Popular Irish Christian Names

Irish Writers, David (Dave) O'Connell and Ruth Dudley-Edwards, both of whom share fairly popular Irish names.

 

The naming of a child is a ritual in itself.  In Ireland, like in many other countries and cultures, a name is usually given to a child based on a family name, a religious name or, as a display of the cultural ethos of the parents.   Therefore many popular Irish Christian names of modern times and in our recent past reflect our unique history and culture. 

Padraig, Sean, Thomas, Michael, Eamon, James, Robert and Emmet, are just some of the names given to boys, to call them after nineteenth and twentieth century Irish freedom fighters.  Many of these are not necessarily Irish Christian names by definition, (Eamon is Anglo-Saxon, Emmet is the surname of patriot Robert Emmet and the Christian name, Robert is French) however they are deemed Irish names, by the fact that they were the names of brave Irishmen.

Many Irish names were translated throughout our history into Norman or English names, but also many popular ones survived.  Sean, Aileen, Siobhan, Tara and Turlough are a couple of examples. 

In Ireland it was traditionally considered important to name a child after a Saint, therefore the names of the Apostles, and many other latter day Saints became popular Christian names for children.  Strangely enough, biblical names never seem to have caught on in Ireland with the exception of occasional ones like David, Ruth, Luke, Matthew, Esther etc., but it is rare to find names like Jacob or Zachariah throughout the 32 counties.

Places, Events and Times also play a part in the naming of an Irish child.  Cork has produced many Finbars over the years (because of the city’s St. Finbar’s cathedral), as did Counties Offaly and Westmeath produce many Ciarans, named after the founder of the ancient monastic city of Clonmacnois.

Many Irish boys born in the late 70’s and early 80’s were given the name John Paul and many boys born in the 1960’s were given the name Paul.  These were names honouring the two Popes, Paul VI and John Paul II.  

The Catholic Church named 1954 as the Marian year in honour of the Blessed Virgin, and in that year, many boys and girls were christened Marian, as either a first or second name. It was a trend in bygone Irish days to call children by their second names, eg, Mary Ellen could be called Ellen or Michael John called John.  It is a tradition that still exists in Ireland today, particularly with boys.

A boy born on March 17 is almost certain to be called Patrick and children born on Saints feastdays have, according to Fr. Patrick Woulfe in his 1923 book, ‘Irish Names For Children’ brought their name with them.  “The Saint on whose day a child is born or baptised has a special claim.  In such cases the child is said to have ‘brought a name with it’”. 

Christmas time brings many with the names Noel, Noelle, Nicholas, Nicola or the Irish name of Nollaig.

Currently in Ireland, celtic names are in vogue.  There are many more Darraghs, Clodaghs, Conans, and Dervlas living in Ireland than there are Johns, Catherines, Kenneths and Colettes.

Here are a sample (and their meaning) of 20 of the most popular Christian names in Ireland today.

Abigail:  A female name meaning ‘Father Rejoiced’, the Irish spelling being Abaigeal, and many such are called Abby. 

Aidan:   A very popular name, meaning ‘little fire’. It is sometimes popular in its Irish spelling, Aodhan. The earliest known recipient has been the seventh century monk, St. Aidan.

Aileen:   ‘Aileen’ has always been a popular Irish name and comes in many different forms such as Eily and Eileen.

Andrea:  ‘Andrea’ is the feminine of Andrew, which was a Greek name meaning ‘manly’. ‘Andrea’ has been very popular in the past few decades in Ireland

Brian:  A name popular in Ireland down through the centuries in history and culture dating back to the 11th century High King, Brian Boru.  The name means ‘hill’.

Cian:  This name which means ‘ancient’ is very much in use today in Ireland, although it dates back to early Irish times.

Damien:  This very popular name is French in origin and its Irish spelling is Daman.

Darragh:  This celtic name, popular again in recent decades, means ‘oak’.

Fiona: A very popular name,  Scottish in origin, coming from the gaelic word, fionn (fair).  It is reputed to have been invented by the Scottish writer William Sharp, who used it for his pseudonym, ‘Fiona MacLeod’.

Hazel: The name ‘Hazel’ is also reputed to have been a 19th century invention name, for a tree.  Lady Hazel Lavery was an early recipient of the name.  Lady Lavery, whose face appeared on the old Irish £1 note was involved in 1920’s Anglo-Irish politics, through her connections in London and her rumoured affair with Irish leader, Michael Collins.

Joanne:  The feminine form of John, more recently used as Joanna, but now the Joanne name is proving to be more popular.

Kevin: A widely used name (meaning ‘comely birth’) down through the centuries.  The earliest known recipient was sixth century monk, St. Kevin of Glendalough. The Irish form, Caoimhghin is used today by Irish politician Caoimhghin O’Caolain.

Michael: Usually called for religious reasons after Michael the archangel and for Irish nationalist reasons after Michael Collins.  It is looked on as a completely Irish name, although the name is hebrew in origin, meaning ‘who is like God.’

Niamh: A name used in Irish mythology by heroines such as Niamh from Tir na nOg.  It means ‘bright’ and is used widely in Ireland today.  Stage and screen actress Niamh Cusack is a well known recipient.

Orla:, The name means ‘golden lady’ and can also be spelt Orlagh.

Patrick:  A name that is synonymous with Ireland, because of it being the name of our patron saint.  However the name is of Latin origin, meaning ‘noble’.  Its Irish spelling is Padraig and 1916 Rising rebel Padraig Pearse is a famous recipient of the name.

Rory: A name given to those fair or red haired, it can belong to a boy or girl and the Irish spelling is Ruairi or Ruaidri, of which Rua (Red) is short for. It was the name of the last Irish High King, Rory O’Connor.

Tara:  Usually, but not always a girls name, named after the famous hill of Tara in Co. Meath.  Tara was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.  The late Guinness heir Tara Browne was a male recipient of the name and screen actress Tara Fizgerald, a female recipient.

Turlough:  The name dates back to 11th century Ireland, where it was the names of two High Kings, Turlough O’Brien and Turlough O’Connor, the name is still widely used among O’Brien and O’Connor families.  It was anglicised to Terence and became a very popular name.

Siobhan:  The Irish spelling for Joan.  The name is very popular among females of all ages.  A most notable recipient was the late famous Irish actress of stage and screen, Siobhan McKenna.