Old Irish Names
These names were used by speakers of Old Irish. See Old Celtic names for a broader list.
171 names in our directory
Old Irish
171Máedóc is an Old Irish saint's name, most famously borne by Máedóc of Ferns (also known as Áedán), a 7th-century Irish bishop. The name's meaning is obscure, but it may derive from a nickname or a phonological variant re...
Maeleachlainn is a variant of the Old Irish name Máel Sechlainn, which itself derives from Máel Sechnaill. The name means "disciple of Saint Seachnall" (also known as Secundinus), a 5th-century Irish saint. The element m...
Máel Máedóc is an Old Irish name meaning "disciple of Saint Máedóc." The name combines máel, meaning "devotee" or "servant" (often used in early Irish names to denote a relationship to a saint), with the name of the 7th-...
Máel Sechlainn is a variant of Máel Sechnaill, an Old Irish name meaning "disciple of Saint Seachnall." The name derives from the Gaelic element máel ("bald, tonsured," hence "follower or devotee of a saint") combined wi...
Máel Sechnaill is an Old Irish male given name meaning "disciple of Saint Seachnall." The name reflects a common Gaelic practice of forming theophoric names with the element máel ("disciple, servant") followed by a saint...
Mainchíne is an Old Irish masculine given name, representing an early form of Mainchín, and is considered a predecessor to the modern Irish surname Mannix. It means "little monk", derived from the Old Irish word manach (...
Mairenn is a variant of Muirenn, an Old Irish name that appears in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology. The name Muirenn is thought to derive from the Old Irish elements muir "sea" and finn "white, blessed", giving a com...
Mathgamain is an Old Irish masculine name that literally means "bear". It is a compound of the elements math, also meaning "bear", and gamuin meaning "calf". The name thus carries the imagery of a bear calf, a term assoc...
Mellán is the Old Irish form of Meallán, a masculine name with uncertain etymological roots. Derived from the element mell, Meallán may signify either “pleasant, delightful” or “lump, ball,” combined with a diminutive su...
Muadnat is the Old Irish form of Muadhnait, deriving from the diminutive of the poetic word muad, meaning "noble, good." In Old Irish, the suffix -nat forms feminine diminutives, so Muadnat carries the sense of "little n...
Muirchertach is an Irish male given name meaning "mariner." It derives from the elements muir (sea) and ceard (craft) or is interpreted as "skilled in sea-craft." The name was borne by several notable figures in Irish le...
Muiredach is an Old Irish masculine name, the earlier form of Muireadhach. From Old Irish Muiredach, the name means "lord, master" or "chieftain". It was borne by numerous legendary and historical kings in early Ireland...
Muirenn is an Irish feminine given name, derived from the Old Irish elements muir "sea" and finn "white, blessed". It is closely related to the name Muirne, of which Muirenn is considered another form. In Irish mythology...
Muirgel is an Old Irish feminine name meaning "bright sea", derived from the elements muir "sea" and gel "bright". The name is known primarily from a single historical figure from 9th-century Ireland.Historical BearerThe...
Murchad is an Old Irish form of Murchadh, a masculine name meaning "sea battle" from Old Irish muir "sea" and cath "battle". This name was borne by several medieval Irish chieftains and kings, reflecting its popularity a...
Nechtan is a male given name of Irish origin with uncertain meaning, possibly from a Celtic root meaning "damp", and is considered a cognate with the name Neptune. In Irish mythology, Nechtan was the husband of Boann, th...
Niall is an Irish given name of ancient origin, derived from the Neil name lineage. Its meaning has been debated for centuries, with scholars such as John Ryan arguing that "its meaning was lost before records began." Co...
Nuadu is the Old Irish form of Nuada, a prominent figure in Irish mythology. The name likely derives from the Celtic god Nodens, associated with hunting, fishing, and healing. In medieval texts, Nuadu was euhemerized as...
Odarnat is the Old Irish form of Odharnait, an early Irish saint's name. The name derives from the element odar meaning "dun-coloured, greyish brown, tan" combined with a diminutive suffix.EtymologyThe root element odar...
EtymologyOdrán is the Old Irish form of Odhrán, which derives from the element odar meaning "dun-coloured, greyish brown, tan" combined with a diminutive suffix. The name thus originally signified "little dun one" or "li...
Oébfinn is an Old Irish feminine name, the ancestral form of Aoibheann. It derives from the elements oíb, meaning "beauty, appearance, form," and finn, meaning "white, blessed." The name thus conveys a sense of fair or b...
Óengus is an Old Irish name, the original form of Aonghus, which is borne by a prominent god in Irish mythology. The name is believed to mean "one strength" or "true vigour," derived from Proto-Celtic elements *oino- ("o...
Etymology and OriginOissíne is the Old Irish form of Oisín, a name that means "little deer" (from Old Irish oss "deer, stag" plus a diminutive suffix). The name appears in early Irish manuscripts as the original spelling...
Órlaith is a feminine Irish given name derived from Old Irish elements ór ("gold") and flaith ("ruler, sovereign, princess"), meaning "golden ruler" or 'golden princess.' The name appears in medieval Irish records and is...
Pátraic is the Old Irish form of Patrick, a name with deep religious and historical significance in Ireland. Derived from the Latin Patricius, meaning "nobleman," Patrick was famously borne by the 5th-century missionary...
