Hollywood goes wild for Irish baby names - the top ten girls and boys names

Far from Seamus, Kathleen and Declan, let us introduce you to Keeva, Cara and Beckett

Irish baby names are hugely popular, and not just with us normal plebs, but with the Hollywood elite in LA and across the pond in Europe. Of course despite the fact that the most popular baby names of Irish origin are Kaitlyn, Aidan and Liam (usual names) the Hollywood stars had to go for something different.

Although it must be said that there are humdrum names like Kieran, Aoife and an old-fashioned Malachy in the mix.

So here they are, the Hollywood modern versions of Irish names along with the all important superstar connection.

GIRLS

1. Keeva

Meaning:  protect, shelter; gentle, beautiful, precious

Variant of: Caoimhe

Hollywood connection:

“How I Met Your Mother” star Alyson Hannigan chose the name to honor her father’s Irish heritage.

2. Fiona

Meaning: fair or pale

Variants: Fee, Ffion, Ffiona, Ffyona, Fione, Fionna and Fyona

Hollywood connection:

Fiona Eve is the daughter of “Beverly Hills 90210’s” Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli.

3. Rowan

Meaning: red-berry tree

Variant of: Roanna, Roanne and Rowen ( can be used for girls or boys).

Hollywood connection:

Brooke Shields named her little girl Rowan back in 2003. The weird thing is she doesn’t have red hair.

4. Ireland

Meaning: Well...Ireland!

Variant of: Usually used as a surname which dates back to the 1200s

Hollywood connection:

Former couple Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger named their little girl Ireland in 1995. Now she’s all grown up and got her first modelling contract.

5. Cara

Meaning: beloved, friend, or dear

Variant of: Caroline, Caragh, Caralin, Kara

Hollywood connection:

Reality TV exes Kate and Jon Gosselin, of “Jon and Kate, Plus Eight” gave this Irish name to one of their twin daughters in 2000.

6. Aoife

Meaning: beautiful, radiant

Variant of: Eve, Aoibh

Hollywood connection:

Aoife is the name of “Game of Thrones” actor Ciaran Hinds’ only daughter. They live in Paris with his wife Helene Patarot.

8. Delaney

Meaning: “offspring of the challenger" or "angel from heaven”

Variant of: Delany

Hollywood connection:

A solid surname that’s now used far more for girls than boys.

9. Maeve

Meaning: Irish goddess and queen name

Hollywood connection:

Chris O’Donnell sticks close to his Irish roots in naming his children. Along with Maeve he has another boy called Finley.

10. Tallulah

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Nster.com