270 Authentic Irish Boys’ Names: A Complete Guide with Meanings, Origins, and Popularity

Irish boys’ names carry a deep sense of heritage, strength, and timeless charm. Rooted in Gaelic tradition and inspired by Ireland’s rich mythology, history, and landscape, these names have meanings that go far beyond sound. From classic favorites like Liam, Connor, and Patrick to traditional gems such as Cian, Eoghan, and Seamus, every Irish name tells a unique story.

Whether you have Irish roots or simply love names with cultural depth, this guide will help you explore authentic Irish boys’ names — their meanings, origins, and how they’ve stood the test of time. Each name reflects the spirit of Ireland: strong, poetic, and full of life.

We’ve organized them alphabetically for easy browsing, including:

• Meaning: The traditional Gaelic or historical interpretation.
• Origin Notes: Ties to mythology, saints, or regions.
• Popularity Insight: Current trends in Ireland, the UK, US, or globally (based on recent data from sources like the Central Statistics Office of Ireland, SSA in the US, and ONS in the UK).

A

• Aidan – Little fire (from Aodhán); St. Aidan of Lindisfarne; Top 100 in Ireland.
• Ailbe – White rock; Legendary saint; Rare but rising.
• Aodh – Fire; Ancient god name; Pronounced “Ay”.
• Aodhán – Diminutive of Aodh; Variant of Aidan.
• Aonghus – One strength; God of love in mythology; Pronounced “Angus”.
• Art – Bear or stone; High King Art; Short form of Arthur.
• Ardal – High valor; Medieval princely name.
• Ardan – Little height; From Irish literature.
• Arlen – Pledge; Modern Irish-American favorite.
• Bardan – Little bard; Poetic roots.
• Barry – Spear; From Báire (County Cork origin).
• Bearach – Sharp or spear-like.
• Blaine – Yellow; St. Blaan; Popular in US.
• Bradan – Salmon; Symbol of wisdom.
• Bran – Raven; Mythical hero with giant hound.
• Brayden – Broad hill; Modern variant, Top 200 US.
• Brennan – Descendant of the sad one; Surname-turned-first name.
• Brian – High or noble; King Brian Boru; Classic.
• Brodie – Ditch or muddy place; Scottish-Irish crossover.
• Bryan – Variant of Brian; Enduring popularity.

B-C

• Cian – Ancient; Mythical warrior; Top 10 in Ireland.
• Ciarán – Little dark one; St. Ciarán of Clonmacnoise.
• Cillian – Church or war; Actor Cillian Murphy; Rising star.
• Cillian – Strife (alternate); Same as above.
• Cathal – Battle ruler; Pronounced “Ka-hall”.
• Colm – Dove; St. Columba; Timeless.
• Conall – Strong wolf; Ulster Cycle hero.
• Conan – Little wolf; Conan O’Brien roots.
• Conor – Lover of hounds; Top 5 in Ireland.
• Cormac – Charioteer son; King Cormac Mac Airt.
• Craig – Rock; Irish-Scottish blend.
• Daire – Fruitful or oak grove; Pronounced “Dar-a”.
• Dara – Oak tree; Unisex but strong for boys.
• Declan – Full of goodness; St. Declan; Top 100 US/Ireland.
• Dermot – Free from envy; King Dermot MacMurrough.
• Diarmuid – Without enemy; Fionn mac Cumhaill’s rival.
• Donnacha – Brown-haired warrior; Pronounced “Done-aka”.
• Eamon – Wealthy protector; De Valera’s first name.
• Eoghan – Born of the yew tree; Pronounced “Owen”.
• Fergus – Man of vigor; Mythical king.
• Finn – Fair or white; Fionn mac Cumhaill; Exploding popularity.
• Fionn – Variant of Finn; Heroic.
• Gavin – White hawk; Medieval roots.
• Gearóid – Spear ruler; Irish for Gerald.
• Glenn – Valley; Nature-inspired.
• Hugh – Mind or intellect; Norman-Irish.
• Iarla – Earl or nobleman.
• Kieran – Little dark one; Variant of Ciarán.
• Kevin – Handsome birth; St. Kevin of Glendalough.
• Liam – Resolute protector; #1 in Ireland/US for years.
• Lorcan – Little fierce one; St. Lorcan.
• Lugh – Light or oath; God of crafts.
• Manus – Great; Donegal variant.
• Mícheál – Who is like God?; Irish Michael.
• Naoise – Mythical lover of Deirdre; Pronounced “Nee-sha”.
• Niall – Champion; Niall of the Nine Hostages.
• Oisín – Little deer; Son of Fionn; Pronounced “O-sheen”.
• Oran – Pale green; St. Oran.
• Oscar – Deer lover; Wilde’s name; Top 50 globally.
• Pádraig – Noble; Irish Patrick.

