Irish boy names

For people of Irish heritage, picking an Irish name for your baby can connect you to your culture and your roots. And, there are so many different ways to go when picking an Irish baby name.

Many Irish boy names come from the Irish language. While 99% of people in Ireland speak English, the Irish language has played a major role in the history of the country. Today, about 40% of the country speaks Irish, a Gaelic language. It’s also one of two official languages in Ireland. Generations of Irish people have given their children names derived from the Irish language. Brendan, a popular Irish boy name for decades, is derived from Breandán, a Gaelic name, which was derived from the earlier Old Irish Brénainn. Finnegan is another great Irish boy name, derived from Gaelic that means “son of fairhaired.” Although often used as a surname, it’s become popular in recent decades as a first name for babies. While just 5 babies were named Finnegan in the U.S. in 1996, that number jumped to 815 in 2016. Other Gaelic-derived names like Colin, Keenan, and Keiran are perfect for parents who want to keep a cultural authenticity when picking a name for their baby. Colin is an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Cuilen or Cailean, which means “cub.” Keenan, an anglicization of the Gaelic name Cianán, means “ancient” or “distant.” And Keiran, derived from the name Ciaran, means "little dark one.” Picking a baby name that comes from the Irish language is a great way to select a unique name with roots in Irish heritage.

Lots of Irish boy names also come from the Catholic Church. With 78% of Irish people identifying as Roman Catholic in 2016, religious influences continue to have a major impact on Irish baby names. Many Irish families choose to name their children after saints, or people in the Catholic religion who are recognized as being particularly holy or close to god. There are lots of options for Irish boy names inspired by saints. Aiden, a popular name in the U.S., comes from Aidan of Lindisfarne, a Catholic saint of Irish descent who lived off the coast of Scotland and was known for strict self–discipline. Kenneth, a popular name in the 1950s that has become more rare in the twenty-first century, comes from the Saint Cainnech or Canice of Aghaboe. Saint Cancice was an Irish priest and leader of an abbey in the Early Middle Ages. He is one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and was known as a virtuous and intelligent man. Declan is another popular Irish boy name that comes from the church. In 2016, over 3,000 American babies were named Declan. Declán of Ardmore is another Irish saint who studied, traveled, and preached in the fifth century. For parents looking not only to channel their cultural roots, but their religious ones as well, picking a saint’s name for a baby is a perfect option.

All–in–all, Irish boy names range from unique to classic, religious to secular, and traditional to new–age. Whether you pick from the Irish language, the Catholic church, or follow new trends, you can’t go wrong with any Irish baby name.