Pronouncing Irish Names

You've read the program, wondered at the name and how to pronounce it.

Here's a guide to some of the names you might come across at competitions.

Any additions are gratefully accepted

Irish Name

Phonetic Pronunciation

Other Spellings

Meaning

English Equivalent

Ailis

AY-lish

Ailse, Ailish

Noble Rank

Adelaide

Aisling

ASH-ling

Aislinn

Vision, dream

Aoibhinn

A-Veen
E-Veen

Beautiful

Belle or Bonnie

Aoife

EE-fa

Ancient Irish name

Eva

Brid

Breed

Short for Bridgit

Caelan

KEE-lin

Caoilfhionn, Keelin, Caoilin

Slender and fair

Cáit

Coyt

Pure (Greek)

Kate

Caitríona

Cat-REE-ona

Catriona, Caitrín

Pure (Greek)

Catherine

Caoimhe

Kweeva

full of grace

Keavy

Caoilfhionn

KEE-lin

Caoilin, Keelin

Slender and fair

Ciara

KEY-ra

Kyra

"Dark One"
Saint from Kilkeare,
Co. Tipperary (AD 679)

Ceili

KAY-lee

A Dance or Party

Deirdre

DARE-dra, DEER-dra

Ancient heroine of the tale of the Sons of Uisneach

Dearbhla

Dervla

Derval, Deirbhle Dervla

True desire

Eadaoin

AY-deen

Aideen

A saint from Moylurg,Boyle

Edwina

Eavan

Ee-van

Aoibheann

Fair form

Eibhlín

Ev-LEEN

Evelyn

Fair

Evelyn

Eilís

EYE-leesh AY-lish

Ailish, Eilish

'God has sworn' (Greek)

Elizabeth

Eileen

EYE-leen

Eibhlin, Eilín

Sunlight (Greek)

Helen, Elene

Fainne

FAN-ya

irish word for 'ring'

Fionnabhair

FIN-a-vair

Fair

Jennifer

Fionnuala

Fin-NOO-la

Finola

Fair shoulder

Laoise

LEE-sha

Labhaoise

Famous battle

Louise

Máire

Moira,

Maura Moira, Maura

Bitter (Hebrew)

Mary

Máirín

MORE-een, MOY-reen

Maureen

Bitter (Hebrew)

Little Mary

Mairéad

Ma-RAYD

Maighréad

Pearl (Greek)

Margaret

Maeve

MAYV

Meadhbh, Meadbh, Medbh

The first century Queen of Connacht

Maoliosa

May-LEE-sa

Servant of Jesus

Niamh

NEE-uv, NEEV

Bright or lustrous. Mythical woman from Tír na nOg (Land of youth)

Nuala

NOO-la

Fionnuala

Fair shoulder

Orlaith -

Or-lar

Orla

Pádraigín

PAWD-rig-een

Noble (Latin); female version of Pádraig

Patricia

Ríonach

REE-noch, REE-o-noch

Ríoghnach

Queen Regina

Róisín

RO-sheen

Rosaleen

Rose

Rose

Saibh

Sive (rhymes with dive)

Saidhbh, Sive

Goodness

Sonya

Saoirse

SEER-sha

Freedom

Sian

Sharn

Gift of God(Hebrew)

Jan

Sinéad

Shin-AYD

Gift of God(Hebrew)

Jane

Siofra

SHEE-fra

Little elf

Siobhán

Shi-VAWN

Gift of God(Hebrew)

Joan

Sorcha

SUR-a-cha

Clear, bright

Sarah, Sally

Cillein

KILL-ian

Killian

Coileán

Col-AUN

Colin, Cuileán

An old Irish name meaning Whelp

Colin

Caolán

KEE-lin

Caoilfhionn, Keelin, Caoilin

Slender and fair

Caolfionn

Keelin

Slender Lad

Conor

CON-or

Cruhoor in Gaelic

Criuthur or Conchobarr

courage, lover of hounds , high virility

Eamonn

AY-mun

Eamon

Blessed protection

Edward, Edmund

Eoin

OWE-in

Owen

Gracious gift of God
(Hebrew)

John

Pádraig

PAW-drig

Padraic

Noble (Latin)

Patrick

Riain

REE-an

Rian

King

Ryan

Ronan

ROW-nan

Rónán

Seal

Séamus

SHAY-mus

Seamas, Shamus

'Trips by the heel' Supplants (Hebrew)

James

Seán

SHAUN

Gracious gift of God
(Hebrew)

John