In recent times, calling your child something edgy like Harley, Grey or Phoenix is all the rage.
Where once you’d be looked at twice for uttering such nonsensical names at a newborn, it’s now seen as the cool route to take as your first steps into parenthood.
Cue traditional Irish boys names stepping back into the shadows. A shame we must admit, seeing as some of them not only boast unique qualities but nod to Irish roots whilst still retaining a ring to them.
Here’s our top 20 favourite Irish boy names that will never go out of style and that we could do with more of!
20. Aodhan
This Irish boys name can commonly be seen spelt as Aidan. This name is in reference to the Celtic God of the Sun, so is thought to represent “fire” or to mean “fiery”. Nowadays with gender bender names flying about left, right and centre, we love that this name is being given to girls, too!
Phonetically: aid-en
19. Aengus
Often spelt Aongus, this traditional name is not often seen in contemporary use. According to Old Irish mythology, Aengus was a member of the Tuatha Dé Danann (the spiritual race in Irish mythology) and commonly thought to be the God of love, poetic inspiration and youth. By illustration, he is depicted with singing birds circling his head.
Phonetically: ain-gus
18. Brendan
The name Brendan (sometimes spelt Breandan) comes from the Irish Saint Brendan the Navigator (484AD – 577AD). On his early missions as a priest, he set off on long sea voyages in pursuit of the Garden of Eden. He is even said to have reached North America on his travels, many centuries before Christopher Columbus.
Phonetically: bren-dan
17. Cathal
The medieval Irish boys name Cathall is broken into two parts. The first is “cath” which means “battle”, whilst “all” means “mightly”. Put together it is thought that this name signifies “a great warrior”. The English version of this name is Charles.
Phonetically: ka-hall
16. Ciarán
This Celtic boys name translates into English as “little dark one” or “little dark-haired one”. Several saints in Irish history held this popular boys name, which is still as prevalent as ever today.
Phonetically: keer-awn
15. Cormac
This Irish boys name dates back to old Ireland and is still popular today. It comes from the Irish “corbmac” which translates to “son of the charioteer”.
Phonetically: kor-mak
14. Dáithí
This classic Irish boys name is not as common as it once was in Ireland, yet Dáithí’s are not yet extinct, either. When translated to English the name means “swiftness” or “nimbleness”. Dáithí was also the last pagan king of Ireland (405AD – 426 AD).
13. Dónal
This Irish boys name can be spelt with or without a fada (e.g. Dónal or Donal) and also Domhnall. This name is often broken into two parts which mean “world” and “mighty”. This name is suggested to signify “ruler of the world”.
Phonetically: doh-nal
12. Eamon
The translation of Eamon is “guardian”. It is the Irish version of the name Edmund.
Phonetically: ay-mun
11. Eoin
This popular Irish boys name is still widely in use today. It can also be spelt Eoghan. The interpretation of this name is to mean “God’s gift”.
Phonetically: o-win
10. Fearghal
In traditional translations, this Irish boys name means “man of valour”. The name derived from an 8th-century king of Ireland and although is less popular today, is still seen from time-to-time.
Phonetically: fer-gal
9. Fiachra
This Irish boys name derives from the Irish word “fiach” which means “raven”, by translation. The name also has roots in Irish mythology and this was also the name of the patron Saint of Gardeners in the 7th century.
Phonetically: fee-ack-rah
8. Gearóid
Gearóid was once an extremely popular Irish boys name and now is less prevalent. It is given to signify valour and means “brave with a spear” or “spear carrier”.
Phonetically: ger-oh-id
7. Lorcan
This name can be spelt with or without a fada (e.g. Lorcan or Lorcán). It translates into English to “little fierce one”, and the name has been making a comeback in recent years.
Phonetically: lore-kin
6. Mánús
This name is considered to potentially mean “one strength”, “energy” or “force”. It is a strong male name in Ireland and is still widespread today. This is also the name of several Irish kings, giving it extra significance.
Phonetically: man-us
5. Oisin
This name boggles at first sight, but it really isn’t too much of a tongue-twister. Often spelt with a fada (as in, Oisín) the name means “little deer”. According to Irish legend, Oisin was a poet and warrior hero.
Phonetically: ush-een
4. Padraig
This classic Irish name is the Gaelic version of Patrick. The name translates to mean “of the patrician class” (which means the noble class) and was introduced to Ireland by Saint Patrick.
Phonetically: paw-drig
3. Ruairí
This popular Irish boys name, which can also be spelt Ruaidhrí, means “red-haired king”. There are many English and Scottish variations of this common Celtic name.
Phonetically: rur-ri
2. Seamus
Seamus is a common Irish boys name. It is considered to be a Gaelic version of James and is thought to mean “supplanter”, referring to a ruler of a country. This name was made most famous by Ireland’s 1995 Nobel Prize-winning, Irish poet Seamus Heaney.
Phonetically: shay-mus
1. Tiarnán
This name can be spelt as both Tiarnán and Tiernan. In Gaelic origin, the name is to mean “high Lord” and has Biblical connotations.
Phonetically: tear-non
Read about more Irish first names
100 popular Irish first names and their meanings: an A-Z list
Top 20 Gaelic Irish boys names
Top 20 Gaelic Irish girl names
20 Most Popular Irish Gaelic Baby Names Today
Top 20 HOTTEST Irish Girl Names Right Now
Most popular Irish baby names – boys and girls
Things you didn’t know about Irish First Names…
Top 10 unusual Irish girl names
The 10 hardest to pronounce Irish first names, Ranked
10 Irish girl names nobody can pronounce
Top 10 Irish boy names that nobody can pronounce
10 Irish First Names You Rarely Hear Anymore
Top 20 Irish Baby Boy Names That’ll Never Go Out of Style
Read about Irish surnames…
Top 100 Irish Surnames & Last Names (Family Names Ranked)
The 10 most popular Irish surnames worldwide
The Top 20 Irish Surnames and Meanings
Top 10 Irish surnames you’ll hear in America
The top 20 most common surnames in Dublin
Things you didn’t know about Irish surnames…
The 10 Hardest to Pronounce Irish Surnames
10 Irish surnames that are always mispronounced in America
Top 10 facts you never knew about Irish surnames
5 common myths about Irish surnames, debunked
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