You've read the program, wondered at the name and how to pronounce it. Here's a guide to some of the names you might come across at competitions.
Any additions are gratefully accepted.
Girls' Names
|
Irish Name |
Phonetic Pronunciation |
Other Spellings |
Meaning |
English Equivalent |
|
Ailis |
AY-lish |
Ailse, Ailish |
Noble Rank |
Adelaide |
|
Aisling |
ASH-ling |
Aislinn |
Vision, dream |
|
|
Aoibhinn |
A-Veen |
|
Beautiful |
Belle or Bonnie |
|
Aoife |
EE-fa |
|
Ancient Irish name |
Eva |
|
Caelan |
KEE-lin |
Caoilfhionn, Keelin, Caoilin |
Slender and fair |
|
|
Cáit |
Coyt |
Pure (Greek) |
Kate |
|
|
Caitríona |
Cat-REE-ona |
Catriona, Caitrín |
Pure (Greek) |
Catherine |
|
Caoilfhionn |
KEE-lin |
Caoilin, Keelin |
Slender and fair |
|
|
Ciara |
KEY-ra |
Kyra |
"Dark One" |
|
|
Ceili |
KAY-lee |
|
A Dance or Party |
|
|
Deirdre |
DARE-dra, DEER-dra |
|
Ancient heroine of the tale of the Sons of Uisneach |
|
|
Dearbhla |
Dervla |
Derval, Deirbhle Dervla |
True desire |
|
|
Eadaoin |
AY-deen |
Aideen |
A saint from Moylurg,Boyle |
Edwina |
|
Eavan |
Ee-van |
Aoibheann |
|
Fair form |
|
Eibhlín |
Ev-LEEN |
Evelyn |
Fair |
Evelyn |
|
Eilís |
EYE-leesh AY-lish |
Ailish, Eilish |
'God has sworn' (Greek) |
Elizabeth |
|
Eileen |
EYE-leen |
Eibhlin, Eilín |
Sunlight (Greek) |
Helen, Elene |
|
Fionnabhair |
FIN-a-vair |
|
Fair |
Jennifer |
|
Fionnuala |
Fin-NOO-la |
Finola |
Fair shoulder |
|
|
Laoise |
LEE-sha |
Labhaoise |
Famous battle |
Louise |
|
Máire |
Moira, |
Maura Moira, Maura |
Bitter (Hebrew) |
Mary |
|
Máirín |
MORE-een, MOY-reen |
Maureen |
Bitter (Hebrew) |
Little Mary |
|
Mairéad |
Ma-RAYD |
Maighréad |
Pearl (Greek) |
Margaret |
|
Maeve |
MAYV |
Meadhbh, Meadbh, Medbh |
The first century Queen of Connacht |
|
|
Maoliosa |
May-LEE-sa |
|
Servant of Jesus |
|
|
Niamh |
NEE-uv, NEEV |
|
Bright or lustrous. Mythical woman from Tír na nOg (Land of youth) |
|
|
Nuala |
NOO-la |
Fionnuala |
Fair shoulder |
|
|
Orlaith - |
Or-lar |
Orla |
||
|
Pádraigín |
PAWD-rig-een |
|
Noble (Latin); female version of Pádraig |
Patricia |
|
Ríonach |
REE-noch, REE-o-noch |
Ríoghnach |
Queen Regina |
|
|
Róisín |
RO-sheen |
Rosaleen |
Rose |
Rose |
|
Saibh |
Sive (rhymes with dive) |
Saidhbh, Sive |
Goodness |
Sonya |
|
Saoirse |
SEER-sha |
|
Freedom |
|
|
Sian |
Sharn |
|
Gift of God(Hebrew) |
Jan |
|
Sinéad |
Shin-AYD |
|
Gift of God(Hebrew) |
Jane |
|
Siofra |
SHEE-fra |
|
Little elf |
|
|
Siobhán |
Shi-VAWN |
|
Gift of God(Hebrew) |
Joan |
|
Sorcha |
SUR-a-cha |
|
Clear, bright |
Sarah, Sally |
Boys' Names
|
Coileán |
Col-AUN |
Colin, Cuileán |
An old Irish name meaning Whelp |
Colin |
|
Eamonn |
AY-mun |
Eamon |
Blessed protection |
Edward, Edmund |
|
Eoin |
OWE-in |
Owen |
Gracious gift of God |
John |
|
Pádraig |
PAW-drig |
Padraic |
Noble (Latin) |
Patrick |
|
Riain |
REE-an |
Rian |
King |
Ryan |
|
Ronan |
ROW-nan |
Rónán |
Seal |
|
|
Séamus |
SHAY-mus |
Seamas, Shamus |
'Trips by the heel' Supplants (Hebrew) |
James |
|
Seán |
SHAUN |
|
Gracious gift of God |
John |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A complete list of Irish first names can be found at
http://www.hylit.com/info/Irishnames.html(c) 2000 Amanda Finneran. Reproductions possible on request.