If you’re in search of popular Irish boys names and beautiful Irish baby boy names, you’ve landed in the right place.

If you read our bumper guide Irish last names, you’ll know that we embarked on a project recently to cover all things Irish names.

In this guide, we’re tackling Irish boys names – the most traditional, the most popular and the most unusual. Each name contains a brief explanation along with interesting facts.

The Most Popular Irish Boys Names

Section one covers some of the most popular and common Irish boys names that you’ll encounter both in Ireland and abroad.

Below each name you’ll find how to pronounce it, what it means and a little section with famous people who have the same name.

1. Conor

This is one of the most popular Irish boy’s names, both inside and outside Ireland. It’s believed to come from Conchobhar or Conaire, which are names that frequent many tales from Irish folklore.

Top Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Conor

• Pronunciation: Con-or
• Meaning: The meaning of the name Conor is “Lover of Wolves”
• Famous Conor’s: Conor McGregor (UFC fighter) and Conor Murray (Irish rugby player)

2. Liam

Liam has an origin in both the Germanic and Irish languages and is popular around the world. In Ireland, it’s short for Ulliam, which is basically the Irish variation of William.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Liam

• Pronunciation: Lee-um
• Meaning: The name comes from the word for “helmet of will”, which is thought to mean strong-willed warrior or protector
• Famous Liam’s: Liam Neeson (actor) Liam Brady (former footballer) Liam Gallagher (singer)

3. Darragh

Darragh is an old Irish name that comes from the word Daire, meaning ‘Oak’. In Irish mythology, Darragh is also believed to be closely linked to Dagda, the Celtic god of the underworld. 

Popular Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Darragh

• Pronunciation: Da-ra
• Meaning: It’s believed to come from the Irish word, Daire, which means ‘Oak Tree’
• Famous Darragh’s: Darragh Mortell (actor) Darragh Kenny (equestrian rider)

4. Cillian

Cillian is a popular Irish boys name that was borne by several early saints and missionaries. It’s become popular outside of Ireland too and is often Anglicised as Killian.

Top Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Cillian

• Pronunciation: Kill-i-an
• Meaning: There are two meanings of the name. The first is believed to be “warrior” from the Celtic word celleach and the second is “small church” from the word ceall.
• Famous Cillian’s: Cillian Murphy (actor) Cillian Sheridan (footballer)

5. Patrick

Patrick actually has a Latin origin but has been common in Ireland for a long time. It’s most famous figure in history is Saint Patrick, the 5th-century apostle and patron saint of Ireland. The Irish variation is usually Padraig.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name

• Pronunciation: Pat-trick
• Meaning; In its original form, the name comes from the Latin name Patricius which means “nobleman”.
• Famous Patrick’s: Patrick Spillane (former Gaelic footballer) Patrick Dempsey (American actor)

6. Finn

Finn is a more modern variation of the old Irish boys name Fionn, which is most well-known as being the name of the greatest hero in Irish mythology, Fionn Mac Cumhaill. It’s one of the easiest Irish baby boys names to pronounce.

Popular Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Finn

• Pronunciation: Fin
• Meaning: The name means ”fair” or “white” in Irish.
• Famous Finn’s: Finn Balor (Irish wrestler)

7. Sean

Sean is a classic Irish boys name that has become famous the world over. It’s considered the Irish spelling of the biblical name, John, and has a few spelling versions today such as Shaun and Shawn.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Sean

• Pronunciation: Sh-awn
• Meaning: It comes from the traditional meaning for “God is Gracious”.
• Famous Sean’s: Sean Penn (actor) Sean O’Brien (Irish rugby player)

8. Ryan

Ryan is one of the most popular boys names in Ireland and comes from the Old Irish name, Rian. It is also common as a surname in Ireland, and as a first name in other English-speaking countries. 

Popular Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Ryan

• Pronunciation: Rye-an
• Meaning: Although its original meaning is unknown, it’s thought that it means “little king”.
• Famous Ryan’s: Ryan Gosling (Canadian actor) Ryan Reynolds (Canadian actor)

9. Cian

In Irish mythology, Cian was the son-in-law of Brian Boru, the King of Muster who was killed in the battle of Clontarf. Cian is consistently recognised as one of the most common boys names in Ireland.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Cian

• Pronunciation: Kee-an
• Meaning: It means “ancient” or “enduring” in Gaelic.
• Famous Cian’s: Cian Healy (Irish rugby player) Cian Ward (Irish footballer)

10. Senan

Senan is an old Irish boys name that is still popular today. It’s particularly popular in and around the County of Clare, where St. Senan is from.

