Irish names

Ireland is legendary for its lush, green landscape and "the luck of the Irish," plus its strong influence on music, literature, and drama. And like Irish culture, Irish baby names are popular around the globe. In America – where 30 million people claim Irish ancestry – it's no surprise that names from the Emerald Isle are big hits. Many are very familiar to American ears: Finn, Liam, Riley, Aiden, Caitlin, Quinn, and more. Other Irish names, such as Niamh and Cormac, are less used in this country. But even more-obscure Irish names are on the rise – Maeve and Niall, for example. Many Irish names originate from place names. These were important to ancient Irish people, who became known by the regions they came from. Shannon, which means "wide river," comes from River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. Erin is another definitively Irish name – it means Ireland. Whether you want to honor your own Irish heritage or love names with a bit of good fortune, an Irish name might be perfect for your little one.