Cool Irish Names for Babies. Linda Rosenkrantz
ANNA
Going Up
And which are the names rising fastest up the ladder, those on the cusp of mega-popularity? In the last year counted, there were two first-time entries in the boys’ Top 100: Senan and Tristan, while girls’ names new to the list were Aoibheann, Aoibhinn and Jasmine. Among other names on the rise:
Girls
ALANA ELLIE LUCY
AMELIA FAYE MIA
AOIBHE GRACE RUBY
AVA ISABELLA SARAH
EABHA ISABELLE SOPHIE
ELLA KAYLA
Boys
CALLUM/Calum FIONN OSCAR
CAMERON LEO RÍAN
CHARLIE MAX RUAIRÍ
CILLIAN NOAH SAM
EVAN OISÍN
In Northern Ireland, the fastest growing boy’s name is Carter, followed by Rory and Aodhán, and for girls Kayleigh, Lucie and Poppy are on the rise. Looking at it locally, in Derry the top names were Callum and Ellie.
Irish Exports
For many decades, lively Irish names have been a prime export to the UK and the USA—dating back to the eras of Bridget, Kathleen and Eileen, Kevin, Kelly, Brian, Shannon and Seán. The trend not only continues but has accelerated in both realms.
TOP IRISH NAMES in the UK
Girls
ERIN
NIAMH
CAITLIN
SHANNON
KEIRA
Boys
RYAN
BRANDON
LIAM
RILEY
CONNOR
AIDAN
FINLAY/Finley
SEAN
KIERAN
…and
TOP IRISH NAMES in the USA
Girls
RILEY
ERIN
REAGAN
DELANEY
CASSIDY
CAITLIN
KELLY
MCKENNA
SHANNON
CASEY
TEAGAN
RYAN
TARA
Boys
AIDAN/Aiden COLIN
RYAN NOLAN
BRANDON BRODY
KEVIN SHAWN
CONNOR SHANE
SEAN BRENDAN
BRIAN DONOVAN
LIAM KEEGAN
RILEY QUINN
BRADY CASEY
COOLEST
EXPORT NAMES
…
Donovan
Blondes, Brunettes and Especially Redheads
An ever-growing number of parents subscribe to the belief that you shouldn’t name a child until you see what he or she looks like. A number of traditional Irish names fit in with this notion, meaning ‘fair’ or ‘dark’ or ‘red-haired’. The catch, of course, is that a baby’s colouring at birth may differ considerably from what it is a year—or ten or twenty—down the road.
Many of the earliest Irish names connote dark colouring or dark hair—perhaps a hint that the Gaels who arrived around the time of Christ came from Spain. Fair colouring was more unusual among the early Irish, and so more prized, with mythical and heavenly creatures often described as having golden hair. The Vikings, who invaded Ireland in the ninth and tenth centuries, made blonde and red hair more common.
You may want to consider one of these colourful choices for your own little blonde, brunette or redhead.
NAMES for DARK BABIES
Girls
BARRDHUBH
DUIBHEASA/Duvessa
BRENNA
DUIBHLEAMHNA
CAREY
DÚINSEACH
CIAR
KERRY
CIARA/Keara/Kiera/Kira
ORNA
CIARNAIT
Boys
BRANDUBH/Branduff DOUGAL
CIARAN/Kieran DOYLE
CIARMHAC DUALTACH/Duald
CRÓNÁN/Cronan DUBHÁN/Duane
DOLAN DUBH/Duff
DONNCHADH/Donagh DUBHAGÁN/Duggan
DONAHUE DUBHDARA
DONLEAVY FEARDORCHA/Farry
DONN KERWIN
DONNABHÁN/Donovan SULLIVAN
DONNAGÁN/Donegan TEIMHNÍN/Tynan
DONNÁN
Either
DARCY
DUBHTHACH/Dufach
DELANEY
DUFFY
DONNELLY
GORMAN
DUBHÓG
NAMES for FAIR BABIES
Girls
BÁINE
BÉIBHINN/Bevin
CAOILINN/Keelin
CAOIMHINN
CEALLACH/Kelly
CÉIBHIONN
FINNEACHT
FINNÉADAN
FINNSEACH
FIONA
FIONNUALA/Finola
FIONNÚIR
MUIREANN
MUIRGHEAL/Muriel
NIAMH
NUALA
UAINIONN