Popular Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Senan

• Pronunciation: Se-nan
• Meaning: The name is thought to mean “old” or “wise”.

11. Oscar

Oscar is another Irish name that has become popular around the world. Its origin goes back to Irish mythology and was the name of the grandson of Fionn Mac Cumhaill.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Oscar

• Pronunciation: Os-kar
• Meaning: The name comes from two Irish words, os meaning “deer” and car meaning “loving” or “friend”, so it’s thought to mean “friend of deer”.
• Famous Oscar’s: Oscar Wilde (late Irish poet and playwright)

12. Callum

It’s believed that Callum derives from a Latin word meaning “dove”, which made it a popular name amongst early Christians. It’s still a common Irish baby boys name that’s given in Ireland as well as in Scotland and the UK.

Top Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Callum

• Pronunciation: Cal-um
• Meaning: It’s thought to come from the Latin name Columba which means “dove”.
• Famous Callum’s: Callum Wilson (British footballer)

Popular Irish Boy Names That Are Hard To Pronounce

It never ceases to surprise me the number of emails that we receive asking how to pronounce certain old Irish boys names, in particular.

However, as you’ll see below, plenty of people struggle to say even the more common Irish boys names. Below, you’ll find pronunciations, meanings and more for each name.

1. Donnacha

You’ll often see the name Donnacha top lists to ‘Unusual Irish Boys Names’, but it’s a very common name here in Ireland. in Irish legend, Donnacha was the name of a High King in Ireland until his passing in 1064.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Donnacha

• Pronunciation: Done-acka
• Meaning: The name translates to brown-haired warrior.
• Famous Donnacha’s: Donnacha Ryan (Irish rugby player)

2. Ruairi

This name is often confusing for people unfamiliar with Gaelic pronunciation, but it’s the Irish variation of Rory, which is more common outside of Ireland.

Popular Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Ruairi

• Pronunciation: Roar-ee/Rur-ee
• Meaning: It translates to “red-haired king”.
• Famous Ruairi’s: Ruairi O’Connor (Irish actor)

3. Daithi

This old Irish boys name is often hard to pronounce for people that haven’t spent much time in Ireland/around Irish people. The name Daithi is the Irish version of David.

Top Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Daithi

• Pronunciation: Dah-hee
• Meaning: It’s thought to mean “swiftness” or “nimbleness”.
• Famous Daithi’s: Dáithí Ó Sé (tv presenter) Daithí Ó Drónaí (musician)

4. Cormac

Cormac is another old Irish boys name, although it’s meaning is not exactly clear. It appears throughout Irish mythology and is still a common name today.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Cormac

• Pronunciation: Cor-mack
• Meaning: Although it’s meaning is not exactly clear, many believe that it means “charioteer” or “raven”.
• Famous Cormac’s: Cormac McCarthy (novelist)

5. Lorcan

Next is another name that is rich in history – Lorcan. This name belonged to several kings, including the grandfather of the most famous king, Brian Boru.

Popular Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Lorcan

• Pronunciation: Lor-ken
• Meaning: It’s thought to mean “fierce” and is often translated to “little fierce one”.
• Famous Lorcan’s: Lorcan Cranitch (Irish actor)

6. Oran

This name is of mixed origins. It has a history as an Aramaic name from the Middle East and a Gaelic variation traditionally spelt Odran or Odhran, with Oran being a more modern version.

Modern Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Oran

• Pronunciation: Oh-ran
• Meaning: Some believe the name translates to “green” while others say it means “light” or “pale”.

7. Aodhan

Coming from the old Irish name, Aedan, this name was borne by a monk and saint from the 7th century. It’s often considered the Irish variation of Aidan.

Strong Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Aodhan

• Pronunciation: A-den
• Meaning: It comes from the original old Irish word Aedan meaning “little fire”.
• Famous Aodhan’s: Aodhan King (singer songwriter)

8. Odhran

This is an old Irish name that is often Anglicised with the more phonetic version, Oran.

Unique Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Odhran

• Pronunciation: Oh-ran
• Meaning: Combining multiple meanings, people believe it means “little pale green one”.

9. Tadgh

Tadgh was one of the most common Irish baby boy names in the early days with many kings bearing the name. However, although it’s old, it’s seen a recent surge in popularity in Ireland.

