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Most popular Irish baby names in America

Looking for an Irish name? We've got them all here!


Most popular Irish girl's name: Brianna, meaning noble
Most popular Irish girl's name: Brianna, meaning noble

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Aidan, Brayden, Colin, Riley; Kayla, Morgan, Megan, Kaitlyn - you've probably come across a newborn in the past decade with at least one of these names.

What do they all have in common? These top names in the U.S. all have Irish roots!

For example, the trendy name "Aidan" is the Anglicization of the Gaelic word Aodhán, meaning "little fire," while "Kayla" is a modern creation inspired by the Irish man’s name Cadhla, meaning "slender."

If you're an expectant parent looking for an Irish name, or you just want to figure out what your own means, you've come to the right place.

We've done all the hard work of gathering the top Irish names in America into one place. All you have to do is sit back and choose one, or two...

Boys

Ryan:Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Ríain, meaning "descendent of the little king"

Brandon:Anglicization of Breanainn, which possibly means "sword.” Also an English surname meaning “hill top”

Logan: From the Irish surname O’Loughan, which is often mistranslated to mean “duck,” which is actually from the Gaelic word “lacha”

Austin: Anglicization of the name Aghaistín, the Irish form of Augustine, a Latin name meaning “great” or “magnificent”

Kevin: Anglicization of the Irish name Caoimhín, meaning “beautiful birth”

Connor: Modern form of the Irish name Conchobhar, meaning “dog lover.” Usually spelled Conor in Ireland

Kyle: Anglicization of the Irish word “coil” meaning “woods.” More commonly used in Scotland, where it is from a place name meaning "narrow.”

Aidan: Anglicization of Aodhán, meaning “little fire”

Brian: Anglicization of the Irish name Brion, meaning “noble”

Sean: Irish form of John, which means “gift from God”

Owen: Usually a Welsh name. It can be an Anglicization of the Irish names Eoin (form of John) and Eoghan, meaning “born of the yew”

Cody: Anglicization of the Irish surname of Norman origin, Mac Óda, meaning “descendent of Otto”

Patrick: Ireland’s patron saint’s name which is Latin for “noble.” Padric is the Irish variant

Brayden: Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Bradaoin, meaning “salmon”

Tristan: Celtic name whose meaning has been debated, but possibly means “tumult,” or “uproar”

Colin: Can be either an Anglicization of Coilean, an Irish name meaning “whelp,” or Cóilín, an Irish short form of Nicholas.

Riley: Riley is an English surname meaning “rye field” or an Anglicization of the Irish surname O’Reilly, or Ó Raghaillaigh, meaning from “descendent of Raghaillaigh,” an Irish chieftan


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7 Comments

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None of these names are what we would call Irish, more of a modern day fad. My grandaughters name is Dóireann, pronounced Dirran, thats what we call irish. Thomas- Tomás, pronounced Ta moss. John-Seán, pronounced Shaun. James-Séamas, pronounced shaymuss. Patrick- Pádraig, pronounced porage. Kathleen - Caitlín. Mary- Mháire. etc.
Please note that the following names are either unknown or practically unheard of in Ireland: Brandon, Kyle (Scotland or Northern Ireland), Cody, Riley, Brayden, Tristan, Brady, Brody, Dorian, Kayla, Megan, Kaitlyn, Makayla, Kaylee, Erin, Kiara, Kara, Kira, Shayla, Tara. The following names are surnames (family names) in Ireland and are never used as first names: Logan, Reilly, Caden, Nolan, Keegan, Griffin, Brennan, Quinn, Kennedy, Cassidy, Reagan, Delaney, McKenna, Shannon, Brennan.
One of my college pals is named Gunner.
nambek12: Whata's so difficult about pronouncing "Cian"? Am I missing something?
Here in America the most popular names here is John for Boys and Girls is Ashley. I have 3 great Nephew names Nicholas as in Nick alot of Italian used this name as well. Ryan and John with is my name as well and my late father and grandfather name are John.
Well, interesting but I would take exception to some of the meanings. In particular, Makayla is the feminine of Michael, written Michaela or Micheala and is becoming more popular in Ireland.
We just welcomed a new baby into our family - a great nephen was named Cian! It seems to be the "in-thing" to try and find something way out there and different but what trouble lies ahead when no one in school will be able to pronounce it just because the parents wanted to be different!
 




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