50 Unique Irish Baby Names with Beautiful Meanings

St. Patrick’s Day is coming (March 17!), but you don’t need any gold, luck, or rainbows to give your Mini an Irish moniker. Irish baby names have grown in popularity over the last few decades-well outside of Ireland-and chances are, you probably even know someone with a name that’s quite familiar to those in Dublin and Cork!

There’s Maeve, Finn, Liam, and Seamus, of course, but no matter where your lineage hails from or what your due date is, you might just find yourself in love with one of the below on this Gaelic-inspired list.

This article is a great place to start if you are considering an Irish name for your child, and if your surname has an Irish meaning too, then you definitely need to pick a name from this list.

Scroll down for 50 Unique Irish Baby Names along with their pronunciations and beautiful meanings.

Aoife

Pronounced “eff-fa,” this common Irish baby name means “beautiful, radiant, joyful.”

Aidan

Originating in early medieval Ireland, this popular Irish boys name meaning “little fire” ranked in the top 25 names for baby boys in the United States from 2008 to 2020.

Aisling

Meaning “dream” or “vision,” this Irish baby name is currently popular in Ireland, but has yet to make its way to the top of many American parents’ name lists.

Aileen

This Irish girl name derives from the Gaelic form of the Greek name H?l?n?, meaning “bright, shining light.”

Aine

Pronounced “Ahn-ya,” this Irish moniker is connected to fruitfulness and prosperity.

Alva

This Irish name means “white” and has risen in popularity by 59% this week, according to Nameberry.

Becan

An Irish saint’s name, we’re equally loving the nickname, “Beck,” for this Irish moniker.

Bellamy

Meaning “fine friend,” this beautiful name has both Irish and French origins and has recently emerged as a top female contender.

Branigan

Translating to “little raven,” this Irish gem is up 40% in popularity this week!

Brennan

This Irish baby name began as a common last name and has evolved into a popular first name meaning “raven” or “sorrow.”

Bronagh

A popular name in Ireland pronounced “bro-nah,” Bronagh is the name of a sixth century Irish mystic and also a character on the series, Penny Dreadful.

Callaghan

A common Irish surname, this also translates to “lover of churches.”

Caoimhe

Pronounced “kee-va,” this Irish name means “beautiful” and is also often spelled Keeva.

Carrick

This Irish boy name can be translated as the English version of “Craig.”

Cillian

While you’ve likely heard its phonetic form, Killian (#516 on the US charts), most often in the States, this Irish name currently stands at #22 in popularity in its homeland of Ireland.

Cian

This strong Irish boys name means “ancient” and is also rising on the baby name charts in England.

Clodagh

A traditional Irish girls name pronounced “clo-dah” and meaning “stony” or “name of an Irish river,” Clodagh was ranked #54 in most popular baby names in Ireland in 2023.

Connelly

Whether you choose this name—meaning “love” or “friendship”—for your son or daughter, there’s no mistaking its origins.

Darragh

This popular Irish boy name, meaning “oak tree,” has risen over 100% in popularity this week according to Nameberry.

Delaney

A common Irish surname meaning “dark challenger,” Delaney was ranked #262 in 2016.

Donovan

With ties back to 10th century Irish nobility, this Irish baby boy name means “dark” or “brown-haired chieftain.”

Eames

If you’re a mid-century buff, you’ll recognize this one as the designer of the eponymous Eames chair.

Egan

Any wild child or fiery personality would be well suited for this Irish name meaning “little fire.” Also a popular surname in Ireland, Egan is known as a trickster from old folklore.

Fiadh

Pronounced “fee-ah,” this Irish baby girl name was the second most popular girl’s name in Ireland in 2023, right after Grace. The name means “deer” and “wildness” and it’s also been called the “biggest Irish name of the 21st century.”

Finnegan

Meaning “white” or “fair-haired,” this Irish boys name is most commonly an Irish last name and easily shortens to Finn. 