Popular Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Tadgh

• Pronunciation: Tie-g
• Meaning: The name means “poet” or “philosopher”.
• Famous Tadgh’s: Tadgh Furlong (Irish rugby player)

Popular Modern Irish Boys Names

The next section of the guide tackles some popular modern boys names that have jumped back into fashion over the last decade or so.

Below, you’ll find the meaning behind each name along with how to pronounce them and some other interesting facts.

1. Cathal

This name was popular in medieval times and many Irish kings were called Cathal. However, it’s seen a rise in popularity in recent years.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Cathal

• Pronunciation: Co-hull
• Meaning: The name comes from two Celtic words, cath meaning “battle” and val meaning “rule”.
• Famous Cathal’s: Cathal Pendred (actor) Cathal McCarron (Gaelic footballer)

2. Shay

This modern Irish boys name is thought to be the Irish variation of the Hebrew name Shai. It’s often considered for either boy’s or girl’s names, although it’s more common as a male name in Ireland.

Unique Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name

• Pronunciation: Sh-ay
• Meaning: There are two different meanings for the name; “admirable” or “hawk-like”.

3. Rory

Now, if you’re thinking to yourself, ‘wait, I’ve seen this before’, you have… We covered the Irish version of the name earlier in the guide. Rory is a more modern variation of old Irish boys name’s Ruairi and Ruaidhri.

Strong Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Rory

• Pronunciation: Roar-ry
• Meaning: The meaning comes from the original spelling of the name which translates to “red-haired king”.
• Famous Rory’s: Rory McIlroy (golfer)

4. Ronan

Ronan is another old Irish baby boys name that continues to be a popular choice in modern Ireland. The name was given to twelve saints throughout history, as well as, appearing in Irish legends.

Modern Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Ronan

• Pronunciation: Row-nan
• Meaning: The name translates to “little seal” in Irish.
• Famous Ronan’s: Ronan Keating (singer)

5. Dara

This is a unique Irish boys name that has a variety of origins in different languages. It appeared in the Bible’s Old Testament which leads people to believe it has a Hebrew origin, however, it’s popular in Ireland with a few variations in spelling.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Dara

• Pronunciation: Da-ra
• Meaning: In Irish, Dara means either “oak” or “wise”.
• Famous Dara’s: Dara O Briain (comedian)

6. Eoghan

This is yet another old Irish boys name that appears in Irish legend as the name of one of Niall of the Nine Hostages’ sons. It’s often spelt Owen or Eoin as well.

Strong Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Eoghan

• Pronunciation: O-in
• Meaning: It means “born of the tree” or more simply, “youth”.
• Famous Eoghan’s: Eoghan Quigg (singer)

7. Shane

Shane is a more modern variation of the traditional Irish boys name’s Seaghan and Sean. It’s also common as a surname in Ireland.

Classic Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Shane

• Pronunciation: Shay-ne
• Meaning: In Irish, Shane means “God is Gracious”.
• Famous Shane’s: Shane Long (Irish footballer)

8. Tiernan

The chances are you’ll have heard our next name, Tiernan, before as it’s quite popular both in Ireland and abroad. This name has a very regal origin, however, it’s a popular name throughout Ireland today.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Tiernan

• Pronunciation: Teer-nawn
• Meaning: Tiernan translates to “little Lord”.

9. Brian

Brian is an extremely common name both in Ireland and around the world. It has an Irish origin and has been used throughout early history.

Modern Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Brian

• Pronunciation: Bry-an
• Meaning: The name comes from an old Celtic word meaning “high” or “noble”.
• Famous Brian’s: Brian Boru (10th century High King of Ireland) Brian O’Driscoll ( formerrugby union player)

10. Niall

This modern Irish boys name has risen in popularity in recent years, likely due to the rise of boy band One Direction and its member, Niall Horan.

Classic Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Niall

• Pronunciation: Ni-el
• Meaning: Although there are a few meanings to the name, most believe it means “champion”.
• Famous Niall’s: Niall Horan (singer)

11. Colm

This name is a modern Irish variation of the Latin name Columba and is often considered an alternative spelling to Callum.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Colm

• Pronounced: Coll-um
• Meaning: The original Latin word Columba means “dove”.
• Famous Colm’s: Colm Meaney (Irish actor)

12. Colin

Next up is another very popular name that you’ll find far and wide. Colin is considered a modern variation of the old Gaelic name Cuilen or Cailean.