D-E

• Darragh – Oak tree; Top 20 Ireland.
• Daithi – Swiftness; Legendary high king.
• Déaglán – Variant of Declan.
• Dillan – Loyal; Modern twist.
• Donal – World ruler; Clan chief name.
• Eanna – Bird-like.
• Eimhin – Swift.
• Eirik – Eternal ruler (Irish-Norse).
• Enda – Bird-like; St. Enda of Aran.
• Eoin – God is gracious; Irish John.
• Éanna – Freedom or kernel.
• Fáelán – Little wolf.
• Faolán – Variant of Fáelán.
• Fearghal – Brave man; Pronounced “Farrell”.
• Fiachra – Raven; St. Fiachra.
• Flann – Red or ruddy.
• Flannan – Diminutive of Flann.
• Gara – Short or mast.
• Garvan – Rough.
• Gil – Bright pledge.
• Hagan – Youthful.
• Iarlaith – Tributary lord.
• Jarin – Cry of rejoicing.
• Kavan – Handsome.
• Kealan – Slender.
• Kellan – Powerful; Rising in US.
• Kieran – (Repeat for completeness).
• Lennan – Sweetheart.
• Lochlan – Land of lakes; Viking-Irish.
• Loman – Bare or small.
• Máirtín – Warlike; Irish Martin.
• Malachy – My messenger; St. Malachy.
• Manus – (Repeat).
• Maoilseachlainn – Devotee of St. Seachnall.
• Muiris – Dark-skinned; Irish Maurice.
• Neachtan – Pure.
• Nuada – Mythical king.
• Odhrán – Pale green; St. Odhrán.
• Óengus – One choice.
• Phelan – Wolf.

F-L

• Fallon – Leader (surname name).
• Farrell – Valiant.
• Gannon – Fair-skinned.
• Gilmore – Devotee of Mary.
• Hogan – Youth.
• Ivor – Archer.
• Jarlath – Prince.
• Kavan – (Repeat).
• Keegan – Small flame; Top 300 US.
• Kellen – Swamp or slender.
• Kennan – Ancient.
• Kieran – (Variant).
• Killian – Church; Variant of Cillian.
• Lachan – From the lake land.
• Lennon – Blackbird; John Lennon’s middle.
• Lir – Sea god.
• Madden – Little dog.
• Maguire – Son of the pale one.
• Mahon – Bear.
• Manning – Valiant son.
• Maoirse – Steward.
• Mícheál – (Repeat).
• Muircheartach – Skilled seaman.
• Nealon – Champion.
• Nevin – Holy or little saint.
• Nolan – Noble; Top 100 US.
• Odran – Variant of Odhrán.
• Oisin – (Variant).
• Orin – Pale.
• Peadar – Rock; Irish Peter.
• Quillan – Cub or whelp.
• Quinn – Wise; Top 100 unisex but strong boy.
• Rian – Little king; Top 50 Ireland.
• Rogan – Red-haired.
• Ronan – Little seal; St. Ronan; Popular.
• Rory – Red king; Top 20 Ireland.
• Rowan – Little red one; Nature name.
• Ruairi – Variant of Rory.
• Scanlon – Little trapper.
• Seamus – Supplanter; Irish James.
• Sean – God is gracious; Evergreen.
• Shane – God is gracious; 90s peak.
• Sloan – Warrior.
• Sullivan – Dark-eyed; Surname classic.
• Tadhg – Poet; Pronounced “Tyg”; Rising.
• Teagan – Poet (unisex).
• Tiernan – Little lord.
• Tomas – Twin; Irish Thomas.
• Torin – Chief.
• Turlough – Instigator.
• Ultan – Ulsterman.
• Vaughn – Small.
• Whelan – Joyful.
• Xander – Defender (Greek-Irish blend, rare).
• Yann – God is gracious (Breton-Irish).
• Zephyr – West wind (mythic Irish ties, rare).
• Alec – Defender (Irish adoption).
• Brice – Speckled.
• Cael – Slender.
• Dempsey – Proud.
• Ennis – Island.
• Fintan – White fire; St. Fintan.
• Gallagher – Foreign helper.
• Harkin – Dark red.
• Innis – Variant of Ennis.
• Jareth – Blend with Jared.
• Kody – Helper (modern Irish-American).
• Larkin – Rough or fierce.
• Merrick – Fame rule.
• Nyle – Champion.

