If you are looking for some baby name inspiration, our list of the top travel-inspired Irish names might just be the ticket.
Irish names always carry a fascinating meaning and origin behind them, and those names inspired by places in Ireland are no different.
Irish places have influenced people around the world in many ways for centuries, and that includes inspiring them to name their children after Irish places they hold dear to their hearts.
From counties to Irish monuments and more, let’s take a look at the top travel-inspired Irish names and what they mean.
10. Tyrone – the Ulster county
We start our list off with the name Tyrone, after County Tyrone in the province of Ulster. Tyrone is the anglicisation of TÃr Eoghain, meaning ‘land of Eoghan’.
TÃr Eoghain was the name of a Gaelic Kingdom during medieval times in Ireland. A variant of Eoghan, this is a strong contender for a unique Irish-inspired name for your little one.
9. Tara – after the famous hill
Next up, we have the name Tara. Tara is an Irish name that is typically given to girls, and it actually has Sanskrit origins as well as Irish roots.
Tara is a unique name on our list because it doesn’t derive from a county but rather the Hill of Tara, the ancient archaeological site in County Meath. The name means ‘hill’ or ‘star’ and is a popular name in Ireland.
8. Carlow – the Dolmen County
Carlow is both a county and a county town in Ireland, and the name apparently derives from the old Irish Ceatharlach, meaning ‘four lakes’ or ‘city of lakes’.
This is one of the less popular travel-inspired Irish names at the moment, so it’s a great name to consider if you are seeking something unique.
7. Erin – it doesn’t get more Irish than this
We couldn’t talk about names inspired by Irish places without including Erin, the name of our emerald homeland.
Erin is the anglicisation of the Irish word Éirinn, meaning ‘Ireland’. Irish names don’t quite get more Irish than the name Erin!
6. Clare – the Banner County
Clare has long been a very popular name in Ireland and elsewhere around the globe. Its Irish roots come from, of course, County Clare.
The name comes from the Irish word Clár, meaning ‘board’ or ‘plank’. While it’s not the most poetic of names, it has certainly stood the test of time in terms of popularity, with generations continuing to pass down this name to their children.
5. Cashel – a unique Irish travel-inspired name
Typically a name given to boys, Cashel is certainly one of the most unique travel-inspired Irish names out there.
The name comes from the Irish word caiseal, meaning ‘stone fort’ or ringfort’, and is perhaps best known for Cashel and the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary.
Daniel Day-Lewis and his wife Rebecca Miller gave this Irish name to their son.
4. Clodagh – from the river
Clodagh is the next name on our list of travel-inspired Irish names, and this one comes from the River Clodiagh, which flows through the Marquess’s estate at Curraghmore in County Waterford.
Lady Clodagh Anson was the daughter of John Beresford, the 5th Marquess of Waterford, and so this name has many ties to County Waterford.
3. Cavan – the Lake County
Next up on our list is the Irish boy name Cavan, which comes from County Cavan. The name itself means ‘handsome’ and comes from the Irish word Cabhan.
While the name has ties to the town and county of Cavan, it is also said to derive from the name Kevin, English for CaoimhÃn.
2. Kerry – the Kingdom
Perhaps one of the most popular Irish names inspired by an Irish place is the name Kerry, from ‘the Kingdom’, County Kerry.
The name was once typically given to girls, but you’ll now find many men around the world with the name. The name means ‘black-haired’, and some of the most famous faces with this name are Kerry Washington and Kerry Condon.
1. Shannon – the most popular travel-inspired name in the world
The name Shannon was recently crowned the most popular travel-inspired name around the world. It comes from the town Shannon in County Clare – Sionainn in the Irish language.
The name means ‘possessor of wisdom’, so it’s a strong name in every sense of the word. This is another name typically given to girls in Ireland, but as the name has increased in popularity, it has become more gender-neutral around the world.
