Celtic
Ireland
Irish
Eire

Celtic Names

Celtic
Ireland
Irish
Eire

Celtic Names

A comprehensive guide to Celtic Names. Discover the meaning and origin of you Celtic name!

Cool Celtic Names! Find out the meaning of different prefixes as well as the origin of different Celtic Names and a list of the top ten Celtic names as well as Celtic Surnames from different areas in Ireland.

There are lots of Celtic words connected with natural scenery such as hills, surnames including Carrick and Creagh, Glen or Glynn, and Lynn, meaning a cascade.

Ireland | Names | Index

Irish Celtic Family Names- History
Irish Celtic family names are usually Patronymic in etymology. Patronymic means that the name is derived from the given name of the persons parent or ancestor, usually their father or grandfather but sometimes the name can be derived from the mother or grandmother. Etymology is defined as the science which relates to the history of words. It involves the significance of words, tracing out their origin and how the meaning and form of words have changed over time. Certain surnames originate from specific parts of Ireland, lots of examples are listed below. The map at the bottom of the page shows the origin of Irish Celtic family names from the beginning of the 16th century.

 
Celtic NamesImage

Celtic Names- Map
The map below shows the area of Ireland showing common Celtic family names found in Ireland at the beginning of the 16th Century. Most of the names are not used today, in many cases the O' prefix from the original Celtic name has been dropped in order to anglicise the name and make it easier for English speakers to understand.

 

Map showing origin of Celtic Names

The map shows the origin of Celtic Names from the 16th Century

 

Top 10 List of Irish Celtic Family Names
The following list of the top ten Irish Celtic family Names found in Ireland today including the Irish Celtic translation of the surname:

  • Walsh (Breathnach)

  • O'Brien (Ó Briain)

  • O'Connor (Ó Conchobhair)

  • Byrne (Ó Broin)

  • O'Reilly (Ó Raghailligh)

  • Murphy (Ó Murchadha)

  • Kelly (Ó Ceallaigh)

  • O'Sullivan (Ó Súilleabháin)

  • Kinsella (Ó Cinnseallaigh)

  • O'Neill (Ó Néill)

Irish Celtic Family Names- Prefixes
Celtic Names commonly have a prefix, the following are the most common prefixes for Celtic Names:

  • Mór - Big

  • Óg  - Young

  • O - Grandson

  • Mac - Son

  • Fitz - Son

Celtic NamesImage

 

Top 10 List of Female Celtic Names
The following list of the top ten Female Celtic Names found in Ireland today including the pronunciation of the name:

  • Caoimhe (Kee-Vah)

  • Aoife (Ee-Fa)

  • Ava (Arr-va)

  • Aising (Ash-Ling)

  • Saoirse (Seer-Sha)

  • Niamh (Ne-eve)

  • Roisin (Rosh-een)

  • Clodagh (Cloo-Dah)

  • Aine (Ann-Ya)

  • Ciara (Keer-ra)

 

Top 10 List of Irish Celtic Boy Names
The following list of the top ten Irish Celtic boy names found in Ireland today including the pronunciation of the name:

  • Oisin (Osh-een)

  • Cian (Kee-an)

  • Daragh (Da-ra)

  • Daithi (Doth-ee)

  • Odhran (Or-ann)

  • Ruairi (Roar-ree)

  • Eoin (Owe-ann)

  • Tadhg (Tai-G)

  • Fionn (Finn)

  • Ciaran (Keer-ann)

 

Celtic Names - Girls Naming Convention
Traditionally the following protocol was used to name female members of the family but more often nowadays, the name is used as a middle name instead of a first name:

  • The First born daughter is named after the maternal grandmother (mother’s mother)

  • The Second daughter is named after the paternal grandmother (father’s mother)

  • The Third daughter is named after the mother

  • The Fourth daughter is named after her mother’s oldest sister (Aunt)

  • Subsequent children can be named as the parent pleases!

 

Celtic Names - Boys Naming Convention
Traditionally the following protocol was used to name male members of the family but more often nowadays, the name is used as a middle name instead of a first name:

  • The First born son is named after the paternal grandfather (father's father)

  • The Second son is named after the maternal grandfather (mother's father)

  • The Third son is named after the father

  • The Fourth son is named after her father's oldest brother (Uncle)

  • Subsequent male children can be named as the parent pleases!

 

Celtic Names- Names of Provinces
The island of Ireland is comprises four provinces or cúigí as they are known in the traditional Irish Gaelic language. The Celtic name for province is cúige which translates to one-fifth! Originally Ireland was in fact made up of five provinces. The county of Meath was in fact a province of its own as it was the seat of the High King of Ireland. Meath is now part of Leinster and has been split into the counties of Meath and Westmeath.

  • Connaught - The name means "the descendants of Conn".
    The Celtic name for Connaught is Cúige Chonnacht

  • Irish Celtic family names that originate from Connaught include: O'Kirwan, MacJordan, O'Malley, O'Reilly, O'Rourke, O'Hart, O'Hara, O'Madden and O'Kelly

Celtic Names- Connaught Province

Flag of the Irish Province of Connaught

  • Munster - The name means "Land of Mumha"
    The Celtic name for Munster is Mhumhain or Cúige Mumhan

  • Irish Celtic family names that originate from Munster include: O'Keefe, O'Callaghan, O'Donoughue, MacCarthy, Muskerry, Fitzgerald, O'Mulryan and Brennan

Celtic Names- Munster Province

Flag of the Irish Province of Munster

  • Leinster - The name means "Land of the Laighin"
    The Celtic name for Leinster is Laighin or Cúige Laighean

  • Irish Celtic family names that originate from Leinster include: O'More, O'Tooles, O'Kennedy, O'Carrol, O'Conor, Butlers, Walshes and Dillons

Celtic Names- Leinster Province

Flag of the Irish Province of Leinster

  • Ulster - The name means "land of the Ulaidh"
    The Celtic name for Ulster is Ulaidh or Cúige Uladh

  • Irish Celtic family names that originate from Ulster include: O'Boyle, MacSweeney, O'Donnell, O'Dogherty, MacDonnells, O'Neill, MacMahon, O'Cahan

Celtic Names- Ulster Province

Flag of the Irish Province of Ulster

 

Celtic Names

  • Guide to Celtic Names

  • List of Top Celtic Names

  • Meaning and Origin of surnames

  • Female  and Male Names

  • Cool, Traditional & Unique names

  • Celtic Names - Heraldry

  • Celtic Family Names

Irish Family Names

 

Celtic Names- Heraldry
Discover the vast selection of Celtic Names that are associated with Ireland. Celtic Boys, Girls and Family names. A great resource for discovering more about your families Irish heritage. There are thousands of names associated with Ireland including traditional, old, cool and unique Celtic names. Browse through our free Irish names dictionary, a great way to choose a Celtic name for your new baby or pet! A great resource for all ages. An ideal way to learn more about the history and meaning of individual names, discover the heraldry of you own family name. Perhaps you are researching a symbol for a family crest or tattoo design or simply want to know more about the origin of a particular name, look no further, just click on the link for each section in the table above to find out more! We have included pictures and videos to accompany the main topic within the Celtic Names section. The videos enable fast access to the images and pictures together with information and many historical facts. All of the articles and pages can be accessed via the about Ireland Index - a great educational resource for everyone!

 

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