M-Z

• Oisin – (Repeat for completeness).
• Piran – Prayer (Cornish-Irish).
• Quade – Descendant of Uad.
• Reagan – Little ruler.
• Shea – Hawk-like.
• Tynan – Dark.
• Uilliam – Resolute protector; Irish William.
• Vail – Valley.
• Walsh – Welshman (Irish surname).
• Ahern – Lord of horses.
• Bourke – Fortified.
• Carey – Dark.
• Dolan – Black.
• Egan – Little fire.
• Finley – Fair hero; Top 200 US.
• Grady – Noble.
• Harlan – Rocky land.
• Iagan – Little fiery one.
• Kane – Warrior; Top 300 US.
• Loman – (Repeat).
• Maguire – (Repeat).
• Nevin – (Repeat).
• O’Leary – Calf keeper.
• Quinlan – Graceful.
• Riordan – Royal poet.
• Scully – Herald.
• Tierney – Lordly.
• Ailill – Elf (mythical king).
• Breandan – Prince; Irish Brendan.
• Cillian – (Repeat).
• Dempsey – (Repeat).
• Eamon – (Repeat).
• Fionnbharr – Fair head.
• Giolla – Servant.
• Hession – From Hesse.
• Iollan – Worship.
• Kieran – (Repeat).
• Lughaidh – Oath of Lugh.
• Maitiú – Gift of God; Irish Matthew.
• Naoise – (Repeat).
• Oengus – (Repeat).
• Pól – Small; Irish Paul.
• Ruadh – Red.
• Senan – Old wise one; St. Senan.
• Tomas – (Repeat).
• Uaitéar – Ruler of the army.
• Aodhagán – Little fire.
• Báirbre – Foreign (rare boy use).
• Caoimhín – Gentle; Variant Kevin.
• Dónal – (Variant Donal).
• Eimhear – Swift (rare boy).
• Flaithrí – Prince king.
• Garbhán – Rough.
• Ioseph – God will add; Irish Joseph.
• Léan – Light (rare).
• Mánus – (Variant Manus).
• Nathair – Snake.
• Oisín – (Repeat).
• Páraic – Noble; Variant Patrick.
• Rónán – (Variant Ronan).
• Súilleabhán – Little dark eyes.
• Toirdhealbhach – Shaper.
• Uilliam – (Repeat).
• Ailbhe – (Variant Ailbe).
• Breanainn – Variant Brendan.
• Cillian – (Repeat).
• Diarmaid – (Variant Diarmuid).
• Eanna – (Repeat).
• Fergal – (Variant Fearghal).
• Gofraidh – Peace of God.
• Iomhar – Archer; Irish Ivor.
• Lúcás – Light; Irish Luke.
• Muirgheas – Sea choice.
• Naoise – (Repeat).
• Oisín – (Repeat).
• Ríoghán – Little king.
• Seosamh – (Variant Joseph).
• Turlach – (Variant Turlough).
• Uinseann – Conqueror.
• Aodhán – (Repeat).
• Cathaoir – Battle lord.
• Donnchadh – Brown warrior.
• Eimhín – (Repeat).
• Faolchu – Wolf.
• Guaire – Proud.
• Irial – Elf.
• Lachtna – Milk-colored.
• Maolmórdha – Great chief.
• Niallán – Little champion.
• Olcán – Wolf.
• Ragnall – Wise power.
• Scolaidhe – Scholar.
• Tuathal – Ruler of the people.
• Uaithne – Green.
• Ailín – Little rock.
• Bréan – Hill.
• Cnáimhseach – Bony.
• Dáireann – Fruitful.
• Eirnín – Iron.
• Flaithbertach – Bright ruler.

Why Choose an Irish Name?

Irish names connect to a rich tapestry of folklore (think Fionn mac Cumhaill’s adventures), Christian saints, and clan histories. They’re phonetic delights—often spelled one way, pronounced another—and many have surged in popularity thanks to celebrities like Saoirse Ronan, Conor McGregor, and Niall Horan.

Trends in 2025: Liam, Noah (with Irish ties via Noe), and Finn dominate globally. In Ireland, traditional revivals like Rían and Tadhg are hot.

Tips for Parents:

• Check pronunciation guides (e.g., via Forvo or Irish Central).
• Consider nicknames: Cillian → Cill, Ronan → Ro.
• Pair with middle names for flow: Finn Alexander, Rory James.

This list draws from authentic sources like the Irish Genealogy Toolkit, Behind the Name, and current baby name registries. Sláinte to your naming journey—may your little Irish lad grow strong and story-worthy!

Conclusion

Choosing an Irish boy’s name is like carrying a piece of Ireland’s soul — filled with courage, charm, and history. These names have been passed down for generations, honoring family, faith, and the natural beauty of the Emerald Isle.

From ancient warriors to modern heroes, Irish names continue to inspire parents around the world. Whether you’re drawn to a traditional Gaelic name or a modern variation, each one holds a touch of Celtic magic that never fades.