Baby & Pet Names of Irish & Celtic Descent.

Labhaoise – (LAU-ee-shuh) “holiness”; Louisa, Louise.

Laoise – “radiant girl”; might be the same as Luigsech, from the god Lugh.

Lasair – (LOH-seer) Old Irish=lassa “flame.” Several queens and saints with this name, including Saint Lassar of Meath. Luighseach, Luiseach, Luigsech.

Liadan – (LYAH-dan) From the Old Irish, probably meaning “gray lady.” A poetess who was the beloved of poet Cuirithur, even though she was a nun. Another Liadan was the mother of Saint Ciaran of Seir. He was conceived after she swallowed a star that had fallen into her mouth while sleeping.

Luiseach – (LOO-seh or LEE-sak) “bringer of light”; Feminine also can be Lugh, and name of an early saint. Luighseach, Lucy.

Doirind – see Doireann. Dairinn.

Doneele – feminine version of male name Don, from the Irish god of the Underworld.

Donnfhlaidh – “brown princess.” Rarely found in history. Dunlaith, Dunflaith.

Druantia – (Druh-AN-tee-a or druh-an-TEE-a) a Gaelic-Celtic Goddess known as Queen of thd Druids and Mother of the tree calendar, an ancient method the Celts used to divide their year.

Dubh – from dub “dark.” A druidess who drowned the rival for her husband’s affections. Her husband shot her with his sling, and she fell into a pool that was then called Dubhlinn, or Dublin.

Dubheasa – (doo-VAH-sa) Old Irish=dub “dark” + ess “waterfall”, probably meaning “dark lady of the waterfall.”

Dubh Lacha – wife of Mongan, who was born the same night as she. She was kidnapped by Brandubh and rescued with the help of Cuimhne.

Eabha – (AY-va) from From the Old Irish Eva. In legend, Eva was one of the wives of Nemed, and early invader of Ireland.

Eachna – (AK-na) Old Irish=ech “horse.” Early legend has a Connacht princess named Eachna who was one of the loveliest and cleverest women in the world. Echna.

Eadan – (AH-dan) Old Irish=name Etan, borne in one tale by the beloved of the hero Cu Chulainn.

Earlene – “pledge.”

Eavan – (E-van) Old Irish=aibinn “fair form.” Name of several legendary Irish princesses. Modern Irish Aoibheann.

Ebliu – another name of the sun goddess; or the Irish word oiph “beauty, sheen, radiance.” Eibhliu, Eblenn, Eibhleann.

Edana – “ardent or flame.” Ethna, Eda, Eithna.

Eibhilín – (ay-LEEN) “light”; from French Aveline, brought by the Normans, and very popular among the Middle Ages’ nobility. Eibhlihin, Eily, Ebliu, Aibhilin.

Eibhilín – (eh-y-LEEN) “light”; Eveleen, Eileen, Aileen, Ellen.

Eilinora – (EL-eh-nohr) from a Greek name meaning “light.” Eileanoir, Lean (LEHN).

Eilis – (AY-leesh or EH-leesh) “consecrated to God.” Irish= Elizabeth. Eilise.

Eithne – (AY-he-ne or ETH-nuh) “kernel” or “seed.” Early Irish name. Mythical Eithne was the mother of the god Lugh. Also the name of many legendary queens, including the wives of Conn of the Hundred Battles and Cormac mac Airt. Also the name of eight saints. Anglicized Ethna (ET-na), Enya (EN-ya).

Elatha – (AHL-a-hah) An old name meaning “art or craft”; a female or male name.

Elva – (AL-va) legend says she was the sister-in-law of the god Lugh.

Emer – (EE-mer or ah-VAIR) In legend, Emer was the wife of hero Cu Chulainn. She refused to marry him until he answered a series of riddles, for she would only marry the man who was her equal in noble birth, beauty and wisdom. She is said to have the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, chastity, needlework, sweet speech, voice, and wisdom. Her story is retold in William

Butler Yeats’ play The Only Jealousy of Emer. Eimer.

