Irish name
A formalIrish-languagenameconsists of agiven nameand asurname, as in English. Surnames in Irish are generallypatronymicin etymology, although they are no longer literal patronyms, asIcelandic namesare. The form of a surname varies according to whether its bearer ismaleorfemale, and in the case of amarriedwoman, whether she chooses to adopt her husband's surname.
An alternative traditional naming convention, not used for official purposes but generalised inGaeltachtaíor Irish-speaking areas, (and also surviving in some rural non-gaeltacht areas) consists of the first name followed by a double patronym, usually with the father and grandfather's names. Sometimes the name of the mother or grandmother may be used instead of that of the father or grandfather.
First names
The Irish have a traditional system for naming children:[citation needed]the first son is named after the father's father, the second son after the mother's father, the third son after the father, the first daughter after the mother's mother, the second daughter after the father's mother, the third daughter after the mother. Any further children are named by the parents' choice. This has led to some spectacular names being made more common, for example there are plenty of Assumptas and Perpetuas, and many girls were named after Saints Theresa and Bernadette in the 1950s shortly after they were canonised. Many families still adhere to this way of naming children, although it is becoming less common nowadays with the influx of more secular names from the world of TV and popular music[citation needed]. Traditional names, like Gráinne, Áine and Cathal, or Irish versions of Norman names, such as Seán (from Norman French Jean), Siobhán and Sinéad, are also very common. It's possible for several cousins to have exactly the same name, e.g. Daniel Murphy, if all their fathers were brothers, and they are named after the same grandfather. To avoid confusion a pet name may be used, or a middle name e.g. Daniel Patrick may be called Dan Pat, and Daniel John may be called Danny John. Though it has been seen in older high class families[citation needed]where family records are present that the child's name can be that of an ancestor or famous person, such a thing is most prominent in the isolated families, such as the Mac Cana's of Armagh and the Mac Gillachs of Donegal whose families have dated back to the 10th century.
Epithets
A first name may be modified by an adjective to distinguish its bearer from other people with the same name.Mór("big") andÓg("young") are used to distinguish father and son, like Englishjuniorandsenior, but are placed between the given name and the surname:Seán Óg Ó Súilleabháincorresponds to "John O'Sullivan Jr."(although anglicised versions of the name often drop the "O'" from the name).
The wordBeag/Beg, meaning "little", can be used in place ofÓg. This did not necessarily indicate that the younger person was small in stature, merely younger than his father. Sometimesbeagwould be used to imply a baby was small at birth – and premature – particularly when the baby was born less than 9 months after marriage.
Adjectives denoting hair colour may also be used, especially informally:Pádraig Rua("red-haired Patrick"),Máire Bhán("fair-haired Mary").
Surnames and prefixes
A male's surname generally takes the formÓ/Ua(originally "grandson") orMac("son") followed by thegenitive caseof a name, as inÓ Dónaill("grandson of Dónall") orMac Gearailt("son of Gerald").
A son has the same surname as his father. A female's surname replacesÓwithNí(reduced fromIníon Uí- "daughter of the grandson of") andMacwithNic(reduced fromIníon Mhic- "daughter of the son of"); in both cases the following name undergoeslenition. Thus the daughter of a man named Ó Dónaill has the surnameNí Dhónailland the daughter of a man named Mac Gearailt has the surnameNic Gearailt. If, however, the second part of the surname begins with the letterCorG, it is not lenited afterNic:Nic Carthaigh,Nic Gearailt.[citation needed]When anglicised, the name can remain O' or Mac, regardless of gender.
If a woman marries, she may choose to take her husband's surname. In this case,Óis replaced byBean Uí("wife of the grandson of") andMacbyBean Mhic("wife of the son of"). In both casesbeanmay be omitted, in which case the woman uses simplyUíorMhic. Again, the second part of the surname is lenited (unless it begins withC, in which case it is only lenited afterUí). Thus a woman marrying a man named Ó Dónaill may choose to be useBean Uí DhónaillorUí Dhónaillas her surname; a woman marrying a man named Mac Gearailt may choose to useBean Mhic GearailtorMhic Gearailt.
If the second part of the surname begins with avowel, the formÓattaches anhto it, as inÓ hUiginn(O'Higgins) orÓ hAodha(Hughes). The other forms effect no change:Ní Uiginn,(Bean) Uí Uiginn;Mac Aodha,Nic Aodha,Mhic Aodha, and so forth.
Magis often used instead ofMacbefore a vowel or (sometimes) the silentfh. The single female form of "Mag" is "Nig".
Uais an alternative form ofÓ.
Some names ofNormanorigin have the prefixFitz, fromLatinfilius"son", such as Fitzwilliam, Fitzgerald, and so forth.
