30 Oldest Irish Names with Meanings
We have created for you a list of the oldest Irish names (based on the first historical references that our team managed to find). We hope this article will be useful to you.
Achtan
Earliest mention of a name: around 2nd century.
Reference: Achtan Acha, mother of Cormac mac Airt.
Name meaning: ray, beam.
Related names: Acktan, Achetyn.
Adamair
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century BC.
Reference: Adamair, High King of Ireland. He was also the husband of the goddess Flidais.
Name meaning: love a lot, to love greatly.
Related names: Aedamar, Adammair, Adhamair.
Áedan
Earliest mention of a name: around 6th century BC.
Reference: Áedan Glas, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: fire, flames, fiery (derived from Old Irish áed).
Related names: Aidan, Aydan, Aeden.
Ailbhe
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century.
Reference: Ailbhe Cormac, daughter of Cormac mac Airt.
Name meaning: blanch, white (derived from Old Irish albho).
Related names: Ailbe.
Ailill
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century.
Reference: Ailill Aulom, king of the southern half of Ireland.
Name meaning: fairy, elf.
Related names: Oilill.
Aine
Name meaning: brightness, lighting, radiance.
Reference: Aine, goddess of summer and wealth in Irish mythology.
Related names: Ainne, Eine, Ayne.
Cairpre
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century.
Reference: Cairpre Liffeachaire, son of Cormac mac Airt.
Name meaning: uncertain (may mean noble).
Related names: Cairbre.
Conaire
Earliest mention of a name: around 1st century.
Reference: Conaire Mór, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: the greatest.
Related names: Konaire, Connor, Conoire.
Cormac
Earliest mention of a name: around 2nd century.
Reference: Cormac mac Airt, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: unknown (may mean rider or son of a rider).
Related names: Cormm, Corbmac.
Crimthann
Earliest mention of a name: around 2nd century BC.
Reference: Crimthann Coscrach, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: triumphant, victorious.
Related names: Crimtan, Crimthan, Crimthenn.
Deda
Earliest mention of a name: around 1st century BC.
Reference: Deda mac Sin, king of the Érainn of Ireland.
Name meaning: uncertain (may mean to cause).
Related names: Dedad, Deguth, Dedda, Dega, Degad.
Eithne
Earliest mention of a name: around 2nd century.
Reference: Eithne Ollamhdha, wife of Cormac mac Airt.
Name meaning: kernel (derived from Old Irish eithne).
Related names: Eithnn, Eithnie, Ethne.
Énna
Earliest mention of a name: around 2nd century BC.
Reference: Énna Aignech, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: vigorous, active.
Related names: Ena, Énne.
Eochaid
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century BC.
Reference: Eochaid Ailtlethan, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: wide blade.
Related names: Eochu, Eoched.
Éogan
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century.
Reference: Eoghan Mór, 3rd century king of Munster.
Name meaning: family (derived from Old Irish genos).
Related names: Eoghan.
Eterscél
Earliest mention of a name: around 1st century.
Reference: Eterscél Mór, son of Íar mac Dedad.
Name meaning: excellent, outstanding.
Related names: Eteskel, Eterskell.
Fer
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century BC.
Reference: Fer Corb, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: rider.
Related names: Ferr.
Fíachu
Earliest mention of a name: around 5th century BC.
Reference: Fíachu Tolgrach, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: raven.
Related names: Fiache.
Finn
Earliest mention of a name: around 6th century BC.
Reference: Finn mac Blatha, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: fair.
Related names: Fionn, Finne, Fionne.
Flidais
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century BC.
Reference: Flidais, goddess of fertility in Irish mythology.
Name meaning: glorious hair.
Related names: Fliodhas, Fliodhais, Flidas.
Grainne
Earliest mention of a name: around 3rd century.
Reference: Grainne Cormac, daughter of Cormac mac Airt.
Name meaning: shining, glaring.
Related names: Grayne, Grainn.
Íar
Earliest mention of a name: around 1st century BC.
Reference: Íar mac Dedad, son of Deda mac Sin.
Name meaning: after, beyond.
Related names: Ierr.
Lugaid
Earliest mention of a name: around 4th century BC.
Reference: Lugaid Loígde, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: scarlet, red king.
Related names: Lugeid, Lugeed.
Macha
Earliest mention of a name: around 5th century BC.
Reference: Macha, godess of fertility, land, and war in Irish mythology.
Name meaning: a plain.
Related names: Mache, Machia.
Mug
Earliest mention of a name: around 4th century BC.
Reference: Mug Corb, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: horseman, rider.
Related names: Meig.
Muiredach
Earliest mention of a name: around 5th century BC.
Reference: Muiredach Bolgrach, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: sea.
Related names: Mureedach.
Óengus
Earliest mention of a name: around 2nd century BC.
Reference: Óengus Tuirmech Temrach, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: one strength.
Related names: Aonghus, Oenghus.
Rechtaid
Earliest mention of a name: around 4th century BC.
Reference: Rechtaid Rígderg, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: furious (may also mean red king).
Related names: Richtaid.
Ruairí
Earliest mention of a name: around 2nd century BC.
Reference: Ruairí mac Sithrigi, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: red king, derived from Old Irish rúad (meaning red) and rí (meaning king).
Related names: Reiri, Rudraige.
Siomón
Earliest mention of a name: around 5th century BC.
Reference: Siomón Brecc, High King of Ireland.
Name meaning: ornamented.
Related names: Simon, Siomen.
Sources:
- Dictionary of the Irish Language based mainly on Old and Middle Irish materials, 1913
- The Book of the Taking of Ireland Part V, 1956
- The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, 1846
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