Ernine – from iarn “iron.”

Etan – (eh-TAIN) a daughter of the great Tuatha De Danann physician Dian Cecht, who became the wife of the god Ogma.

Etaoin – (AY-deen) Old Irish=et “jealousy.” Legendary heroine surpassed all other women in beauty and gentleness. Heroine in the tale The Wooing of Etain, telling of the competition for her love between the fairy king Midir and the mortal king Eochaid Airem. Eithne.

Fand – a goddess of healing and pleasure in Ireland and Isle of Man, who married the sea god Manannan mac Lir.

Fianait – (FYAN-it) Old Irish word for “deer.” Two early saints by this name. Fionnait.

Fedelm – name of Conchobhar mac Nessa (king of Ulster, Fedelm Noichrothach (Nine-Times Beautiful). Feidhelm (FAY-delm).

Fenella – feminine version of the name Finn. Fionnghuala.

Fethnaid – daughter and accomplished harp player of Fidach, a bard of the Tuatha De Danann. Her death was considered to be one of the three great losses of the Tuatha. Fethnat.

Fidelma – (fee-DEL-ma) Old Irish=name Fedelm. Fedelm Noichrothach (Fedelm Nine-Times-Beautiful) was the daughter of King Conchobar mac Nessa of Ulster, and a woman warrior. Also six Irish saints by this name. Modern Irish Feidhelm (FAY-delm).

Finnsech – “fair or blonde lady.” Finnseach.

Fionnabhair – (fyuhn-OOR) Old Irish=name Finnabarr: finn “bright, fair” + siabhre “phantom, fairy”, Irish equivalent of Welsh Gwenhwyfar (Guenivere). Legendary Finnabarr was a daughter of King Aillil and Queen Maeve of Connacht. Fionuir.

Fionnuala – (fi-NOO-a-la or fin-Noo-la) Old Irish=finn “bright, fair” + guala “shoulders.” Popular in Middle Ages; later anglicized as Finola (fi-NOH-la); nickname Nuala (NOO-a-la); Fionnguala, Fionnula, Gweneth, Finvola, Fenella (Scotland).

Flann – (FLAHN) Old Irish=flann “blood red.” Flann has been the name of poets, scholars, abbots, saints, queens and kings. Flann Feorna was king of Kerry in the 8th C., and an ancestor of the O’Connors. Flannacan, Flanna.

Flannery – from the Irish for “redhead.”

Flidais – an Irish goddess of forests, woodlands, and wild creatures.

Fodla – “sovereignty.” An ancient goddess with Banba and Eriu.

Fuamnach – a wife of Midir, the fairy king, and very jealous of his other wife Etain. She got rid of Etain by using magic and turning her into a fly.

Geileis – (GAY-leesh) Old Irish=name Gelgeis: gel “shining, bright” + geis “swan.” Name of several early Irish princesses. Also Geillis.

Glenna – from a Gaelic word meaning “glen” or “valley.” Glynis.

Gobnait – (GOHB-nit) Old Irish=gobha “a smith.” Name of early saint and abbess of Munster. One of her miracles was to overcome an army by unleashing her bees on them. Her

beehive, a holy relic, was kept for many years by the O’Herlihy family. Anglicized Gobnet.

Gormlaith – (GOORM-la) Old Irish=gorm “splendid” + flaith “queen, sovereignty”; other sources say it beans “Blue princess” or “illustrious princess.” Popular in Middle Ages,

name of many queens, including wife of Brian Boru. Sometimes anglicized as Gormley.

Grania – (GRAW-nya) Old Irish=grainne “grain, seed.” Prob. name of an ancient Irish grain goddess. In a medieval tale, Grainne was betrothed to Finn mac Cumhaill, but eloped with

Diarmaid. Grania Mhaol Ni Mhaolmhaigh (Grace O’Malley) was a chieftainess of the Burkes of County Mayo and renowned for her seafaring skills and fought against Queen Elizabeth I’s forces. Granna, Grain, Grainne (GRAW-ne) most modern).