Male / Female / Anglicised / MeaningÓ/Ua / Ní / O’ / grandson/granddaughter of
Mac / Nic / Mc / son/daughter of
— / (Bean) Uí / O’ / wife of the grandson of
— / (Bean) Mhic / Mc / wife of the son of
Additives
Many Irish surnames are concentrated in particular parts of the country and there are areas where a single surname may account for a large proportion of the population. Examples include O'Reilly/Reilly in Co. Cavan, Ryan in Co. Tipperary and East Co. Limerick and O'Sullivan in the Beara peninsula of West Cork. In such cases, the surname may also contain an additive in popular usage to differentiate one group bearing the same surname from another.
Additives are particularly common among those bearing the Ryan surname. Examples include Ryan Lacken, Ryan Luke and Ryan Doc. A man christened Thomas Ryan might be known as Tommy Doc and his family might be referred as the Docs. While the additive is not part of a person's official name, it may be used in a postal address, on an election register or in newspaper reports. In this case, Tommy Doc might be written as Thomas Ryan (D).
Like the surname, the additive is passed down from father to child. However, if a person becomes well-known by a nickname of his own, his children may take his nickname as an additive. For example, if Tommy Ryan Doc was often referred to as "Badger", his son Patrick might referred to orally as Pat Badger and written as Patrick Ryan (B).
Traditional Gaeltacht names
In Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) areas it remains customary to use a name composed of the first name, followed by the father's name in thegenitive case, followed by the name of the paternal grandfather, also in the genitive. Thus Seán Ó Cathasaigh (Sean O'Casey), son of Pól, son of Séamus, would be known to his neighbours as Seán Phóil Shéamuis. Occasionally, if the mother or grandmother was a well-known person locally, her name may be used instead of that of the father or grandfather. If the mother's name is used, then that of the maternal grandfather (or potentially grandmother) follows it, for example, Máire Sally Eoghain.
These names are not used for official purposes. Often a nickname or English version of a name is used in their composition where the person would use a standard Irish form in formal circumstances. For example, the prominent sean-nós singerSeán Mac Dhonnchadhais perhaps better known as Johnny Mhairtín Learaí.
This naming system also survives to a certain extent in rural areas outside the existing Gaeltacht. For example, it is still in use in parts of countiesLondonderryandTyronelocated in the Sperrins. The system can be particularly useful for distinguishing individuals who live in the same locale, and who share a common surname but are not closely related. For example, two individuals named John McEldowney, might be known as "John Patsy Den" and "John Mary Philip" respectively.
Lists
Common given names
For a more comprehensive list, seeList of Irish-language given names
Many Irish given names were replaced by English equivalents that sounded something like the original Gaelic form (at least to English ears) but were etymologically unrelated. Examples include:
Irish origin
Name / English/Anglicised formÁed/ÁedánAodhán / Aidan/Aiden
Aengus/Óengus / Angus
Áine / Anne
Aisling / Ashlin/Ashlyn
Aodh / Hugh
Aoife / Eva
Bairre/Bearrach / Barrie/Barry
Brénainn/Breandán / Brendan/Brandon
Brian / Bryan
Brighid, Breda / Bridget
Caitlín / Cathleen/Kathleen
Caoimhe / Kieva
Caoimhín / Kevin
Cathal / Charles
