There are a lot of appealing things about Irish culture that Americans often want to emulate. We love the accents, the music, and the holidays. In fact, nearly 1 out of 10 Americans can claim Irish ancestry, so it’s no surprise that Irish baby names have long been popular in the U.S.
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For a long time, there were well-known favorites: Patrick, Sean, Colleen, and Caitlin. But now, at a time when parents are increasingly open to more unique baby names, Irish names are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. From famous Irish actors to beloved characters in books and TV series, Irish pop-culture references seem increasingly prevalent in America. Check out the list below for 36 Irish baby names to consider for your lucky little one.
Irish Baby Names for Girls
Aoife
Pronunciation: Ee-fa
Dabbling in the more difficult Irish names to pronounce, Aoife is memorable and pretty. With the meaning of “beautiful” and “radiant,” it is suitable for many personalities.
Delaney
Pronunciation: Duh-lay-nee
Known as a quirky name in Ireland, the moniker Delaney interestingly means “dark challenger.” We love it for it’s cutesy sound and adorable nicknames like Dee, Lane or Laney.
Eilis
Pronunciation: Eye-lesh
This uniquely Irish version of Elizabeth may be a perfect alternative to the wildly popular Isla. If you’re looking for something authentically Irish with an easy-to-remember pronunciation, this name meets both requirements.
Fiadh
Pronunciation: Fee-ah
According to Nameberry, Fiadh was the most popular girls’ name in Ireland in 2021, so there’s no doubt that it will be gaining popularity in the U.S. soon. A unique alternative to Mia and Eva, you can easily adapt the spelling to Fia for a short and sweet moniker.
Finley
Pronunciation: Fihn-lee
With strong meanings including “courageous one” and “fair hero,” the name Finley is a gender-neutral name, but we especially love it for a baby girl. Plus, the nickname Finn is chic and modern for a little lady.
Fiona
Pronunciation: Fee-oh-nuh
Fiona is derived from the male name Fionn and means “white” or “fair.” With pop culture references like the fierce and feminist Fiona Apple and the anti-princess Fiona from the Shrek movies, this name feels just right for a strong-willed girl.
Maeve
Pronunciation: May-v
This increasingly popular name means “intoxicating one,” and you can almost picture the fiery little girl to go along with it. With a very approachable spelling, this name is simple to pronounce but still special.
Niamh
Pronunciation: Neev, Nee-uv
Whether you use the Gaelic spelling or the Anglicized version, Neve, this name feels light yet bold and means “bright.” Celebrity Neve Campbell helped popularize this name in the ’90s.
Orla
Pronunciation: Or-lah
With the meaning of “golden princess,” Orla has been popular in Ireland for hundreds of years. If you’re drawn to names ending in “-a” but trying to avoid the more popular Ella or Nora, Orla might be the perfect fit.
Saoirse
Pronunciation: Seer-sha, Sur-sha
This intriguing name is a sure-fire way to communicate your Irish heritage. With the meaning of “liberty,” and the association with actress Saoirse Ronan, this tricky spelling and pronunciation feels brave and intentional.
Sloane
Pronunciation: Sloh-n
The name Sloane comes from the Irish clan name Ó Sluaghhadáin and means “raider” or “warrior.” It’s a strong name that any little girl would be lucky to have!
Teagan
Pronunciation: Tee-gun
Every parent thinks their new bundle of joy is the most beautiful child—but the name Teagan actually exemplifies that sweet sentiment because it means “beautiful” or “perfect.”
Irish Baby Names for Boys
Brannon
Pronunciation: Bran-un
If you want to switch up the traditional “Brendan” or “Brandon,” Brannon is an interesting and less-popular option outside of Ireland.
Cian
Pronunciation: Kee-an
Cian is deeply rooted in Irish tradition and has become more popular in the last 20 years. With a meaning of “ancient and enduring,” this is an interesting alternative to Sean or Brian. It can also be spelled Kian for ease of pronunciation in the U.S.
Cillian
Pronunciation: Kil-lian
While you may recognize the name from actor Cillian Murphy, this name hasn’t caught on to being overly popular in the U.S. yet. With the alternate spelling, Killian, this name feels authentically Irish while still being accessible.
Connell
Pronunciation: Con-nell
Derived from the traditional surname O’Connell, Connell is recognizable from Sally Rooney’s book and Hulu series, Normal People. One can only hope the baby would speak with an Irish accent to go along with his name!