Granuaile – a variation of the name Grania, but also the name of an actual Irish woman who lived from 1530-1603.

Isibeal – (ISH-a-behl or i-se-BEL) From Norman French name Isabel.

Isleen – (ish-LEEN) “vision.” Islene.

Ite, Ide – (EE-te) Old Irish=ite “thirst or devouring.” Saint’s name said to signify the thirst for divine love. 6th C. Saint Ite was abbess of Killeedy in County Limerick. Composed a famous lullaby to baby Jesus. Ita.

Jilleen – from the Latin name Juliane or Julius, meaning “youthful.

Kacey – variant of Casie.

Kaitlin – variant of Caitlin.

Keara – “saint”; variant of Ceara.

Keavy – “gentleness, beauty, grace.”

Keelin – “slender, fair.” Keely, Keelia.

Keena – from the Irish word for “brave.”

Kelly – from the Gaelic word for “warrior woman.” At an ancient shrine of the goddess Brigit at Kildare, there were sacred priestesses and warrior women called kelles, and its possible the

name and surname came from them.

Kenna – version of male name Kenneth. Kennice.

Kennocha – (ken-OH-kuh) “beauty.”

Kerry – from a Gaelic word for “dark, dark-haired”; Keriann.

Kevyn – “beautiful.” Keva.

Kiley – from the word for “attractive.” Kyli, Kylee.

Mab – (MEEV) “drunk woman” or “wolf queen”; a goddess and fairy queen. Mabh.

Macha – (MAH-ka) Old Irish goddess name meaning “battle” or “crow.” One of the three war goddesses of the Tuatha De Danaan. Name is associated with the royal site of Ulster, once Emain Macha (Twins of Macha), now Navan Fort, and nearby ecclesiastical site founded by Saint Patrick, Armagh (Ard Macha “Hill of Macha”). Saint Macha is patron of Killiney. Mania, Mene.

Maeve – (MAYV) from Old Irish Medb “intoxicating” or fragile.” Medb Lethderg was a name of the goddess of sovereignty at Tara. Said to be the wife of 9 successive kings, including Conn of the Hundred Battles, his son Art, and Art’s son Cormac mac Airt. Modern Irish Meadhbh. Medb.

Máire – (MAW-zhe, MAW-re or MEH-ree) “bitter”; Irish= Mary. The name was considered too sacred to name a child and was not used before the 17th C. Children were given Mael Muire “devotee of Mary.” Moira, Maura, Maurya, Mairin (maw-REEN).

Máiréad – (MAW-rayt or MAW-reed) from Greek margaron “pearl.” Popular due to admiration of Saint Margaret, queen of Scots in 11th C. Peig, Peigi are popular Irish-language nicknames. Margaret, Maighread (MEH-reed).

Mairin – (maw-ZHEEN, maw-REEN) Dim. of Maire, also Maureen.

Margo – (MOHR-gaw) Legend fairy and mother of Etain.

Margreg – Irish version of Latin Margareta. Popular in Ireland after Malcolm III of Scotland married Margareta of the Hungarian Court, who later became a saint. Mairghread.

Medb – “intoxicating” or “she who makes men drunk.” Medb, Maedhbh, Meadhbh.

Mell – (MAHL, MAH-la) Old Irish=mall “lightning.” Mell, sister of Saint Kevin, was the mother of seven saints. Mella (MAH-la).

Mess Buachalla – translation is “Cowherd’s Fosterchild.” Name of the daughter of Etain and Cormac.

Moina – “mild.” Moyna.

Mona – (MOH-na) Old Irish=name Muadnat, derived from muad “noble, good.” Saint Muadnat of Drumcliffe. Muadnat, Muadhnait (MOO-uh-nit).

Moninne – a version of the name Blinne. A Saint Moninne worked at a Kildare hospital in the time of Saint Brighid where she healed the sick and gave generously to the poor. She established a community at the foot of Slieve Gullion in Killevy, County Armagh.