Cianáin / Keenan
Ciara / Keira/Kiera
Ciarán / Keiran/Kieran
Cailean/Coilean / Colin/Collin
Cillian / Killian
Ceallach/Ceallaigh / Kelly/Kelley
Céilí/Céilidh / Kaylee/Kaylie/Kayleigh
Cianáin / Keenan
Cliodhna/Clíona / Cleena
Colm/Colum / Cullum
Conán / Conan
Conchob(h)ar / Conor/Connor
Cormac / —
Carraig / Craig
Dáithí / David
Dearbhla / Dervla
Deirdre / —
Donnchadh/Donnchadha / Donagh/Denis
Diarmaid/Diarmait / Dermot
Domhnall/Dónall / Donald/Daniel
Dubhglas / Douglas
Eibhlín/Eilín / Eileen
Eithne / Etna/Enya
Émer/Eimear / —
Eoin/Eoghan / Owen
Étaín/Éadaoin / Aideen
Fearganainm / Ferdinand
Fergus/Fearghus / Fergus
Féilim / Felix
Fiach / —
Fíonna / Fiona
Fionnbharr / Finbar
Fionnuala / Finella/Finuala
Gráinne / Granya/Grace
Lorcán/Lorcain / Larkin/Lauren/Laurence
Maoileachlainn / Malachy
Meabh / Medbh / Meadhbh / Mave/Maev(e)
Muirgheal / Muriel
Niall / Neil/Neal
Niamh / Neve/Niav/Neave
Nuala / —
Odhrán / Oran
Oisín / Ossian
Órla/Órlaith / Orla
Ríoghan / Ryan
Róisín / Rosheen/Rosaleen
Rónán / Ronan
Ros / Ross
Ruai(dh)rí/Ruarí(dh) / Rory
Saorlaith / Searla(h)
Seán / John
Siobhán / Shivaune/Shivaun/Shivonne
Sorcha/Saoirse / Sarah
Tadhg / Teague
Treabhair / Trevor
Ultan / —
Úna / Una/Oona
Foreign origin
Shona Shauna
Name / Irish (Gaelic) formAaron / Árón
Adam / Ádam/Ádhamh
Alan / Ailin
Andrew / Aindréas/Aindriú
Arthur / Artúr
Bernard / Bearnárd
Catherine / Catraoine/Caitríona
Charles / Séarlas
Christopher / Críostóir
David / Dáithí
Daniel / Dainéal/Dómhnall/Dónall
Edward / Éadbhard
E(a)dmund / Eamon(n)/Éamon(n)
Francis/Frances / Proinsias
Frederick / Feardorcha
Gerard / Gearóid
Geoffrey/Jeffrey / Séafra
George / Seoirse
Gregory / Gréagóir/Greagoir
William / Liam/Uilliam
Patrick / Pádraic/Pádraig/Páraic
James / Séamus/Séamas
Janet/Jeanette / Sinéad
Laurence/Lawrence / Labhrás
Mary / Máire
Martin / Máirtín
Matthew / Maitiú
Michael / Mícheál
Honora/Nora / Nóra/Nóirín
Peter / Peadar
Philip / Pilib
Paul / Pól/Póil
Rachel / Ráichéal
Raymond / Réamann/Réamonn
Richard / Risteárd/Ristéard/Riocard
Robert / Roibeárd
Joseph / Seosamh
Samuel / Somhairle
Sarah / Sorcha
Simon / Síomón
Solomon / Solamh
Stephen / Stíofán
Theodore / Téodóir
Thomas/Timothy / Tomás/Tomaltach
Vincent / Uinsean
Surnames
In some cases, for exampleGarrett FitzGerald, "Mac Gearailt" is a translation to Irish from theNorman-derived "Fitzgerald".
Annlúin / Ó hAnnlúinn (Hanlon, O'Hanlon)
Breathneach (Walsh)
Caomhánach (Cavanaugh, Cavanacht, Kavanaugh, Kavanacht)
de Buitléir (Butler)
de Burgh / de Burca (Burke)
Ó Baoill / Ó Baoighill (O'Boyle, Boyle)
Ó Branagáin (O'Brannigan, Brannigan, Branagan, Brangan)
Ó Braonáin/Mac Braonáin (O'Brennan, MacBrennan, McBrennan, Brennan)
Ó Breaslain (O'Breslin,Breslin)
Ó Briain (O'Brian,O'Brien)
Ó Broin (O'Byrne,Byrne, Byrnes)
Ó Broithe (O'Brophy,Brophy)
Ó Cadhla (Kiely)
Ó Cairbre (O'Carbery, O'Carberry, Carbery, Carberry)
Ó Caoimh (O'Keeffe, O'Keefe, Keeffe, Keefe)
Ó Caollaidhe (O'Kealy, O'Keely, Kealy, Keely, Queally)
Ó Carra (O'Carr, Carr)
Ó Catháin / Ó Cahan (O'Kane, O'Keane, O'Kean, O'Cain, Kane, Keane, Kean, Cain)
Ó Cathal (O'Cahill, Cahill)
Ó Cathasaigh (O'Casey, Casey)
Ó Ceallacháin (O'Callaghan, Callaghan)
Ó Ceallaigh (O'Kelly,Kelly)
Ó Cearnaigh (O'Kearney, O'Carney, O'Carnie, Kearney/Carney/Carnie)
Ó Ceanndubhain (O'Canavan/Canavan/Kinavan)
Ó Cillín (O'Killeen, Killeen)
Ó Cinnéide (O'Kennedy,Kennedy)
Cinnseallaigh (Kinsella)
Ó Cionnaith (O'Kenny, O'Kenney, Kenny, Kenney)
Ó Ciosain (O'Kissane, Kissane, Cashman)
Ó Clérigh (O'Cleary, O'Clary, O'Clery,Cleary,McCleary, Clary, Clery, etc.)
