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Most Popular Irish First Names

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These are the Irish and Irishoid names that appear in the US top 1000 for 1998. The list came from babyzone.com The Babyzone's compilation of Mike Shackleford's top 1000 based on US Social Security applications. OK, OK I know the "Irishness" of some of these names is a bit stretched. This list is for people with Irish heritage who want a name wit Irish flavor, but don't really care about authenticity.

The "rank" box indicate's a name's status within the top 1000 for 1998. There is a list of girls' names and a list of boys' names.

Girls' List

US Rank	Name	Notes
1	Kaitlyn	American form of the Irish Caitlín (form of Catherine)
6	Brianna	Modern fem. Form of Brian
18	Kayla	Even though it’s probably a modern creation, it is similar to the Irish man’s name Cadhla meaning ‘slender’
29	Ciara	Ciara, pronounced “KEE a ra” is a modern Irish name meaning ‘dark.’ However, in the USA, is’t probably pronounced see-Ahr-a or see-AIR-a, and is a modern crestion based on Sierra.
33	Anna/Ana	Most Anas are probably of Latina descent, but Ana can also be an ancient Celtic goddess name.
43	Kylie	Kylie is usually thought of as an Australian aborigianl name meaning ‘boomerang.’ However, it can also be a form of Kiley, an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cadhla.
50	Bailey	Anglicization of the surnames Báille (from English) or deBelleau (from Norman)
61	Kaylee	This name is a modern invention based on the names Kay and Lee. However, it is sometimes used because it sounds like céilí, the Irish word for a gathering.
67	Erin	This is the poetic name for Ireland. The name is not used in Ireland itself, although it’s gaining in popularity in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.
82	Kelly	This is an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaich, meaning ‘bright-headed’
94	Clare	Claire is the more popular spelling in the USA, and this is a French name meaning ‘clear.’ Clare is usually thought of as an alternate spelling. There is a county in Ireland called Clare (anglicization of an Clar).
96	Kira	Kira/Kyra is a Persian name meaning ‘light.’ However, it can also be an anglicization of Ciara, an Irish name meaning ‘dark.’
98	Cassidy	Anglicization of an Irish surname with an obscure meaning.
100	Molly	A typically Irish pet form of Mary. Spelled Mallaidh in Irish.
132	Cara/Kara	Cara is the Italian word for ‘dear,’ It’s also the Irish word for ‘friend.’ It is not used in the Republic, but is used in Northern Ireland.
146	Riley	Riley can be an English surname meaning ‘rye field’ or an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Raghailligh.
148	Cailin	Sometimes spelled Kaylin, Caylin etc, this name is a modern creation based on the names Kay and Lynn. However, Cailín, pron. ‘colleen’ is the Irish word for ‘girl.’
149	Alana	Used as a feminine form of the name Alan (of Celtic origin), Alannah’s popularity also can stem form the fact that it’s an anglicization of ‘a leanbh’ (‘0 child’), an Irish term of endearment.
150	Brenda	This name actually comes from a Norse word meaning ‘fire brand.’ However, it is often used as a feminine form of the Irish name Brendan.
151	Ashlyn	is is a modern creation based on the names Ashley and Lynn, but it can also be thought of as an anglicization of the Irish name Aislinn (ASH ling or ASH lin) meaning ‘dream’ or ‘vision.’
154	McKenna	Anglicization of the Irish surname MacCionnaith.
166	Kennedy	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cinnéde, meaning ‘ugly head.’
174	Bridget	St. Brigid is one of the 3 patron saints of Ireland. See This page for more information on the name.
177	Kathleen	Anglicization of the Irish Caitlín, a form of Catherine.
178	Patricia	This is the feminine form of Patrick, which is actually name with Latin origins. However, many people use this name in honor of St. Patrick.
182	Tara	This is an anglicization of the old Irish name Teamhair.
213	Shaina/Shauna/Shanna	These are generally considered to be modern forms of the name Séan, an Irish form of John. Shaina also means ‘beautiful’ in Yiddish.
254	Brenna	Modern feminine form of the name Brennan, an anglicization of the surname Ó Braonáin. Brennan is used for boys in the USA.
267	Aileen/Eileen	Anglicizations of the Irish name Aibhilín/Eibhilín, an Irish form of the Germanic name Aveline/Eveline. It is also sometimes used as an Irish form of Helen.
268	Shayla	a modern anglicization of the Irish name Síle (SHEE la), usually anglicized Sheila. Síle is a form of the Latin name Cecilia.
281	Reagan	An anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Ríagáin.
294	Shea	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Siadha.
337	Shawna	See Shaina/Shauna/Shanna.
343	Keely	Modern coinage based on the Irish names Caoilfhionn and Cadhla.
401	Cori/Kori	Anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Gothraidh.
407	Fiona	Originally, Fíona, pronounced Feena was an old Irish name meaning ‘vine.’ Today, pronounced fee-OH na, it is a Scottish feminine form of Fionn.
467	Maura	Anglicization of the name Máire, the Irish form of Mary.
469	Shelia	Anglicization of Síle, the Irish form of Cecilia.
473	Tracy	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Treasaigh
529	Quinn	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cuinn
567	Ireland	The name of the country itself. This name has been gaining in popularity ever since Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger named their daughter Ireland.
598	Maeve	An anglicization of the old Irish name Meadhbh. This is one of the few names on this list that is actually used in Ireland!
734	Dara	The Irish word for “oak tree.”

