You won’t find Aoife or Conor on this list of baby names; these are the top ten Irish baby names ready for a revival.
Aoife and Conor are beautiful names, but what about a name that hasn’t been popular since the 80s or even the 60s? What about a name that has never even been popular?
Irish names are often steeped in history and legend; these top ten forgotten baby names are no different.
10. Treasa – strength or power
Possibly derived from the Old Irish word ‘treise’, meaning power or strength. It was popular in the 1970s and 1980s – its popularity has dipped since.
Its English counterpart Theresa follows a similar trajectory. If you’re looking for a name that’s due a comeback, look no further than Treasa.
9. Úna – Old Irish for lamb
Úna is in the midst of a mini comeback, but you could be hot on the heels of this name if you were to choose it now.
Famous Irish Úna’s include The Saturdays star Úna Healy and Irish born American actress Una O’Connor, a renowned character actor from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
8. Fionnuala – old Irish ‘white/fair shoulder’
Fionnuala was one of the Children of Lir trapped as a swan for 900 years until they were freed. This is one of those names that even Irish people regularly spell wrong.
There is a lot of variation of spelling so you would be forgiven. Fionnuala (Fin-ew-la) rolls off the tongue beautifully and makes a gorgeous Irish name.
7. Nóirín – honour
This name saw popularity with the English spelling ‘Noreen’ in the 60s to the 80s, but there has been a sharp decline since. Nóirín is derived from Nora, which comes from the Latin name ‘Honora’, meaning honour.
Nora Barnacle was the famous wife and muse of James Joyce. Nóirín, Nora and Noreen all deserve a comeback.
6. Séamus – supplanter or grabber by the heel
This name comes from the English name ‘James’. Another name that peaked in popularity in the 70s and 80s.
Well deserving of a rise in popularity, it is also the namesake of our very own Séamus Heaney, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature and one of Ireland’s literary greats.
5. Mary – sweet or drop of sea
There are many well-known Marys, including two former Irish presidents Mary McAleese and Mary Robinson. Who doesn’t know someone called Mary? Regardless, Mary deserves to live on in Ireland as a baby name.
Why not try Máire as a Gaeilge version? Mary was a seriously popular baby girl name until the turn of the last century, it has been long enough, she deserves a comeback.
4. Declan – full of goodness
Declan comes from the Irish name Déaglán, also deserving of a comeback – not sure Déaglán ever had a moment in the sun – but Declan certainly did in the 1970s.
Famous Declans include half of the presenting duo Ant and Dec, Elvis Costello, born Declan Patrick MacManus, and Saint Declan.
3. Philip – lover of horses
This became a very common name in Ireland after the Anglo-Norman invasion. Philip comes from the Greek meaning ‘lover of horses’. Philip is often shortened to Phil or Philly.
Famous Philips come in many forms. Thin Lizzy (one of the best Irish bands) frontman Phil Lynott, musician and producer Phil Coulter and Cork athlete Phil Healy.
It has fallen out of popularity in the last few decades, but with such a beautiful meaning attached to it, it’s a prime candidate for a comeback.
2. Terence – tender, gracious, or instigator
Terence ranked highly in the 60s but has since fallen out of popularity as a baby name. A name of Latin origin, Terence was the name used for the Roman playwright Publius Terentius Afer, he lived in the 2nd century BCE. He was famous for his comedies.
There are plenty of variations of the name Terence in Ireland and lots of avenues for a comeback. You can have Turlach, Traolach, Turlough, or Toirdhealbhach. They all mostly mean the same thing: instigator, prompter, King.
1. Eithne – seed, kernel or small fire
Pronounced ‘eth-nah’, this name rolls off the tongue beautifully. The meaning of Eithne is not as clear as other Irish names, but many believe the word comes from ‘seed’ or ‘kernel’. Some say the word means ‘little fire’, but no one is certain where this meaning comes from.
Several notable Eithnes appear in Irish myths and legends. Eithne appears as the mother of Lug Lámfhota chief of the Tuatha Dé Danann, as a friend of Cúchulainn and as a princess who met Saint Patrick. A named steeped in folklore, ‘Eithne’ is ready for a modern revival.