Classic Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Colin

• Pronunciation: Coll-in
• Meaning: The original Gaelic word Cuilen translates to “young pup”.
• Famous Colin’s: Colin Farrell (Irish actor) Colin Firth (British actor)

13. Brendan

There are a variety of old origins of this name in Latin, Welsh and Gaelic. However, it’s been popular in Ireland throughout history with up to 17 saints bearing the name.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name

• Pronunciation: Brenn-dan
• Meaning: The old Irish spelling of the name Brenainn had Welsh origins and means “prince”.
• Famous Brendan’s: Brendan Gleeson (Irish actor)

14. Darren

It’s unclear where the name Darren originated from, but it has been a common name in Ireland, with a variety of spellings.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name

• Pronunciation: Da-ren
• Meaning: It’s thought to be closely linked to Irish name Darragh which means “Oak Tree”.
• Famous Darren’s: Darren Clarke (Irish golfer)

15. Barry

It’s thought that Barry is an Anglicised and modern variation of old Irish names such as Baire and Barrfind.

Classic Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Barry

• Pronunciation: Ba-ry
• Meaning: It is derived from Irish names Barrfind or Bairrfhionn which mean “fair haired”.
• Famous Barry’s: Barry Keoghan (Irish actor)

16. Craig

The name Craig is a modern Gaelic boys name that, as is the case with many of the names above, is common both in Ireland and across the world.

Modern Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name

• Pronunciation: Cr-ay-g
• Meaning: It comes from the Gaelic word creag which means “rock”.
• Famous Craig’s: Craig David (British singer)

Traditional Irish Boys Names

We’re onto traditional Irish boys names, next! It’s in this section that you’ll find your Aidan’s and your Conan’s.

Below, you’ll find the meaning behind each name along with how to pronounce them and some other interesting facts.

1. Aidan

Yes, the chances are you’ll encounter several people with our next name when you visit Ireland. Aidan is the modern variation of the old Gaelic name Aodhan.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Aidan

• Pronunciation: Aye-den
• Meaning: The name comes from the word Aodh which means “fiery” or “bringer of fire”.
• Famous Aidan’s: Aidan Turner (Irish actor)

2. Ciaran

This traditional Irish boys name appears in Irish mythology and was also the name of two early Irish saints.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Ciaran

• Pronunciation: Keer-awn
• Meaning: It means “little dark one” or “dark-haired one”.
• Famous Ciaran’s: Ciaran Hinds (Irish actor) Ciaran Clark (footballer)

3. Conan

This name has been popular throughout Irish history and is often considered a less common alternative to Conor.

Modern Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Conan

• Pronunciation: Cone-an
• Meaning: It translates to “small hound” or “little wolf”.
• Famous Conan’s: Conan the Barbarian (famous fiction character) Conan Gray (singer)

4. Fionn

This is an old traditional boys name that is most famous for being the name of the mythical warrior in Irish mythology, Fionn Mac Cumhaill.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Fionn

• Pronunciation: Fee-awm
• Meaning: It means “white” or “fair headed”.
• Famous Fionn’s: Fionn Whitehead (English actor) Fionn O’Shea (Irish actor)

5. Diarmuid

This is a traditional name that is almost unheard of outside of Ireland. It was a common name in Irish mythology but is less common in modern Ireland today.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Diarmuid

• Pronunciation: Deer-mid
• Meaning: It’s thought to mean “without enemy”.

6. Padraig

Next up is another very popular boys name. Padraig is an old Irish name that is more widely known by the English version of Patrick.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Padraig

• Pronunciation: Paa-drig
• Meaning: It is derived from the Latin word Patricius which means “of the noble class”.
• Famous Padraig’s: Padraig Harrington (golfer)

7. Oisin

Oisin is a famous name from Irish mythology. He was the son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and is considered the greatest poet of Ireland.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Oisin

• Pronunciation: O-sheen
• Meaning: The name translates to “young deer”.
• Famous Oisin’s: Oisin Murphy (jockey)

8. Caolan

This traditional Irish boys name can be difficult to pronounce for many and is often spelt Keelan or Kelan (if you can pronounce it before reading below let us know in the comments!).

Modern Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Caolan

• Pronunciation: Kee-lin
• Meaning: It comes from the Irish word caol meaning “slender” or “fine”.
• Famous Caolan’s: Caolan Lavery (footballer)

9. Donal

Donal is an old Irish boys name that is often confused with Donald in some English-speaking countries.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Donal

• Pronunciation: Donn-al
• Meaning: Donal comes from the Gaelic word Domhall which is said to mean “world leader”.
• Famous Donal’s: Donal Lunny (Irish musician)

Unusual and Unique Irish Boy Names

If you read our guide to the most popular Irish surnames, you’ll know we’re fond of unique and unusual names, and in this section, you’ll find plenty.

