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
171Damán is the Old Irish form of Damhán, an Irish name meaning "little calf, fawn." The name is derived from the Old Irish element dam, meaning "ox" or "deer," combined with a diminutive suffix. In early Irish tradition, t...
Damnat is an Old Irish form of the name Damhnait, which means "calf" or "fawn" in Irish, derived from the element dam meaning "ox" or "deer" and a diminutive suffix. Damnat is thus a feminine name of ancient Gaelic origi...
Declán is the Old Irish form of the name Declan, a name of uncertain etymology. This historical spelling is preserved in the records of the early Irish saint Declán of Ardmore, whose name in Old Irish was Declán mac Eirc...
Derbáil is an Old Irish feminine name, etymologically derived as the Dearbháil of its time. The name combines the prefix der meaning "daughter" with Fál, a legendary name for Ireland, thus signifying "daughter of Fál." T...
Derbiled is the Old Irish form of Deirbhile, a name meaning "daughter of a poet" from Old Irish der "daughter" and fili "poet". Etymology The name Deirbhile combines the elements der (daughter) an...
Diarmait is the Old Irish form of the name Diarmaid. Diarmaid's meaning is uncertain, though it has been suggested to mean "without envy" in Irish. The name is deeply rooted in Irish mythology and history, primarily thro...
Domnall is an Old Irish form of Domhnall (see Donald). The name is composed of the Old Irish elements domun meaning "world" and fal meaning "rule", ultimately giving the meaning "ruler of the world". The name Domnall was...
Donnchad is an Old Irish name, the historical form of Donnchadh (see Duncan). It is composed of the elements donn meaning "brown" or "dark" (also the name of a Gaelic god) and cath meaning "battle," thus translating to "...
Donndubán is an Old Irish masculine name composed of the elements donn “brown”, dub “dark”, and a diminutive suffix, giving it a meaning akin to “little brown dark one” or “little dark brown one”. The name is historicall...
Dubán is an Old Irish given name, the original Gaelic form of the later Anglicized name Dubhán. It derives from the Old Irish word dub meaning "dark" or "black," combined with a diminutive suffix, thus conveying the sens...
Dubgall is the Old Irish Dougal.EtymologyThe name derives from Old Irish dub meaning "dark" and gall meaning "stranger", thus "dark stranger". This likely referred to a Viking or foreigner with dark hair, distinguishing...
Dubhshláine is an Old Irish masculine name whose etymology reflects the layered symbolic and geographic associations of early Irish naming traditions. The first element comes from dub "dark, black" – a frequent component...
Dubthach is an Old Irish masculine personal name derived from the element dub meaning "dark, black" combined with a second element of uncertain origin and meaning. The name appears in both Irish legend and early Christia...
Echdonn is an Old Irish name that serves as the original form of Eachann. It is derived from the elements ech meaning "horse" and donn meaning "brown", thus carrying the meaning "brown horse". This name was historically...
Echthigern is an Old Irish masculine name meaning "horse lord," derived from the elements ech "horse" and tigerna "lord." This compound name reflects the cultural importance of horses in early medieval Ireland, where hor...
Eithne (Irish pronunciation: [ˈɛhnʲə]) is a feminine given name of Irish origin, meaning "kernel" or "grain" — derived from the Old Irish word etne. The name is deeply rooted in Irish mythology, history, and hagiography....
EtymologyÉnna is an Old Irish masculine given name, possibly derived from the Old Irish word én meaning “bird.” This etymology suggests a connection to freedom, flight, or—in a Christian context—t...
Énnae is a variant of Énna, an Old Irish masculine given name. The name ultimately derives from the Old Irish word én meaning "bird." This etymology reflects a common Celtic naming tradition that draws upon elements from...
Eochaid (also written Eochaidh; earlier Eochu or Eocho, sometimes anglicised as Eochy, Achaius, or Haughey) is an Old Irish masculine given name derived from the noun ech meaning "horse", and thus signifies "horseman". T...
Eógan is an early Irish male given name, pronounced approximately [ˈoːɣən]. In Modern Irish, the name has developed into Eoghan, while the Latin-derived form was Eugenius. The name's ultimate root is Eugene, from the Gre...
