42 Unusual Irish Baby Names & the Meanings Behind Them

If you’re expecting a St. Patrick’s Day baby (or a baby really anytime in March), why not take that as an opportunity to choose a cool and meaningful Irish name? Even though Irish names have been gaining popularity over the past decade or so (Liam is ranked at No. 1 this year), there are still a ton of unusual, less trendy Irish names to choose from if you prefer something more uncommon.

Many of the names on this list are the anglicized versions of a harder-to-pronounce Irish original or simply a name that comes from Irish roots. The only thing more beautiful than the sound of these names? Some of the amazing meanings behind them.

Unusual Irish baby names for boys

• Aengus: Irish version of Angus
• Ailill: From the Irish Ailleacht, or “beauty”
• Bly: Anglicized version of an Irish name
• Brogan: An Irish name meaning “sturdy shoe”
• Caelan: Anglicized form of Caolán
• Conlan: This Irish name means “hero”
• Declan: Anglicized version of Deaglán
• Doran: Meaning “stranger,” this name has Irish roots
• Eion: Version of the name John
• Girvin: This Irish name means “small rough one”
• Keon: Another form of John
• Lorcan: This name means “little fierce one”
• Lunn: Meaning “strong, warlike”
• Mannix: Anglicized version of Munchin
• Oisin: This name is pronounced Oh-sheen
• Phelan: This name means “like a wolf”
• Riordan: An Irish name meaning “bard”
• Rogan: Meaning “redheaded”
• Seamus: This is the Irish form of James and is pronounced SHAY-mus
• Tadhg: Pronounced TEIG, this name means “poet”
• Tor: Refers to a craggy hilltop

More: Superhero Baby Names for Any Comic Book Lover

Unusual Irish baby names for girls

• Agneis: An Irish form of Agnes
• Aibreann: The Irish word for the month April
• Blaine: This name means “yellow”
• Caitrín: Irish form of Katherine
• Calla: Form of the Irish name Caoilainn
• Derry: This name means “oak grove”
• Eithne: Pronounce this name EE-na
• Elva: Anglicized version of Ailbhe
• Ita: The name of a 6th century Irish saint
• Kiana: This Irish name means “ancient”
• Mab: In Irish stories, Queen Mab is monarch of the fairies
• Maeve: Anglicized form of Meadhbh
• Morna: This name means “affection”
• Neala: Feminine form of the Irish Neal
• Nola: Form of Fionnula, which means “white shoulder”
• Oona: Pretty name meaning “one”
• Riona: An Irish name that means “queenly”
• Saoirse: Pronounce this name SEER-sha
• Siobhan: Meaning “God is gracious,” this name is pronounced sha-VAHN
• Sorcha: This name means “bright, shining”
• Tierney: This name means “lord”

More: Baby Girl Names That Mean “Wild” for a Spitfire in the Making

A version of this article was originally published in March 2017.