Fiona

You might recognize this Irish moniker from Shrek, but there’s nothing ogre-ish about this one. Meaning “fair” or “pale,” Fiona is one of the most well-known Irish girl names.

Flynn

This trendsetting Irish name first made its debut on the US charts in 2011 and is currently a top 50 choice in both Australia and New Zealand. Celebrity parents among the likes of Miranda Kerr and Elle Macpherson.

Gannon

This historic Irish name was one of the fastest rising Irish baby names in 2014.

Gilby

If you’re expecting a fair-haired Mini, you might like this Irish name as it literally translates to “blond boy.”

Kiara

Pronounced “kee-ar-uh,” this Irish baby girl name comes from the old Irish word Cíar translating to “dark.”

Kieran

This timeless Irish baby name meaning “little dark one” or “black-haired” is said to have existed in the Irish language for over 1500 years!  

Maeve

A popular Irish baby name also rising up the US charts, Maeve means “she who rules” and appears in Irish mythology as the Queen of Connacht and the Goddess of Love and Desire.

Madigan

For a boy or girl, this Irish name offers the nickname “Maddy” and means “little dog.”

Moira

Pronounced “Moy-ra,” this is an Irish variation of Mary currently sitting at #580 on US popularity charts.

Niamh

This classic Irish name is pronounced “Neev” and comes packaged with the meaning “brightness” or “radiance.” According to legend, Niamh is the daughter of the sea god Manannan and is depicted as a beautiful princess riding a white horse.

Nylah

This strong Irish girls name means “champion” or “hero” and is commonly associated with the Irish boys name Niall. 

Oisin

This Irish boy name is pronounced “Osh-een” and according to legend, Oisin is son of the legendary warrior Fionn Mac Cool and the goddess Sive.

Orla

This feminine Irish girl name means “golden princess” and carries a history of ancient Irish queens and princesses.

Padraig

This popular Irish boys name pronounced “paw-rig” or “pawd-rig” has many variations including Pádraic, Pádhraig, Páidín, and Páidí. This name proves the point that in Ireland, the clover-clad March holiday is known as St. Patrick’s Day or St. Paddy’s Day (with a D)— nothing else.

Ronan

An ancient name that appears in Irish mythology, Ronan means “little seal.” This Irish baby boy name ranks consistently in the Top 100 Irish Boy Names.

Rooney

A gender neutral baby name with meanings including “red,” “redhead,” and “descendant of a champion,” Rooney is widely known as a last name but is growing in popularity as a first name.

Seamus

An Irish boys name with Hebrew roots, Seamus means “holder of the heel” and is the Irish version of the name James.

Sinead

This classic Irish name is easily recognized thanks to Irish figures like Sinead O’Connor and bears the meaning “God is gracious.”

Siobhan

This decidedly Irish moniker is pronounced “Sheh-vahn” and has been declared as one of the most beautiful Gaelic girl names.

Saoirse

Rising in popularity in the States thanks to actress Saoirse Ronan, this 1920’s era Irish girl name currently ranks #12 in its homeland of Ireland.

Sloan

A perfect name for a tiny fighter, this gender neutral Irish baby name means “raider” or “warrior.”

Talullah

Meaning “lady of abundance,” this Irish name is the name of an early saint and a top contender among US parents looking for a unique flair.

Teagan

If you’re looking for gender neutral Irish baby names, you’ll love this Irish name with Welsh roots that literally translates to “toy,” but has evolved into a new meaning of “darling, beautiful, and attractive.”

Tierney

This Irish surname has risen in popularity 35% this week and translates to “descendant of a lord.”

Vereen

The Irish variation of “Vero,” this one evokes Game of Thrones vibes.

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You’ll also want to browse these 35 Baby Names Inspired by Spring or these Baby Names No One Is Using Anymore.

Opening Image: Satin Sky Photography for Mini Magazine