Étaín is a name from Irish mythology, derived from a diminutive form of Old Irish ét, meaning "jealousy" or "passion". In modern Irish, it is properly spelled Éadaoin. The name is borne by the heroine of the 9th-century...
Fachtna is an Old Irish masculine given name, possibly derived from the Old Irish word facht meaning "malice". In Irish mythology, Fachtna is best known as a legendary high king of Ireland. According to some traditions,...
Fáelán is an Old Irish given name, the original form of the later Irish name Faolán. Derived from *fáel (first attested in Middle Irish as fáel), meaning “wolf,” combined with the diminutive suffix -án, the name literall...
Féchín is an Old Irish masculine given name, meaning "little raven." It derives from the Old Irish element fiach ("raven") combined with a diminutive suffix, thus conveying the sense of a small or young raven. This name...
Fedelm (also spelled Feidelm or Feidhelm, and modernized as Fidelma or Fedelma) is a female name from Irish mythology and early Irish history. It is possibly a feminine form of Feidlimid, a name traditionally interpreted...
Fedelmid is a variant of the Old Irish name Feidlimid, borne in early Irish history and legend. The root name Feidlimid is traditionally said to mean "ever good," though it may be related to the Old Irish word feidil mea...
Fedlimid is a variant of the Irish name Feidlimid, which has ancient roots in Gaelic culture. The meaning of Feidlimid is traditionally said to be "ever good", though it may also be related to the Old Irish word feidil m...
Féichín is a variant of the Old Irish name Féchín, meaning "little raven". Derived from the Old Irish element fiach "raven" combined with a diminutive suffix, it reflects a common Celtic naming tradition of linking human...
Feidlimid is an Old Irish masculine given name, traditionally said to mean "ever good", though it might be related to Old Irish feidil meaning "enduring, constant". It is the older form of the modern Irish names Feidhlim...
Ferchar is an Old Irish masculine name that serves as the precursor to the later Scottish Gaelic form Fearchar. It derives from two elements: fer meaning "man" and carae meaning "friend," thus the overall sense is "man-f...
Fergal is an Irish male given name, meaning "man of valour", derived from the Old Irish elements fer "man" and gal "valour". It is the usual Anglicization of the Modern Irish form Fearghal, and is also used in its own ri...
Fergus is a given name of Irish and Scottish origin, derived from the Old Irish elements fer meaning "man" and guss meaning "vigour, strength, force," thus connoting "man of vigour." The name is traditional in both Irela...
Fiachna is an Old Irish masculine given name derived from fiach, meaning "raven". The raven was a significant bird in Celtic mythology, often associated with prophecy and war. In Irish legend, several characters bear the...
Fiachrae is the Old Irish form of Fiachra, a traditionally Irish masculine name. Its etymology is complex, drawing from Old Irish elements: possibly fiach meaning "raven" or fích meaning "battle", combined with rí meanin...
Finn 1 is an Anglicized form of Fionn, an Old Irish name meaning "white" or "blessed," derived from the finn element. It is widely used in Dutch, English, German, and Irish contexts, where it often functions as a given n...
Finnán is an Old Irish masculine given name, an older form of Fionnán. The name derives from the same root as the legendary hero Fionn, with the diminutive suffix -án, thus literally meaning “little fair one” or “little...
EtymologyFinnbarr is the Old Irish form of the name Finbar, itself an Anglicized rendering of the Irish Fionnbharr. The name is composed of two Old Irish elements: finn meaning 'white, blessed' and barr meaning 'top, hea...
Finnén is an Old Irish variant of Finnian, derived from the element finn meaning "white, blessed" in Old Irish. This name shares its root with the mythological hero Finn (Fionn mac Cumhaill) and reflects a common Gaelic...
Fintan is an Irish given name, traditionally derived from Old Irish elements possibly meaning either "white fire" or "white ancient." In Irish mythology, Fintan mac Bóchra is a legendary figure who, according to the myth...
Flaithrí is an Old Irish masculine given name, composed of the elements flaith ("ruler, sovereign, prince") and rí ("king"), giving it the meaning of "king of princes." This compound structure reflects a common pattern i...
