”
Connelly
This name means “love; friendship.”
Devin
Originating from Ireland, the meaning of this name is “poet.”
Darren
It means “little great one.”
Grady
This name has Irish origins and means “noble” and “illustrious.”
Harry
It means “army commander” or “home-ruler.” Many people recognize this name from the famous book series of Harry Potter.
John
One of the oldest names from Hebrew origins. The name means “God is gracious.”
Kevin
A popular name meaning “handsome, kind, comely birth.”
Murphy
Another famous name in Ireland meaning “sea warrior.”
Noah
It means “rest, comfort.”
Phillip
The name means “lover of horses.” A great name if you raise horses.
Zach
Derived from the Greek word Zacharias, meaning “remembrance of God.”
Common Irish Names for Boys
Irish names are complex since most of them are derived from ancient mythology and Catholicism. This is why Irish names have amazing meanings that inspire parents.
Have a look at these common Irish names with their meanings. It can be a perfect start to your name search.
Alex
Derived from Alexander, it means “defender of mankind.”
Ben
Short for Benjamin, which has Hebrew origins. It means “son of the right hand.”
Darcy
The name has French and Irish origins, meaning “the fortress” or “the dark one.”
Farrell
An Irish name meaning “courageous.”
Hugh
Originating from Irish, German, and English ancestry, the name means “mind, intellect.”
Ian
This name is the Scottish version of John, and it means “God is gracious.”
Jake
It has its origins in the biblical character Jacob. This name means “seizing by the heel.”
Jordan
It means “to flow down” or “descend.”
Leo
A popular Irish name with Latin origins, meaning “lion.”
Matthew
This name means “gift of God.”
Oscar
A name with French origins meaning “golden city.”
Shaun
This is another version of John, meaning “God is gracious.”
Barry
An old Irish name meaning “fair-haired.”
Cormac
It means “charioteer” in old Gaelic.
Old Irish Boy Names
While steeped in Celtic history, Irish names have grown in popularity in the U.S. A few old Irish names are making rounds in expecting parents.
We have put together some old Irish names for boys with significant meanings.
Aaron
Aaron has Hebrew origins, meaning “the exalted one.”
Carbry
Another old Irish name that means “charioteer.”
Callahan
This name means “bright-headed.”
Eoin
Pronounced as oh-in, this name means “well-born” or “Land of the Yew.”
Fergus
This old Irish name means “strong man.”
Niall
Pronounced as Nile, it is thought to mean “passionate.”
Odhran
This name means “dark-haired” and is pronounced as oh-dran.
Ronan
It means “little seal.”
Ros
This old Irish-originated name means “prominent.”
Ultan
Pronounced as ult-un, the name means “Ulsterman,” a province in Ireland.
Adam
It is one of the oldest names, which means “red Earth.”
Bradan
Pronounced as bray-dawn, the name means “salmon,” but in old Irish, it signifies “wisdom.”
Brin
The name means “high, noble, and strong.” It is pronounced as breen.
Cashel
This name means “stone fort or castle” in Irish.
Modern Irish Boy Names
Irish names have recently become very popular for both genders. There is definitely a style factor, particularly in Irish boys’ names, that modern parents love.
Here is a list of modern Irish boy names that you can choose for your forward-thinking lad.
Darragh
The name comes from “Dagda,” which is considered the God of Earth in Irish mythology. It means “oak” or “rascal.”
Finn
It means “fair-headed” and is commonly spelled as Fionn in Ireland.
Liam
A short version of Uililam, this name means “protector” or “desire.”
Ryan
Related to the Irish name Rian, the name means “Kingly” or “little king.”
Riley
It is a modern version of Raghallac, and the name means “valiant.”
Ciaran
The name means “dark” or “black” and is pronounced as keer-awn.
Tristan
This Celtic name is famous because of the tragic lovers Tristan and Isolde (Iseult). It means “uproar” or “tumult.”
Quinn
This name means “wise” or “leader.” It is usually pronounced as Kw-in.
Austin
A version of Augustine meaning “magnificent” or “great.”
Declan
Since St. Declan founded a monastery in Ireland, this name is recognized as “man of prayer.”
Brody
The name means “from the muddy place” or simply “muddy.”
Conor
Conor or Conchobhar means “lover of dogs.”
Nolan
This is a common surname in Ireland, and it means “renowned” or “noble.”
Keegan
A name that suits both boys and girls, it means “passionate” or “fiery.”
Unique Irish Names for Boys
Baby names of Irish origins have taken center stage as more and more expecting parents want to hop on the Irish-name bandwagon.
There are plenty of unique names that are Irish and cool.
Aidan
This name has roots in the Irish word Aodhan which means “fiery little one.”
Angus
The name means “one strength.”
Brendan
This name means “prince” or “king.”
Blaine
In Irish, the name means “angular” or “slender.”
Colm
This Gaelic name means “dove.”
Cullen
The name has Gaelic origins, meaning “holly tree.” It became famous for the character Edward Cullen in the Twilight series.
Carson
It has Irish-Scottish origins and means “son of the marsh dwellers.”
