If you’re expecting a St. Patrick’s Day baby (or a baby really anytime in March), why not take that as an opportunity to choose a cool and meaningful Irish name? Even though Irish names have been gaining popularity over the past decade or so (Liam is ranked at No. 1 this year), there are still a ton of unusual, less trendy Irish names to choose from if you prefer something more uncommon.
Many of the names on this list are the anglicized versions of a harder-to-pronounce Irish original or simply a name that comes from Irish roots. The only thing more beautiful than the sound of these names? Some of the amazing meanings behind them.
Unusual Irish baby names for boys
- Aengus: Irish version of Angus
- Ailill: From the Irish Ailleacht, or “beauty”
- Bly: Anglicized version of an Irish name
- Brogan: An Irish name meaning “sturdy shoe”
- Caelan: Anglicized form of Caolán
- Conlan: This Irish name means “hero”
- Declan: Anglicized version of Deaglán
- Doran: Meaning “stranger,” this name has Irish roots
- Eion: Version of the name John
- Girvin: This Irish name means “small rough one”
- Keon: Another form of John
- Lorcan: This name means “little fierce one”
- Lunn: Meaning “strong, warlike”
- Mannix: Anglicized version of Munchin
- Oisin: This name is pronounced Oh-sheen
- Phelan: This name means “like a wolf”
- Riordan: An Irish name meaning “bard”
- Rogan: Meaning “redheaded”
- Seamus: This is the Irish form of James and is pronounced SHAY-mus
- Tadhg: Pronounced TEIG, this name means “poet”
- Tor: Refers to a craggy hilltop
More: Superhero Baby Names for Any Comic Book Lover
Unusual Irish baby names for girls
- Agneis: An Irish form of Agnes
- Aibreann: The Irish word for the month April
- Blaine: This name means “yellow”
- Caitrín: Irish form of Katherine
- Calla: Form of the Irish name Caoilainn
- Derry: This name means “oak grove”
- Eithne: Pronounce this name EE-na
- Elva: Anglicized version of Ailbhe
- Ita: The name of a 6th century Irish saint
- Kiana: This Irish name means “ancient”
- Mab: In Irish stories, Queen Mab is monarch of the fairies
- Maeve: Anglicized form of Meadhbh
- Morna: This name means “affection”
- Neala: Feminine form of the Irish Neal
- Nola: Form of Fionnula, which means “white shoulder”
- Oona: Pretty name meaning “one”
- Riona: An Irish name that means “queenly”
- Saoirse: Pronounce this name SEER-sha
- Siobhan: Meaning “God is gracious,” this name is pronounced sha-VAHN
- Sorcha: This name means “bright, shining”
- Tierney: This name means “lord”
More: Baby Girl Names That Mean “Wild” for a Spitfire in the Making
A version of this article was originally published in March 2017.
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