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irish baby boy names

Irish Baby Boy Names A through E

Irish Baby NameIrish PronunciationAnglicized VersionName meaning and origin
Aedan, AodhánAY-denAidanDerived from the name Aed meaning "fire" and would imply "born of fire." It became a popular name in honour of St. Aidan of Iona (c. 630 AD) who founded a famous monastery on the island of Lindisfarne which he used as a base to evangalize the North of England. In art Aidan is usually represented as a stag, a reference to the legend that he saved a deer that was being hunted by making it invisible.
Aengus, AonghusAYNG-guhsAngusFrom aon "excellent" and gus "strength, vigor." Aengus was the god of love and of youth who was the son of the goddess Bo and the god Dagda.
AilbeALL-bayAlbyDerived from an old Irish word meaning "white," St. Ailbe (6th century) was associated with the monastery at Emly in County Tipperary. The local people requested that he bless a river that had no fish. St. Ailbe did and that very day the river was filled with an abundance of fish. The people built five churches in St. Ailbe's honor at the best fishing spots along the river.
AilillALL-yillDerived from the Irish ailleacht "beauty." Ailill was the young husband of Queen Maebh, chosen by her because he was "a man without meaness, fear or jealousy, a match for my own greatness." His argument with Maebh over who had the greater herd of cattle led to The Cattle Raid of Cooley.
AlroyAL-royAlroyFrom the Irish word rua meaning "red" sometimes used to name a red-headed child.
ArdanARE-dawnArdanDerived from the Irish word ardanach meaning "high aspiration." Ardan was one of the sons of Usna who helped Deirdre escape to Scotland so that she would not be forced to marry King Conchobhar MacNessa.
BradanBRAY-dawnBradenDerived from the Irish word bradan meaning "a salmon" and the bradan feasa, the "Salmon of Knowledge" is central to the tales of Fionn MacCool.
BreandanBREN-dawnBrendanThere are at least seventeen saints who bear the name but St. Breandan the Navigator is probably the best known. Tradition has it that he was born in County Kerry, set sail in a small boat with a group of monks in the early 6th century, visited an island inhabited by birdmen, rode on the back of a whale and was the first European to set foot on the shores of the Americas, nearly a thousand years before Columbus. St. Breandan is venerated in Ireland as the patron saint of seafarers and travelers.
BrianBREE-awnBrianFrom brigh "high, noble, strong." In honor of the most revered High King of Ireland, Brian Boru who united all of Ireland against the vikings and finally defeated an army of invading Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. He died in this battle at the age of 76.
Cáemgenkwee-VEENKevinFrom the Old Irish caem, meaning 'beautiful' + gein, meaning 'birth'. This is a classic Irish baby boys name, although the anglicized version is more well-known. June 3 is the feast day of Saint Cáemgen, who founded the great Glendalough monastery in County Wicklow during the 7th century. Modern Irish version: Caoimhín.
Carrick, CarrigCARE-ickCraigFrom carraig "a rock."
Cathal, CahalKA-halCharlescath "battle" and all "mighty" and signifies "a great warrior." On his way home from a visit to Rome (c. 666 AD) St. Cathal was asked to fill the vacant see of Taranto in southern Italy and served as it"s prelate until his death. Known as St. Cathaldus, he is still venerated in the area and a fresh water stream in the bay is known as "l'annello di san Cathaldo," "the ring of St. Cathaldus," as it marks the place where he is believed to have stilled a storm by throwing his ring into the water. He was the patron saint of the Italian army during WWI.
CearulKAR-ulCarl, CarrollFrom the Irish word cearbhall which means "fierce in battle."
Cian,KianKEY-anKeaneFrom cian "ancient, enduring." According to Irish legends, Cian was the father of Lugh, and the son of Dian Cécht, the god of healing of the Tuatha De Dánaan.
CiaránKEER-anKieranFrom the Old Irish ciar, meaning 'dark' + the diminutive suffix an. This is a very popular Irish baby boy name, greatly in honor of Saint Ciarán, who founded the Clonmacnoise monastery. His feast day is September 9.
CoinneachKON-ickKenneth, KennyFrom the Old Irish male name Cainnech, which is derived from cáin, meaning 'good and beautiful'. The Aghaboe monastery in County Laois was founded by Saint Coinneach, along with many other monasteries throughout Ireland and Scotland. His feast day is celebrated October 11.
ColmKULL-umCallumDerived from the Latin columba, meaning 'dove'. This is a classic Irish baby boy name, meaning "dove of the church", in honor of the 6th century Saint Colm Cille (Columba), who was one of the most highly regarded saints in Irish history. Saint Colm Cille was born into the royal Uí Neill clan in Donegal. But after he allegedly copied a manuscript without the owner's permission, he was banished to Scotland. He is credited with converting the pagan Scottish kings to Christianity and founded the great monastery of Iona. His feast day is celebrated June 9.
ConaireKAW-ni-reeDerived from the Old Irish cú (con), meaning 'wolf, hound' + aire, meaning 'landowner'. This Irish baby boy name is primarily associated with the hero of the story, The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel, High King Conaire Mór (Big Conaire). According to legend, he was the # son of a princess and a bird-man, and was forbidden to hunt birds.
ConallKAWN-allFrom the Old Irish cú (con), meaning 'wolf, hound'.
CormacKAWR-macCormac was the name of several bishops, saints, and kings, including the ancestor of the O'Neill family, legendary High King of Ireland, Cormac Mac Art.
DiarmuidDEER-mitDermotAccording to Irish folklore, Diarmaid was one of Finn mac Cumaill's warriors. Legend has it that he was blessed with a mark on his face which caused maidens to immediately fall head over heels in love with them as soon as they saw him.
DillonDILL-unDylanFrom dealan "a flash of lightning" or it may come from an Irish word for "faithful, loyal." A common surname it is the Irish form of the Welsh name "Dylan."
DomnallDOH-nalDonaldFrom the Old Irish domun, meaning 'world' + gal, meaning 'ardor and valor'.Five High Kings of Ireland shared this name, including Domnall Ilchelgach (Dónal of the Many treacheries), who was the ancestor of the MacLoughlin and the O'Neill families.
DonnchadhDOH-nuh-xaDonaghFrom the Old Irish donn, meaning 'brown, or chief' + cath, meaning 'battle'. The legendary hero Brian Boru's son was King Donnchad Donn, who died in 1064. It is also a traditional Irish baby boy name in the O'Brien family.
DubhlainnDOVE-linDoolinFrom dubh "black" and lan "blade, sword" means "black sword." Dubhlainn loved the fairy queen and legendary harpist Aoibhell who gave him her cloak of invisibility to wear in battle.
ÉamonAY-monEdmondIs the Irish form of Old English ead "rich" + mund "guardian", and implies "guardian of the riches." In more recent times the name has been given to honor Eamon De Valera who was President of Ireland for 14 years, the maximum allowed, from 1959 to 1973.
EoghánOHNFrom the Old Irish éo, meaning 'yew' + gein, meaning 'birth'. This Irish baby boy name was shared by several early saints and kings. One of the most celebrated Ulster heroes was named Eoghán mac Damthacht. On August 23, the Irish celebrate the feast day of Saint Eoghán, who was a 6th century bishop of Tyrone.
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