Ó/Mac Cnáimhsí (Bonner, Kneafsey)
Ó Coigligh (Quigley)
Ó Conchobhair/Ó Conchúir (O'Connor, O'Conor, Connor, Conor, Connors)
Ó Con Fhiacla (Tuite)
Ó Conghaile/Mac Conghaile/Ó Cionnfhaolaidh (O'Connolly/Conneely/Kennelly)
Ó Conaing (O'Gunning/Gunning/Cunning))
Ó Conaill (O'Connell, Connell)
Ó Corbáin/Corbín (Corbett/Corbin)
Ó Corráin (O'Curran, Curran)
Ó Cuanaich/Ó Cuana (O'Cooney, Cooney)
Ó Coileáin (O'Collons, Collins)
Ó Conradh (O'Conrad,Conrad)
Ó Conaráin (O'Conran,Conran)
Ó Cornghaile (O'Cornally,Cornally)
Ó Crabháin (O'Creaven/Craven)
Ó Croidheáin/Ó Croidheagan/Ó Creacháin (O'Creaghan/Cregan/Creegan/Creahan/Crehan/Cryan/Creane/Crean)
Ó Cruadhlaoich (O'Crowley,Crowley)
Ó Cuinn (Quinn)
Ó Cuinneagáin/Ó Cuinneacháin/Ó Connacháin/Ó Connagáin (O'Cunningham, Cunningham)
Ó Daimhín(Devine, Divine, Devin)
Ó Dálaigh(Daly/O'Daly/Daley/Daily/Daeley)
Ó Deághaidh(O'Dea, Day, O'Dee, Dee)
Ó Dhonnaile (Donnelly)
Ó Diomasach (O'Dempsey, Dempsey)
Ó Dochartaigh/Ó Dubhartaigh (Doherty, Daughtry)
Ó Doinn (O'Dunne/Dunne/O'Dunn/Dunn)
Ó Dónaill (O'Donnell)
Ó Donnagáin (Donegan)
Ó Dubháin (Devane, Dewane, Duane)
Ó Duibhlin/Ó Dobhailein/Ó Doibhilin (Devlin, O'Devlin, Develin, Devolin, Devoline, Defflin, Devline, Davlin)
Ó Dubhuir (Dwyer, O'Dwyer, Diver, Devers)
Ó Donnchú, Ó Donncadha (O'Donoghue,O'Donohue)
Ó Dreaghnean (O'Drennan, Drennan)
Ó Dhuiling (Dowling)
Ó Duarcáin/Ó Durcáin/Mac Dhuarcáin/Mac Dhurcáin (Durkin, Durkan, Durcan)
Ó Dubhda (Dowd/O'Dowd)
Ó Dubhshláine (Delaney, Delany)
Ó Dubhthaigh (Duffy/O'Duffy)
O Dubhghaill (Doyle)
Ó Duillearga (Delargy)
Ó Faoláin (Whelan, Whalen, Phelan)
Ó Faracháin/Ó Farannáin/Ó Forannáin (O'Fanan, Farnan, Farnand, Farnon)
Ó Fathaigh (Fahy, Fahey, Vahey)
Ó Fearadhaigh (Ferry)
Ó Fearghail (O'Farrell)
Ó Fiannaidhe (O'Feeney, Feeney)
Ó Flaithbheartaigh (O Flaherty)
Ó Flannail (Flavell)
Ó Floinn (Flynn)
Ó Foghladha (Ó Foley, Foley)
Ó Gadhra (O'Gara, Geary)
Ó Gallchobhair, Ó Gallchóir (Gallagher)
Ó Gibealain (O'Gibelin, Giblin)
Ó/Mac Gormáin(O'Gorman, Gorman)
Ó Gribín (Gribbin,Gribbon,Gribben)
Ó Glaisne (Giles)
Ó hAinbhith (Hanvey, Henvey)
Ó hAinle (Hanly/Hanley, O'Hanley)
Ó hAllmhuráin (O'Halloran/O'Halleron, Halloran, Haloran)
Ó hAnradháin (Hanrahan, O'Hanrahan)
Ó hAonghusa (Hennessy)
Ó hAthairne (Harney)
Ó hEachthairn (Ahearn, Ahearns, Hearn, Hearns, O'Hearns)
Ó hEalaighthe (Healey, Healy, Haley)
Ó hEadhra (O'Hara)
Ó hÉamhthaigh (Heaphy, Heefey, Heafy)
Ó hAodha (Hughes)
Ó hEadeain (Hayden, Hedden)
Ó hEidhin (Hynes)
Ó hIcí (Hickey)
Ó hIceadh (Hickey)
Ó hÓgáin (Hogan, O'Hogan)
Ó hÓgáin (Young, Younge)
Ó hÓisín (Hassan, Hasson, Hassen, Hassin, O'Hassan)[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Ó hÓsáin (Hassan, Hasson, Hassen, Hassin, O'Hassan)