Iarfhlaith - (YAR-lath) Irish saint name; St. Iarlaith was born in Tuam and ordained in 468 and built the first monastery and school at Cloonfush. Iarlaith, Iarlaithe, Jarlath.

Ibor - (EE-bohr?) from iobar "yew tree". St. Ibor opposed St. Patrick because he was a "foreigner". Iobhar.

Imar - (EE-MAHR?) probably the name Ivarr borrowed from the Norse-Vikings who invaded Ireland. Iomhar (EE-var).

Innis - "from the island". Innes, Iniss.

Ionhar - (YOWR, or YO-ver)(Teut) "archer". Ivor.

áoseph - (YO-sef)(H) "god will add". Iosep, Joseph.

Jarlath - (JAR-leth) Name of 6th C. saint, teacher of St. Brendan the Navigator. Brendan told Jarlath to drive his chariot east and build a church where his wheel broke; it broke in Tuam, and he founded a church that became a great center of learning and art. Modern Irish Iarlaith (YAR-lath or YAHR-le).

Jonathan - (H) "god gives".

Joseph - (H) "god will add".

Kacey - (kay-see) alternate spelling of Casey.

Kane - (Gael) "tribute, warrior". Kayne, Kaine.

Kavan - "handsome". Kavenaugh.

Keallach - (KAL-ak?) "little Kelly". Killian.

Keary - (keer-ee) "dark or dark-haired".

Kearney - (keer-nee)(Celt) "warrior". Carney.

Keefe - (KEEF)(Gael) "cherished, handsome, lovable". Keeffe.

Keegan - (Gael) "little and fiery". Keagen, Kegan.

Keelan - from a word meaning "slender" or "little".

Keeley - "handsome" or "beautiful and graceful". Kealey, Kealy.

Labraid - "speaker". Labhraidh.

Labhrás - (LAU-rahsh)(L) "a laurel bush". Labhras, Labras, Laurence.

Laegaire - (LEERY) possibly "calf-herd". Laoghaire.

Laisrean - from laisre "flame". Laisren.

Laoire - (LAY-re, LEER-ee, LAIR-ee, L'Heery) from Old Irish name Laegaire, may mean "calf-herder". Name of two saints and a king of Tara. Leary, Laoighaire, Laoghaire.

Larkin - "rough and fierce".

Laughlin - (LOFF-lin or LOCK-lin) "servant of St. Secundinus". Lanty, Lany, Leachlainn, Loughlin.

Mac Dara - (mahk-DAH-ra) from Old Irish mac "son" + dara "oak" = "son of the oak". St. Mac Dara of Connemara is the patron of fisherman.

MacBride - from the Irish meaning "son of the follower of St. Brighid". Mcbride, McBride, Macbride).

Macallister - "son of Alistair". Mcallister, McAllister, MacAllister.

Macarthur - "son of Aruthur". Mcarthur, McArthur, MacArthur.

Maccoy - "son of Hugh". Mccoy, McCoy, MacCoy.

Maclean - from "son of Leander". Mclean, McLean, Maclaine, MacLean.

Macrea - from the Irish meaning "son of grace". Mccrea, Mccrae, McCrea, MacRea.

Naoise - (NEE-shah?) son of Uisliu and served Conchobhar mac Ness, King of the Ulaidh; fell in love with Deirdre, who was promised to the king, and had to flee for his life. When they returned under a promise of forgiveness, Naoise was ambushed and killed. Naoisi.

Naomhan - (NAU-ahn) "holy". Nevan.

Neal - (Celt) "champion". Neil, Neill, Neale, Nealon.

Neasán - (NESH-ahn) Irish saint name; variant of Nessa. Nessan.

Nechtan - (neck-tahn) husband of the goddess Boann and keeper of a magic well of knowledge which had nine hazel trees around it.

O'Neil - "son of Neil". O'Neal, O'Neill.

Odhrán - (OH-rahn) from odhar "dun-colored"; from an old name for "otter"; or "pale green". Oran, Orrin, Odran.

Oengus - variant of Aonghus. Aengus.

Ogma - known as Sun-Face and Honey-Mouthed, similar to the Greek hero Hercules. He carried a huge club and was the champion of the Tuatha De Danann. Legend says he created the Ogham script alphabet.

Oisin - (oh-SHEEN) from Old Irish oisin "fawn" or "deer". Finn mac Cumhaill's son, was poet of the Fianna. Two saints by this name (Oissine). Oissine, Ossian.

Paddy - (pad-ee)(L) form of Patrick; "noble, nobleman".

Padraig - (PAH-drig or PAH-dreek) from Latin Patricius "noble". St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, was the first successful Christian missionary on the island. Patrick has only been a given name of children since 1700; considered too sacred earlier, children were given names Gilla Patraic "servant of Patrick" or Mael Patraic "devotee of Patraic". Padhraig, Paddy, Padraic, Patraig, Patrick.

Parlan - see Bartholomew "ploughman"; or Parthlán. Patholon, Parthalan (PAR-ha-lahn).

Parthalán - (PAR-ha-lahn)(Aramaic) "ploughman". Parlan, Bartholomew, Bartley.

Raegan - (ray-gehn) "little king" or "royal". Reagan, Reegen, Regan.

Rafer - (ray-fer) from a word meaning "rich, prosperous". Raffer, Rafferty.

Ragallach - king of Connacht, he abandoned his infant daughter because of a prophecy that he would die at his daughter's hand.

Raghnall - (RAN-al) "wise or mighty power"; from the Norse-Vikings. Reginald, Reynald, Randal, Randall, Reynold.

Ráamonn - (RYEH-mon or RAY-moon)(Teut) from ragan "counsel" + mund "protection"; "mighty protector"; Irish version of Old German Raymond, brought by the Anglo-Normans in the invasion. Reamonn, Remann, Raymond, Mundy.

Saoirse - (SHAHR-sha?) "freedom" or "liberty"; male or female name.

Scanlon - (SKAN-lun) "little trapper".

Scully - (SKUHL-ee) (Gael) from a word meanign "town crier". Scolaighe.

Sáafra - (SHEE-a-fra or SHE-fra) "god's peace"; Irish form of Jeffrey, brought by the Anglo-Normans. Sheary, Geoffrey, Seafraid, Seathrun.

Sáamas - (SHAY-muhs or SHEE-a-mus) from James (H); "the supplanter, one who supplants". Seamus, Seumus, Shemus, Shamus.

Seán - (SHAWN) "god's gracious gift"; Irish form of John, der. from Norman French name Jehan. Shaun, Shane, Sion, Shawn, Seaghan (SEE-a-gun).