Below, you’ll find the meaning behind each name along with how to pronounce them and some other interesting facts.

1. Deaglan

This is an alternative spelling to the name Declan, which is most known as being the name of the 5th century Saint Declan.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Deaglan

• Pronunciation: Dehk-lun
• Meaning: The name is believed to mean “full of goodness” or “fully good”.

2. Felim

Next up is a name that was popular back in the day. In fact, a number of Irish kings proudly donned this old Irish boys name. It’s much less popular these days, but it’s beautifully unuiqe.

Unique Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Felim

• Pronunciation: Fail-em
• Meaning: It translates to “ever good” in Irish.

3. Gearoid

This is considered the Irish variation of Gerald or Gerard, which have Latin origins and are common outside of Ireland.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Gearoid

• Pronunciation: Gah-rohd
• Meaning: There are a variety of meanings, but most believe it means “strength of spear”.

4. Aengus

This is a common name throughout Irish mythology and is more commonly spelt Angus outside of Ireland.

Irish baby boy names: what you need to know about the name Aengus

• Pronunciation: Ang-gus
• Meaning: It translates to “one strength” or often related to as “true vigour”.

5. Fiach

This is an old Irish name that is also commonly spelt Fiacha or Fiachra. It’s far less used now than it once was and is a fairly unique name.

Top Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Fiach

• Pronunciation: Fee-ah
• Meaning: It means “raven” in Irish.

6. Naoise

Naoise is a name that appears in Irish legends but is otherwise a unique and unusual name in Ireland today. It is sometimes used as a female name as well.

Unique Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Naoise

• Pronunciation: Nee-sha
• Meaning: In Irish, Naoise means “warrior”.

7. Conchobhar

This is an old and unusual Irish boys name that has a variety of spellings. It’s also commonly associated with the more popular name, Conor.

Unique Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Conchobhar

• Pronunciation: Kon-ko-var
• Meaning: The name means “lover of canines”.
• Famous Conchobhar’s: Conchobar mac Nessa (King of Ulster in mythology)

8. Fiachra

This unique name comes from Irish mythology. It was borne by one of the Children of Lir who was transformed into a swan.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Fiachra

• Pronunciation: Fee-uh-kra
• Meaning: It translates to “raven”.

9. Naomhan

Next up is Naomhan. Try and pronounce this one before you scroll! This name was common in the early 20th century but is far less popular today.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Naomhan

• Pronunciation: Nee-vawn
• Meaning: It’s derived from the word naomh which means “saint” or “holy”.

10. Peadar

Now, our next unique Irish boys name isn’t unique in Ireland – in fact, it’s pretty common – but it is unique in many counties where people with Irish ancestors live. This is the Irish form of the common name Peter, which has a Latin origin. 

Unique Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Peadar

• Pronunciation: Pad-dar
• Meaning: Its origin is the Latin word Petrus which means “rock”.
• Famous Peadar’s: Peadar O Guilin (author)

11. Proinsias

Next up is an unusual Irish name that is the Irish variation of Francis, a name which became known thanks to St Francis of Assisi.

Unusual Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Proinsias

• Pronunciation: pron-she-iss
• Meaning: The name translates to “little French man”.
• Famous Proinsias’: Proinsias De Rossa (Irish politician)

12. Fintan

This name has an interesting origin as a shapeshifting character in Irish mythology. It’s a name that has been used throughout history until today, although relatively rarely.

Unique Irish boy names: what you need to know about the name Fintan

• Pronunciation: Fin-ten
• Meaning: It translates to “little fair one” or “white-haired”.
• Famous Fintan’s: Fintan O’Toole (journalist)

FAQs about popular Irish boys names

If you’ve gotten this far, fair play to you – that was a long aul read to say the very least. The final section of our guide tackes FAQs about common and popular Irish boys names.

Below, you’ll find everything from lists of strong Irish baby boy names to further insight into certain names and their origins. 

Old Irish boys names

• Diarmuid
• Fionn
• Eoghan
• Dara
• Tafgh
• Aodhan
• Cormac

Classic Irish boy names

• Peadar
• Fiachra
• Gearoid
• Caolan
• Oisin
• Sean

Irish boy dog names

• Oscar
• Finn
• Fintan
• Felim
• Conan
• Ruairi

Have a question about Irish boys names?

If you have a question about Irish baby boys names, ask away in the comments section below and we’ll do our very best to help!