Boys' List

US Rank	Name	Notes
7	Brandon	Anglicization of Breanainn, usually anglicized Brendan. Also an English surname meaning hill top
8	Austin	Anglicization of the name Aghaistín, the Irish form of Augustine.
17	Cody	Anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Óda, meaning ‘son of Otto’
19	Ryan	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Ríain.
26	Kyle	Anglicization of Irish word “coill” meaning “woods”. More commonly used in Scotland, where is is from a place name meaning "narrow".
38	Sean	Irish form of John
44	Connor	Anglicization/modern form of the Irish name Conchobhar, usually spelled Conor in Ireland.
69	Colin	Can be either an anglicization of Coilean, and Irish name meaning “whelp” or Cóilín, an Irish short form of Nicholas.
70	Brendan	Anglicization of Breandán/Breannain, a major Irish saint.
75	Corey	Anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Gothraidh
84	Cole	An anglicization of the Irish name Comhall. Also an English short form of Nicholas.
108	Alan	Anglicization of the Irish name Ailín.
116	Shane	An anglicization of Seán, an Irish form of John.
117	Riley	An anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Raghaillidh. Can also be an English surname meaning “rye field”
128	Oscar	Anglicization of Osgar, meaning ‘deer lover’
136	Braden	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Bradaoin, meaning ‘salmon’
146	Aidan	Anglicization of Aodhán, meaning ‘little fire’
154	Casey	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cathasaigh
157	Bailey	Anglicization of the surnames Báille and deBelleau, of English and Norman origin.
159	Liam	Shortened form of Uilliam, the Irish form of William.
162	Brady	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Bradaigh
188	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.”
198	Miles	A name often used to translate Irish names beginning with Maol-meaning 'devotee of- (insert saint here)'
200	Brennan	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Braonáin
214	Griffin	Usually a Welsh name, but it can be an anglicization of the Irish name Críofán.
226	Nolan	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Nualláin
240	Keegan	Anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Aodhgáin
253	Caden	Anglicization of the Irish surname MacAodháin
301	Brody	Usually Scottish, this name can also be an anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Bruaideadha
315	Quinn	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Cuinn
317	Ross	Old Irish name meaning 'headland.'
346	Neil	Anglicization of the Irish name Niall.
405	Keenan	Anglicization of the Irish name Cianán. Used mainly in the USA as the transferred use of the surname Ó Cianáin.
441	Dorian	Although it is based on the name Dora, which has no Irish roots, this name was coined by the Irish playwright Oscar Wilde for his play The Portrait of Dorian Gray.
446	Coleman	This name can be an independent English surname as well as an anglicization of the Irish name Colmán.
453	Cullen	Anglicization of the Irish name Mac Cuileainn, meaning ‘son of the holly’
498	Kerry	Anglicization of the Irish county name Ciarraí.
504	Kieran	Anglicization of the Irish name Ciarán, meaning ‘little dark one’
514	Killian	Anglicization of the Irish name Cillén, a saint’s name.
515	Barry	Shortened form of names like Finbar and Bairfhionn.
521	Rory	Anglicization of the Irish name Ruadhrí, meaning ‘red king’
550	Kelly	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Ceallaigh meaning ‘bright-headed’
593	Declan	Form of the name Deaglán, an Irish saints’ name of obscure meaning.
599	Dallin	Probably a modern creation, but it could be based on the Irish name Dallán, meaning ‘blind.’
616	Kellen	Anglicization of the Irish surname Mac Coilin or Mac Coilín
618	Hugh	A common anglicization of the Irish name Aodh.
623	Tracy	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Treasaigh, meaning 'strength.'
639	Grady	Anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Gradaigh
643	Rohan	Anglicization of the Irish name Ruadhán, meaning ‘little red one’
691	Vaughn	Usually a Welsh surname, but also an anglicization of the Irish surname Ó Beacháin, meaning ‘beech tree’

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Last Updated: Dec. 1st, 2021

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