Cormac
Pronunciation: Cor-mack
This strong, warrior-sounding name is recognizable from author Cormac MaCarthy, and you can make it your own with a nickname like Mac.
Declan
Pronunciation: Dek-luhn
Little boys can, sometimes, be troublemakers, but the name Declan means “full of goodness.” Any baby with the moniker is sure to live up to its sweet connotation.
Eamon
Pronunciation: Ay-mun
This very traditional Irish name could fill in for the wildly-popular name Aidan if you’re willing to correct any mispronunciations. The name of one of Ireland’s most famous presidents, it’s the perfect combination of soft and strong.
Fionn
Pronunciation: Fee-on, Fee-un
Fionn comes from a hero of Irish mythology and is the male version of Fiona. This is a strong alternative to the increasingly popular Finn for those who like the sound but prefer to stand out a little more.
Hugh
Pronunciation: Hew
Though this name is of British origin, it’s a popular boy’s name in Ireland due to there being 20 saints in Irish history named Saint Hugh. It also has great meanings including “soul,” “mind,” and “intellect.”
Liam
Pronunciation: Lee-um
On its own, Liam is a classic Irish name, but it was originally derived from the name William. The moniker means “guardian” and “strong-willed warrior,” making it a great name for any baby boy.
Oisin
Pronunciation: Ush-een
This name is similar to the girl’s name Saoirse in that they’re both slightly difficult for Americans to pronounce. The unique moniker has the cutest woodland-themed meaning, “little deer.”
RĂan
Pronunciation: Ree-un
As the Irish version from which Ryan is derived, this feels like a modern and unique approach that won’t have tons of duplicates in your child’s kindergarten class. And, with the meaning of “little king,” you can’t go wrong.
Gender-Neutral Irish Baby Names
If you prefer names that feel right regardless of gender, here are some Irish baby names that have become more gender-neutral in the last several years.
Callen
Pronunciation: Cal-len
Callen can work as an alternative to the popular Irish names Collin or Colleen. Either way, this name is accessible and suited to a boy or a girl.
Collins
Pronunciation: Kol-inz
Frequently used as a surname, the name Collins comes from the Gaelic “O’Cuilleain” and translates to “young hound.” A cute name for both a boy or girl, we love that it follows the modern naming trend of last names as first names.
Darby
Pronunciation: Dar-bee
With the meaning “free from envy,” this moniker is a popular boy’s name in Ireland but it’s no surprise that it makes a great girl name, too!
Dempsey
Pronunciation: Demp-see
Another surname baby name, Dempsey means “proud.” In pop culture, you might know it as actor Patrick Dempey’s last name, whose parents are both Irish-American.
Fallon
Pronunciation: Fal-uhn
The name Fallon is a popular last name for families living in western Ireland. It has Gaelic roots and means “superior,” making it a strong gender-neutral name for any baby girl or boy.
Ireland
Pronunciation: Eye-er-luhnd
The perfect way to pay homage to the Emerald Isle itself, the name Ireland sweetly means “land of abundance.” You might also know it as the moniker actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger gave their daughter, Ireland Baldwin, when she was born in 1995.
Kerrigan
Pronunciation: Kerr-i-guhn
If you’re looking for a more modern version of the name Carrie, there is the easy-to-pronounce Kerrigan. And Kerr is an attractive nickname to consider, too.
Kieran
Pronunciation: Keer-an, Keer-un
Traditionally a boy’s name, Kieran has grown in popularity for girls, perhaps for parents who are looking for an alternative to the popular Kiera.
Lennon
Pronunciation: Len-uhn
This name of Gaelic origin means “cloak” and “lover.” Additionally, Beatles fans can honor late star John Lennon with this classic unisex baby name.
Rory
Pronunciation: Ror-ee
Originally known as a boy’s name—meaning “red king”—today the United States has plenty of Rorys who are girls. In the U.K., however, Rory is likened to Roger and is a name rarely given to girls.
Rowan
Pronunciation: Row-uhn
This name has one of the cutest meanings ever—especially for a baby with Irish heritage—as it means “little redhead.” If you’re expecting a baby boy or girl that’s likely to have red hair, definitely consider this adorable gender-neutral name!
Quinn
Pronunciation: Kwin
A truly gender-neutral name, Quinn is a strong one-syllable name meaning “descendant of Conn, chief leader, intelligence,” according to the experts at Nameberry. Quinn saw a sharp rise in popularity towards the end of the 1990s.