Etymology and OriginRathnat is the Old Irish form of Rathnait, a feminine given name of early medieval Irish origin. The name is derived from the Old Irish word rath, meaning "grace, prosperity", combined with a diminuti...
Riacán is an Old Irish masculine name, the original form from which the modern Irish Riagán derives. The name is thought to be composed of the Old Irish element rí, meaning "king," combined with a diminutive suffix, effe...
Rian is a given name used in multiple languages, functioning as an Irish form of Ryan as well as an English and Brazilian variant. It can also appear as a surname. In Irish, it is often spelled Rían, while in English-spe...
Rígán is a masculine given name of Old Irish origin. It is the earlier form of Ríoghán, which in turn derives from a diminutive of rí "king" (or its derivative ríg "royal"), combined with a diminutive suffix, thus carryi...
Rígbarddán is an Old Irish masculine given name, evoking a diminutive or cherished figure whose identity is anchored in both kingship and poetic tradition. The name breaks down into three components: rí (genitive ríg), m...
EtymologyRónán is an Irish and Old Irish male given name meaning "little seal." It is derived from Old Irish rón ("seal") combined with a diminutive suffix, often translated as "little seal." The name dates back to Primi...
Rúadán is the Old Irish form of Ruadhán, a name derived from rúad "red" plus a diminutive suffix, thus meaning "little red one." Etymology The name originates from the Old Irish adjective rúad "red", which in modern Iris...
Ruaidrí is the Old Irish form of Ruaidhrí, a Gaelic name meaning "red king" (from rúad "red" and rí "king"). This name was borne by notable medieval Irish rulers, most famously Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (Rory O'Connor), the...
Ruarcc is an Old Irish masculine name, a historical form of Ruarc. It appears in early medieval Irish records and is phonetically close to the modern Irish and Scottish names often anglicized as Rory or Roderick.Etymolog...
Sadb is an Irish feminine name from the Old Irish period. It is probably derived from the Proto-Celtic root *swādu- meaning "sweet", making it cognate with the Sanskrit svādú-, Ancient Greek hēdýs, Latin suāvis, and Engl...
Sechnall is an Old Irish name, the ancient form of Seachnall. It is ultimately derived from the Latin name Secundinus, a Roman family name itself based on the praenomen Secundus, meaning "second" in Latin. This name is s...
Ségdae is an Old Irish masculine given name, ultimately the source of the modern Irish name Séaghdha. The name is derived from the Old Irish adjective ségda, meaning "fine, good, favourable" or "learned." It thus origina...
Senán is an Irish name derived from Old Irish sen 'old' combined with a diminutive suffix, meaning 'little old one'. It is particularly associated with Saint Senán, a 6th-century monk who founded a monastery on Inis Cath...
Síthmaith is an Old Irish feminine given name, composed of the elements síd, meaning "peace" or alternatively "fairy mound" (belonging to the aos sí or fairy folk), and maith, meaning "good". The name thus translates as...
Sláine is an Irish and Old Irish given name, derived from the Old Irish element slán, meaning "health" or "safety". This meaning reflects the name's auspicious connotations, wishing well-being upon its bearer. In Irish m...
Suibne is an Old Irish masculine name, the form of Suibhne. Derived from the Old Irish word subae meaning "joy" or "pleasure," the name carries connotations of delight and blessing. In early Irish history and legend, sev...
Tadg is the Old Irish form of Tadhg, a name that has deep roots in Gaelic Ireland. The meaning of Tadhg is "poet" or "philosopher", derived from a word associated with storytelling and wisdom. This etymology reflects the...
Tadgán is an Old Irish diminutive of Tadhg, which itself derives from the Old Irish word tadg meaning "poet" [3]. The name thus carries the meaning of "little poet" or "poet's son", following a common Gaelic naming patte...
Tairdelbach is the Old Irish form of Toirdhealbhach, a name steeped in the history of medieval Ireland. The name derives from the Old Irish tairdelb, meaning "instigator" or "prompting," suggesting a figure who takes ini...
Tigernach is an old Irish name derived from Tighearnach, ultimately from the Old Irish element tigerna meaning "lord". This name carries the significance of nobility and authority, reflecting the hierarchical structures...
Tigernán is the Old Irish form of Tighearnán. Tighearnán derives from the Old Irish word tigerna meaning "lord" combined with a diminutive suffix, giving the name its meaning of "little lord". This etymology places it wi...
Tressach is an Old Irish masculine given name, representing an earlier spelling of Treasach. The name derives from the Old Irish word tressach, meaning "warlike, fierce" or "strong, enduring". It appears in early Irish a...
Túathal is an Old Irish masculine name meaning "ruler of the people", derived from the elements túath meaning "people, country" and fal meaning "rule". A different etymology, attested in medieval sources, interprets the...
Etymology Tuathflaith is an Old Irish feminine given name, composed of the elements túath meaning "people" or "country", and flaith meaning "ruler", "sovereign", or "princess". The name thus translates to "princess of th...
Tuileflaith is an Old Irish feminine name, historically recorded as an early variant of the more familiar Talulla. The name is composed of two elements: tuile meaning "abundance" and flaith meaning "ruler, sovereign, pri...
Ultán is an Irish masculine given name, derived from the Old Irish word Ultach, meaning "of Ulster" or "Ulsterman." Ulster, the northern province of Ireland, lends its name to this term, which historically referred to th...