Irish names have really surged in popularity in recent years, but the types of Irish names that parents are choosing are very different from years gone by.
When we were in school, it would have been common to have classmates named Aoife or Patrick, whereas our children are more likely to be in class with an Éabha or Rían – names that were unheard of in the 90s or 00s.
Two lovely Irish names are on our radar at the moment because of how much they are rising in popularity, and if you like them, then now might be a good time to choose them, before they become just a bit TOO popular.
Senan
The first name on our list is Senan, a gorgeous name that means “little wise one." This name broke into the top 100 most popular Irish names for boys in recent years, and it’s well on its way towards the top 50.
The oniker saw one of the biggest jumps between 2023 and 2025, rising 24 places from 83 to 59.
But Senan is actually an old name and has been used in Ireland for over 50 years, with six baby boys given the moniker in 1964. We think it would be a lovely alternative to the popular Seán.
Odhran
The next name, Odhran means “pale” or “dark haired” and wasn’t really used as a boys’ name in Ireland until the 70s, being given to five little boys in 1971.
It was another one of the boys’ names that saw the biggest jump in popularity, jumping 36 places and breaking into the top 100 between 2023 and 2024, going from number 123 to number 87, according to the CSO.
*This article was originally published on EveryMum.ie.
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