Dillon
Also spelled as Dylan outside Ireland, the name means “loyal.”
Gulliver
This popular name means “glutton.”
Kermit
This old Irish name means “free man.”
Lennon
Originating from Ireland, this name means “small cloak or cape.”
Lucan
An Irish version of the name Luke means “man from Lucania.”
McCoy
This old Irish name means “fire.”
Niall
While it is similar to the word Neil, it is pronounced as nye-al. This name means “cloud.”
Popular Irish Boy’s Names
Irish baby names are currently having a moment. This can be seen by the fact that 2020’s most popular boy name in America is Liam (Irish origins).
Check out our collection of Irish boy names that are on top of parents’ favorite list.
Ben
Short for Benjamin, this name means “son of the right hand.”
Colin
It is a shorter version of Nicholas, meaning “pup.”
Darby
This name has Gaelic origins, and it means “free one.”
Flynn
The name has deep Irish origins, and it means “son of the red-haired one.”
Garret
In Gaelic, this name means “spear strength.”
Hugo
This name has French, Irish, and German origins, meaning “heart, mind, spirit, and intellect.”
Jamie
A nickname for James, it means “supplanter.”
Jonathan
With Hebrew origins, the name means “Yahweh/ God has given.”
Keith
This popular name means “the wind.”
Mason
The name means “one who works with stone.”
Martin.
Originating from the Latin word Martinus, this name means “of Mars or war-like.”
Max
Another popular Irish name which means “the greatest.”
Nathan
This Hebrew-originated name means “gift.”
Ollie
A nickname for the popular name Oliver, it means “olive tree.”
Unusual Irish Boy Names
Here are a few unusual and unique boy names from Irish origins with their meanings. You can peruse the list for some inspiration.
Cathal
An Irish Celtic name which means “powerful in battle.”
Clancy
A rare name that means “red-haired warrior.”
Diarmaid
This Irish name means “fair from envy.”
Daithi
An Irish version of the Hebrew name David, it means “beloved” and is pronounced as Dah-hee.
Ivo
With Irish and German origins, Ivo means “yew wood, archer.”
Kai
The name means “sea.”
Kellen
Hailing from both German and Irish ancestry, this name means “slender.”
Kayden
It means “companion” or “friend.”
Kian
Derived from the name Cian from the Celtic origins, it means “enduring.”
Killian
A version of the name Ceallach with Irish origins, the name means “strife” or “war.”
Maguire
A popular Irish surname that means “son of the beige one.” It is also used as a first name.
Marcus
This name means “warlike” or “dedicated to Mars.”
Odhran
It means “little pale green one.”
Phelan
This Irish name is pronounced as Fay-lan, and it means “wolf.”
Traditional Irish Names for Boys
There are plenty of traditional names for boys that you can choose from for your boy, and we have an awesome list for you.
Have a look at these meaningful Irish boy names that are traditional and unique.
Donal
This name is pronounced as dough-nai, and it literally means “ruler of the world” or “world mighty.”
Eamon
The name means “keeper of riches,” and it is pronounced as aim-on. You will have heard this if you’ve watched the Game of Thrones series.
Eibhear
Originating from the Irish mythology of the Celts, the name means “dark.”
Emmet
A name that honors the famous Irish rebel, Robert Emmet, the name means “universal,” “powerful,” or “truth.”
Enda
A unisex name that means “free as a bird” or “like a bird.”
Felim
Pronounced as fail-im, this old Irish name means “always good.”
Ferdia
A warrior in Irish mythology, the name means “man of God.”
Flann
The name means “blood red” and is popular as the pen name of Irish author Brian O’Nolan.
Gearoid
Pronounced as ger-oh-id, Gearr means “spear,” and the full name is called “spear-carrier.”
Giollaiosa
This name means “servant of Jesus” and is pronounced as gilla-ee-sah.
Fachtna
The name of an Irish saint, this name means “malicious” or “hostile.”
Fearghal
Fear means “man” while geal means “brave.” Therefore, the name means “brave man.”
Fiachra
Pronounced as fee-ock-rah, this name means “hunter king.”
Badass Irish Boy Names
Whether you hail from an Irish background or are just an admirer of everything Celtic, here are some totally badass Irish names that your boy would love to have.
Aodh
An Irish name that means “flame.” In Irish mythology, Aodh was a god of the underworld and also the prince of a supernatural race of fairy folk.
Art
This name isn’t short for Arthur, but it has its own unique origins, and means “a bear.”
Caolan
Pronounced as key-lun or kale-un, this name means “eternal warrior” or “slender lad” in Irish.
Donald
A name with Irish and Scottish origins meaning “ruler of the world.” other variations of this name include Donnie, Don, and Donny.
Muiris
An Irish name meaning “chosen by the sea.” Several Irish rulers share this name.
Rooney
This popular name means “champion” or “descendants of Runaidh.” Ro and Roon are nicknames derived from Rooney.
Sloan
This Irish name means “man of arms” or “warrior.” With unisex names becoming more and more popular, Sloan is preferred by many parents.
