Anglicizations of Irish Names
Here are some common anglicizations of Irish names. An anglicization is a name normally spelled in Irish Gaelic that has been re-spelled into English to make the pronunciation easier for English speakers. Some of them are more common than their Irish counterparts (like Finbar for Fionnbharr). Some have fallen into obscurity (like Derry for Daire).
If you haven't done so already, non-Irish speakers please see the the pronunciation guide.
| Name | Original Irish Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aidan | Aodhan, Aodan | diminutive of Aodh, "fire" |
| Ardal | Ardghal | from ard "height" + gal "valor" |
| Barry | Bairre, Barra | diminutive of Bairrfhionn or Fionnbharr (barr "head" + fionn white") |
| Brendan | Breandán | from Welsh meaning "prince" |
| Brian, Bryan | Brían, Bríon | possibly from Celtic Brigonos "noble; high" |
| Carbry | Cairbre | possibly, "charioteer" or "bearer" |
| Conleth | Connlaodh | possibly from connla "chaste" or "prudent" + Aodh "fire" [Celtic fire god] |
| Connell | Conall | "strong as a wolf" |
| Conor | Conchobhar | "lover of hounds; wolves" |
| Cormac | Cormac | corb "raven," "charioteer" or "defiler" + mac "son" |
| Dary, Darragh | Dáire | "fruitful; fertile" |
| Davan | Damhán | dam "stag; ox" + diminutive ending |
| Declan | Deaglán | meaning is obscure, perhaps "full of goodness" |
| Dermot | Diarmuid, Diarmaid | meaning is obscure, perhaps "without injunction or envy," "freeman" or "charioteer" |
| Donagh | Donnchadh | donn "brown" + cath "battle" |
| Donal | Domhnall, Dónal | "world mighty" or "world-ruler" |
| Dougal | Dubhgall | dubh "black" + gall "foreigner; stranger" |
| Eamon | Éamon(n), Éamann | from Edmund, "wealthy guardian" |
| Enda | Éanna | possibly, "birdlike" |
| Ernan | Earnán | possibly from iarn, "iron" |
| Eveny | Aibhne | meaning is unknown |
| Ever | Éibhear | from Latin eberus meaning "Irishman" |
| Evin | Éimhín | "prompt, ready" |
| Fergal | Fearghal | fear "man" + gal "valor" |
| Fergus | Fearghus | fear "man" + gus "victor" |
| Finbar | Fionnbharr | barr "head" + fionn white" |
| Finian | Finnén | "white; fair-haired; pale" |
| Finn | Fionn | "white; fair-haired, pale" |
| Fintan | Fiontán | "white ancient," or "white fire" |
| Flann | Flann | "fiery red" |
| Fursey | Fursa | meaning is unknown |
| Garvan, Garvin | Garbhán | garb "rough" |
| Gilbrennan | Giolla Bhréanain | "servant of St. Brendan" |
| Gilbride | Giolla Bhríde | "Servant of St. Brigid" |
| Gilcole, Gilcowell | Giolla Chomhghaill | "Servant of St. Comhghall" |
| Gileece | Giolla Íosa | "Servant of Jesus" |
| Gilkelly | Giolla Cheallaigh | "Servant of St. Ceallach" |
| Gilligan | Gilleagán | "little lad" |
| Iarla, Irla | Iarfhlaith | a element meaning, possibly "western" or "tributary" + flaith "lord" |
| Irial | Irial, Irél | meaning is unknown |
| Ivar | Íobhar | "yew tree" |
| Jarlath | Iarfhlaith | a element meaning, possibly "western" or "tributary" + flaith "lord" |
| Kean, Kian | Cian | "ancient" or "enduring" |
| Kenneth | Cináed | could be from cion "respect; love" + Aodh [Celtic fire god] or be possibly from an unknown Pictish word. |
| Kevin | Caoimhín | from either caem "beautiful; beloved" or cóem "gentle; kind" + gaem "birth" |
| Kieran | Ciarán | from ciar, "black" + diminutive ending |
| Kilian, Killian | Cillian | possibly from cill "church" or ceallach, "strife" |
| Lasarian | Laisréan | from lassar "flame; fire" |
| Leary | Laoghaire | "calf-herd" |
| Lennan | Leannán | "sweetheart; lover" |
| Liam | Uilliam | short form of Uilliam, the Irish form of William |
| Lochlan, Laughlin | Lochlainn | "viking" [i.e., one from the land of the lochs] |
| Loman | Lomán | "bare" |
| Lonan | Lonán | "blackbird" |
| Lorcan | Lorccán | from lorc, "silent" or "cruel; fierce" |
| Malachy | Maeleachlainn | "devotee of St. Sechnall" |
| Malone | Mael Eoin | "devotee of St. John" |
| Marcan | Marcán | from marc "steed" + diminutive ending |
| Murtagh | Muircheratach | "skilled in seacraft; mariner" |
| Nathy | Naithí | meaning is unknown |
| Neil | Niall | possibly from nél, "cloud" or elements meaning "passionate; vehement" or "champion" |
| Nessan | Neasán | possibly, "a stoat" |
| Nevan | Naomhán | from naomh, "saint; holy one" |
| Nisha, Neesh, Nishi | Naoise | possibly from nasc "bond." |
| Ogan, Hogan | Ógán | óg "young" + dimunitive ending |
| Oran | Odhrán | "sallow; dark; grey-brown" |
| Oscar | Osgar | os, "deer" + cara, "friend" |
| Ossian | Oisín | os "deer" + diminutive ending |
| Owen | Eoin, Eoghan | Eoin is a form of John, Eoghan means "born of the yew" |
| Patrick | Pádraig | from Latin, 'noble man' |
| Pierce/Pearse | Piaras | from Greek Peter, 'rock' |
| Roark, Ruarke | Ruarc | possibly from arc, "hero; champion" or ruarc "rainstorm." Alternately, it may be from Hroekr "famous power," a name brought by Norse settlers. |
| Ronan | Rónán | rón, "seal" + diminutive ending |
| Rory | Ruadhrí | rúad "red; red-haired" + rí "king; royal" |
| Rowan, Rohan | Ruadhán | rúad, "red haired" + diminutive ending |
| Shaun, Shane | Seán | from Hebrew Yochanan (John): 'God is gracious' |
| Shay | Sé | from sé, "hawk" |
| Sorley | Somhairle | from Norse Somarlithr, "summer wanderer" |
| Teague | Tadhg | "poet" |
| Tiernan | Tiarnán | tigern, "lord"; chief+ diminutive ending |
| Tierney | Tiarnach | tigern, "lord; chief" |
| Torcan | Torcán | "wild boar" |
| Turlough | Toirdhealbhach | "instigator; abettor" |
| Ultan | Ultán | "man from Ulster" |