Unique Irish Baby Names

Finding the perfect name for your baby is a unique experience. Many times, parents look to genealogy to guide them in their name selection.

Having come from a very Irish family, many names I've looked at have been Irish in origin. Irish names have a great deal of meaning behind them and are rooted in mythology, nature and history. If you're Irish or like Irish names, take a look at this unique list of names and their backgrounds.

BOYS

1. Cian/Kian: pronounced "key + in", comes from the Irish word cian "ancient, enduring."

2. Deaglan: pronounced "deck + lan", comes from the Irish words dag "good" and lan "full", suggesting the meaning, "full of goodness." Declan is an alternative form.

3. Eamon/Eamonn: pronounced "aim + an", is the Irish form of Old English ead "rich" + mund "guardian" and suggests "guardian of the riches."

4. Malachi: pronounced "mala + kee", is adopted from the name of the Hebrew prophet "Malachi," whose name means "messenger of God."

5. Ruari: pronounced "ro + ree", means "red king, great king." In Irish history, Rory O'Connor was the last High King of Ireland.

GIRLS

1. Aine: pronounced "awn + ya", is an ancient Irish name from the noun aine, which means "splendor, radiance, brilliance." Aine, queen of the Munster fairies, is a popular figure in Irish legends.

2. Caoimhe: pronounced "kee + va", comes from the Irish word caomh (keev) meaning "gentle, beautiful, precious." Alternative forms are Keeva and Keva.

3. Grainne/Grania: pronounced "graw +nya", means "grain, corn." Grainne Ni Mhaille (Grace O'Malley) was a renowned sea captain who led a band of sea-raiders in the sixteenth century. She is often seen as a poetic symbol for Ireland.

4. Roisin: pronounced "ro + sheen", comes from the Latin name Rosa and means "little rose." Roisin Dubh ("Dark Rosaleen") was the title of a famous Gaelic patriotic poem, Roisin being the symbol of Ireland. The English form is Rosaleen.

5. Saoirse : pronounced "sear + sha", comes from the same Irish word meaning "freedom, liberty."

For more names and pronunciations with sound clips, see this website.

Baby Names of Ireland.com