Mór – (MOHR) Old Irish=mor “great, tall.” Popular until the 19th C. Moire, Morin, Moya, Moirin, Mre, Moreen.

Moriath – daughter of a Gaelic king, she was wooed and won by Craiftine.

Morrigan – (MOHR-ee-gan) called the Great Queen, Irish goddess of war, but never took part in a battle. Later tales have her as the queen of the Fairies. Morrighan, Morgan.

Muadhnait – from muad “noble, good.” A Saint Muadnat founded a monastery in Drumcliffe, County Sligo.

Muireann – (MEER-an or MOHR-in) Old Irish=muir “sea”, may also mean “sea-white” or “sea-fair.” Wife of Finn mac Cumhaill’s son Oisin. A legendary Queen Muireann was ancestrss of the kings of Connacht. Four abbesses of Kildare also had this name.

Muirin – (MEER-een) Old Irish=muir “sea” + gein “birth” or “born of the sea.” In the 6th C., a 300 year old pagan mermaid with this name was captured in Lough Neagh by fisherman of Saint Comgall. Comgall baptized her, enabling her to go to heaven. Muirgen, Muirenn.

Muiriol – (MEER-ol) Old Irish=Muirgel muir “sea” + gel ” bright, shining.” Muirol was the name of several early queens of Leinster.

Muirne – (MEER-ne) Ancient name meaning “high-spirited.” Muirne Munchaem (Lovely-Shouldered Muirne) was the mother of Finn mac Cumhaill. Myrna, Morna.

Murine – sister-in-law to Lugh and mother of Fionn. After Fionn’s father’s death, Murine was unable to protect him, so she left him in the car of a druidess and a woman warrior.

Myrna – derived from the Irish word for “beloved.”

Naomh – from the Irish word for “a saint.”

Narbflaith – “noble princess”; listed in records as the name of a series of princesses and the name of a wife of an abbot of Trim, County Meath.

Neala – femimine version of Niall, “champion.”

Nessa – (NES-ah) An From the Old Irish, Nessa was the name of the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa, great legendary king of Ulster. Her original name was Assa “gentle”, until one day she came home and found her 12 foster fathers murdered by an outlaw band. She avenged their deaths and changed her name to Ni-assa “ungentle”, or Nessa.

Nevina – feminine also can be Nevin, “worshipper of the saint.”

Nia – variant of Welsh name Niamh. Nya.

Niamh – (NEE-av) Old Irish=Niam “luster, sheen, brightness, radiance, brilliance” Legendary princess of Tir-na-nog (the Land of Youth), took Finn mac Cumhaill’s son Oisin to the otherworld. Niam, Nia.

Nila – feminine version of male names Neil and Niall. Nyla.

Nola – short version of Fionnula. Nuala.

Nora – (NOH-ra) Irish version of Latin name Honora. Norah.

Orla – (OHR-la) from Old Irish or “gold” + flaith “sovereignty, queen.” Name of King Brian Boru’s sister and daughter. Popular in the Middle Ages, and again today. Orlaith.

Ornice – “olive-coloured.”

Padraigin – (PAH-dri-geen) Recent feminine also can be Padraig, from Latin word for “noble.”

Payton – also can be male name Patrick or Padraig.

Quincy – “fifth.”

Rionach – (REE-uh-nak) Old Irish=name Rignach “queenly.” Queen Rionach was legendary ancestor of the MacLoughlins, O’Donnells, O’Gallaghers, O’Gormleys, and O’Neills. Rioghnach, Riona.

Rori – from the word meaning “famous” or “brilliance.”

Ros – (ROHS) derivation unknown, poss. from Germanic hros “horse” or English “rose.” Roise, Roisin (row-SHEEN).

Ryann – feminine version of Ryan, “little ruler.”

Rylee – variant of Riley. Rylyn.

Sadhbh – (SAH-eev or SAYV) Old Irish=Sadb, prob. meaning “sweet” or “goodness.” Name of several real Irish princesses, including daughters of Conn of the Hundred Battles, Queen Medb of Connacht, and King Brian Boru. Sive, Sadhbba, Sadbh, Sabhbh, Sabha (SE-va).