Flann is an Irish given name meaning "blood red" in the Irish language. In Old Irish, flann was a common element in masculine names and epithets. The name is historically associated with royalty and scholarship in early...
Flannán is an Irish male given name, derived as a diminutive of Flann, meaning "blood red" in Irish. The name carries the legacy of an early Irish saint, Flannán mac Toirrdelbaig (Latin: Flannanus), who lived in the 7th...
Gallcobar is an Old Irish masculine given name, the archaic form of Gallchobhar. The name derives from the Old Irish elements gall meaning "stranger" or "foreigner" and cobar meaning "desiring" or "cager". Thus, Gallcoba...
Etymology and HistoryGarbán is the Old Irish form of Garbhán, a name derived from the Old Irish word garb meaning "rough". The suffix -án is a diminutive, giving the name the sense of "little rough one". This name was bo...
Gobbán is an Old Irish masculine name, the historical spelling of Gobán. It derives from the Old Irish word gobae meaning "smith" combined with a diminutive suffix, thus literally "little smith." The name may also be a d...
Gobnat is an Old Irish feminine name, the historical form of Gobnait. It derives from a root element meaning smith, reflecting a strong cultural association with craftsmanship and metalworking in early Irish society.Etym...
Gormflaith is a variant of the Old Irish feminine name Gormlaith, which derives from the elements gorm meaning "blue" or "illustrious" and flaith meaning "ruler, sovereign, princess". The name thus signifies "dark/illust...
Gormlaith is an Old Irish feminine given name, historically also spelled Gormflaith. It is a compound of the Gaelic elements gorm meaning "blue" or "illustrious" and flaith meaning "ruler", "sovereign", or "princess". Th...
Gráinne is a prominent figure in Irish mythology and a traditional Irish first name, most likely derived from the Old Irish word grán meaning "grain" or possibly gráin meaning "hatred, fear." The name carries a rich lega...
Iarlaithe is an Old Irish masculine name combining an uncertain first element with flaith "ruler, sovereign". The first element may be interpreted as iar "after" or iar "west", but its exact meaning is unknown. The name...
Íte is the Old Irish form of the name Íde, later anglicized as Ita. The name is believed to derive from the Old Irish word ítu, meaning "thirst." This root evolved into a spiritual connotation—"thirst for holiness"—which...
Lachtnae is an Old Irish masculine given name, originating from the element lacht meaning "milk" (itself borrowed from Latin lact-). The name thus means "milk-coloured" or "grey". It is the direct Old Irish form of the l...
Lochlainn is an Irish and Old Irish masculine given name meaning "Viking, Scandinavian" from Old Irish Lochlann, a name for Scandinavia. The name derives from loch meaning "lake" and literally translates to "land of the...
Lóegaire is an Old Irish masculine given name meaning "calf herder," derived from the Old Irish word lóeg ("calf"). The name appears in early Irish literature and history, borne by figures from legend, myth, and the earl...
Lommán is an Old Irish masculine name that derives from the word lomm meaning "bare" combined with a diminutive suffix, giving the meaning "little bare one." This name belonged to a 5th-century Irish saint who was a neph...
Lonán is an Irish and Old Irish masculine name that means "little blackbird". It is derived from the Old Irish word lon ("blackbird") combined with a diminutive suffix, giving it an affectionate or endearing quality. The...
Lorccán is an Old Irish given name that serves as the early medieval form of Lorcán. The name is composed of the Old Irish element lorcc, meaning "fierce," and a diminutive suffix, giving it the sense of "little fierce o...
Lugaid (also anglicized as Lughaidh) is a masculine given name of Irish origin, derived from the Old Irish Lugaid. It is a compound name combining the name of the mythological god Lugh with Old Irish dech meaning 'honour...
Luigsech is an Old Irish feminine name, likely derived from the mythological figure Lugh. In Irish mythology, Lugh Lámfada was a divine hero and leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann, known for his skills in many arts. The name...
Macdara is an Irish male given name derived from the Gaelic Mac Dara, meaning “son of oak.” The name originally functioned as a patronymic—a directional identifier based on an ancestor’s name—but later became a given nam...