We love Irish names, but they’re not everyone’s cup of tea for so many reasons.

While they do remain a popular choice for new parents year after year, they do pose some problems that might deter parents-to-be from choosing them.

For starters, they can be difficult to pronounce. Not necessarily a problem if you live in Ireland and are used to seeing and hearing Irish names [although some can still be confusing], but it can be a pain if you are travelling to countries where people can’t read or understand Irish.

Some parents may not mind bestowing such an inconvenience on their kids [no judgment here, I did it], but for some, a difficult-to-pronounce name is firmly on the no list.

So we have compiled a list of some easy-to-pronounce Irish names, because there are quite a few lovely options for parents who aren’t a fan of complex Irish monikers.

10 Easy-to-pronounce Irish boy names

  • Finn – meaning fair
  • Conor – meaning hound lover
  • Shay – comes from the name Seamus and means supplanter
  • Fintan – meaning little fair one
  • Oscar – meaning friend of deer
  • Dara – meaning oak tree
  • Declan – meaning full of goodness
  • Liam – meaning strong willed warrior
  • Cormac – meaning raven son
  • Rowan – meaning little red haired one

10 Easy to pronounce Irish girl names

  • Brigid – meaning  strength, power, vigour, virtue
  • Orla – meaning golden princess
  • Cara – meaning friend
  • Erin – meaning Ireland
  • Mara – derived from the Irish word for sea
  • Alanna – derived from the Irish word Leanbh, meaning baby
  • Fia – can also be spelt Fiadh, meaning wild
  • Tara – comes from the Hill of Tara
  • Fiona – meaning fair
  • Shannon – meaning wise river

*This article was originally published on EveryMum.ie.