Saoirse – from Irish saor “freedom or libery”; also a male name.

Saorla – (SAYR-la) Old Irish=name Saerlaith: saer “noble” + flaith “queen, sovereignty.”

Saraid – “clear, bright.”

Scathach – (SKAW-hak) Old Irish=scath “shadow, shade.” Scathach was a legendary woman warrior and prophetess who gave final battle training to Ulster hero Cu Chulainn; she was also known as Scota and Scatha.

Sceanbh – wife of the harper Craiftine, her betrayal with Cormac caused the harper to try to kill Cormac.

Seana – variant of names Sine an Shauna.

Seanait – (SHAY-nat) Old Irish=name Segnat, derived from seig “a hawk.”

Shanley – “the hero’s child.” Shanleigh.

Shannon – (SHAH-non) “wise one”; name of the longest river in Ireland, from the old Irish goddess Sinann, granddaughter of Manannan Mac Lir. Not used as a first name in Ireland. Shanna.

Sierra – derived from word for “black.” Seara.

Sile – (SHEE-la) “blind”; Irish= Cecilia. Sheela, Sheila.

Sine – (SHEE-na) in County Derry, a variation of Sinead. An Irish= French Jeanne and Jeanette. Sina, Seena, Sheena, Shena, Shana, Shauna, Shay, Shona, Shonda, Shawnda, Shonta, Shunta.

Sinead – (shi-NAYD) Irish version of French-Norman names Jeanne and Jonet. Sine (SHEE-na).

Siobhan – (shi-VAWN) from French-Norman name Jeanne, fem. also can be Jean (equiv. of English John). Siban, Shibahn, Siobhanin (shi-VAWN-een).

Siomha – (SHEE-va) Old Irish=name Sithmaith: sith “peace” + maith “good.” Sithmaith was the name of 8th C. abbess of Clonburren. Sheeva.

Sláine – (SLAH-nye or SLAHN-nuh) “good health”; used in medieval times by the MacNamaras and O’Briens. Slany.

Sloane – “warrior.”

Sorcha – (SOO-ruh-ka or SOHR-e-khuh) Old Irish=sorchae “bright, radiant.” Popular from the Middle Ages to present.

Taillte – in legend, the foster-mother of the god Lugh, and daughter of a Spamish king who married Eochaid of the Tuatha De Danann. She and Lugh were honored by games in honor of the dead at Mag Taillten in County Meath. The town is now known as Teltown on the River Blackwater. Until the 18th or 19th C.’s, “Teltown Marriages” were held in the ring-fort of Rath

Dugh. If, after a year and a day the couple did not wish to continue the marriage, they returned to the fort, stood with their backs to each other, and walked away. Tailltiu, Tailtiu.

Tara – (TAH-ra) “tower”; Old Irish=Temair. In legend, Temair was wife of Eremon, leader of the ancestors of the Irish, Sons of Mil. Temair gave her name to the hill of Tara, the traditional seat of Irish kingship. Teamhair (TOHR).

Teamhair – (TOHR) probably “eminence” or “elevated place.” Possible version of Tara.

Tierney – from the word meaning “noble.” Tiernan.

Tipper – “water pourer.”

Tlachtga – daughter of Mog Ruith, she traveled throughout the world with her father and learned his magic. Druids lit their Samhain fires on her mound twelve miles from Tara.

Trevina – “prudent”; feminine version of Trevor. Treva.

Troya – derived from Irish word for “foot soldier.”

Tullia – “peaceful, quiet.” Tuila, Tulliah.

Tuiren – an Otherworld woman who was Fionn’s aunt and married to Iollan, one of the Fianna.

Uathach – “specter”; daughter of Scathach, and became the mistress of Cu Chulainn after her husband died.

Una – (OO-na) from Old Irish uan “lamb.” Legendary daughter of a king of Lochlainn. Popular in Middle Ages. Oona, Oonagh.