166 Irish Baby Boy Names With Meanings: The Definitive Guide

Irish Boy NamesThe 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!

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

Irish Baby Boy Leprechaun Pot Gold Coins
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.”

Kiss Me I'm Irish Bib
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.

David Woods Autho Bio Picture
David is the pet lover behind My Pet's Name. He is a member of the Dog Writers Association of America, holds two degrees and has studied Applied Animal Behavior and Welfare. As well as writing, David has helped over 2 million people choose the best name for their pet.

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