Turlough
The name means “one who instigates” in Irish. Used heavily during the Middle Ages, several Irish chiefs and kings bore this name.
Cuan
Pronounced as coo-an, this name means “little hound” or “little wolf.”
Veon
This unique name is a variant of Taveon, which means “sky or hillside.”
Burke
A name with a strong meaning of fortification or burg.
Devlin
It means “fierce bravery” and is a strong name for any little boy.
Fallon
A unisex name that designates that the child is offspring of a high king. Another meaning for Fallon is “leader.”
Hagan
Pronounced exactly the way it sounds, the name literally means “Viking.”
Strong Irish Boy’ Names
Irish names have a rich history and, therefore, have strong meanings. From the Vikings to the Gaelic classes, there’s a name that represents everyone.
Here are some strong Irish boy names that you’d like.
Cathal
Name of a 7th-century Irish saint, the name means “strong in battle.”
Shay
In Irish, Shay means “hawk-like” and “noble.”
Donnacha
It means “brown-haired warrior.” Brian Boru’s son Donnacha ruled Ireland until his death in 1064.
Lorcan
The name is said to mean “fierce” or “silent.” It was also the name of the two kings of Leinster.
Tiernan
It means “little lord” and was also the name of the Irish king, Tiernan O’Rourke.
Fergal
Derived from Fearghal, this name means “courageous,” “brave,” and “valorous.”
Brennan
The name means “brave” or “raven.”
Derry
It means “the people’s ruler” in Irish.
Ferris
With Irish origins, this name means “solid” or “rock.”
Larkin
The name means “fierce” or “rough.”
Duncan
While the name has roots in Scotland, it has been adopted by the Irish. The name means “dark warrior.”
Padraigh
An old Irish name that means “noble” or “patrician.”
Torin
It means “chief” in Irish.
Tadhg
This name is pronounced as tiger, but it means “poet.” A perfect fusion of fierce and gentle.
Irish Boy’s Middle Names
Irish names usually follow Western naming conventions, but there are some variations owing to the traditional Gaelic customs.
An Irish name consists of three parts: personal name, middle name, and family name (surname), respectively. The middle name is also called a secondary personal name.
Middle names are mostly chosen to honor someone who is an inspiration for the parents or a close family member (for example, a grandparent).
Interestingly, the Irish do not use middle names to address someone, even in formal situations.
Gaelic Names for Boys
Check out these interesting Gaelic names for boys. On a side note, there are some wonderful Gaelic names for dogs.
Ahern
This name means “lord of horses.”
Brawley
This Gaelic name is a rowdy choice for boys. It has different meanings, but our favorites are “good” or “excellent.”
Brogan
It means “son of Brogan,” and this friendly name was ranked #280 in 2020.
Caden
This name means “battle” in Gaelic. Some other versions include Cade, Caedan, Cayden, etc.
Carlin
A popular choice among Gaelic names, this one means “warrior.”
Carrig
Pronounced as kehr-ig, this, like many names, is derived from a surname. It means “rock.”
Casey
This unisex name means “watchful.” Some other versions of this name include Kacey, Kayce, etc.
Doyle
It means “dark stranger.” Derived from Dubghall, people in Ireland used this name to denote foreign Vikings from Denmark.
Ennis
A Gaelic place name meaning “island.” Ennis is located on County Clare, Island.
Farker
This name means “beloved man” and is pronounced as far-kwar or far-car.
Forbes
A Scotting Gaelic clan name that means “fields.”
Galloway
A sophisticated choice among Gaelic boy names, meaning “place of the foreign Gaels.”
Glenn
This Gaelic boy’s name means “a narrow valley.”
Laisren
This name means “flame” and is pronounced as la-sair-re-un.
Celtic Baby Boy Names
We love Celtic names because they are extraordinary and would make your baby boy stand out in a crowd.
We have rounded up a few Celtic boy names from which you can draw inspiration.
Ailean
This word means “rock” in Gaelic and is a Scottish equivalent of the names Allan and Alan.
Alasdair
A Gaelic name for boys that means “defender of money.” It is pronounced as aliss-ster.
Alby
It is a short version of the Irish Gaelic name Ailbe, meaning “white.”
Cairbre
This Gaelic name means “chariot driver.”
Cleary
A unique name for boys, it means “descendants of the cleric.”
Conall
It means “brave wolf.” Conall Cernach was a brave warrior who helped an Irish hero in Irish mythology.
Conroy
A Gaelic name that means “hound of the plain.”
Dallas
An English and Gaelic name that means “meadow dwelling.”
Duane
This name has two possible meanings “dark” or “swarthy.”
Gilroy
Gilroy means “son of the red-haired man.”
Hogan
A youthful choice among Gaelic names, this one means “young.”
Kirwan
This name means “dark one” in Gaelic.
Rafferty
A Gaelic name that means “prosperity.”
Conclusion
The reason why Irish names are topping the name charts in the U.S is that they sound cool but also have deep meanings. What more could you want?
We hope this article offered you some inspiration for Irish boy names and made you feel more confident about naming your little cherub.
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