Irish baby boy names

[pontipinemum]

I am looking for a less common Irish boys name. I already have a Pádraig, well know but not very popular, 20/30 per year going by the CSO

In the family we already have Peadar, Fionn, Tadhg, Cathal, Cillian, Seán, Odhran.

If baby is a girl she'll be called Fionnuala.

Also we are Irish living in Ireland. I loved Ruairí the last time but I was worried he would be called Rory a lot.

Cavan?

Anyway, I was going to say Donagh. You never hear it but it's lovely.

I wouldn't consider Lorcan posh!
Cuan as mentioned or Cuán (should that be Cúán? )

Séimí

@Slanabhaile I really like Setanta, Setanta Ó hAilpín comes to mind but so does the sport channel. No I wouldn't call my child Cú Chulainn it is a great name for a pet though

@Smoor I think there can be, or as least the only person I know that used that name made it sound super posh. 'L'or-Can is tots amaze at ruggers these days' 😂it is a fab name though and I know someone else who is very much so normal who used it lately.

@StephanieSuperpowers I didn't know if it was rude to say on here what Cavan normally means 😂

@LizardOfOz I've seen Cuan (unsure on fada placement!) popping up lately. It sounds nice. I had a family member go to Cuan Mhuire though so it makes me think of that.

I really like Cathal and Tadgh. Speaking as an English woman in England though, they obviously wouldn't bring up any pronunciation issues in Ireland but it would possibly be something I'd consider in case your dc moves anywhere else. I have a friend called Cathal and work with a Tadgh and it's easy to remember once told but I got them both wrong initially (particularly Tadgh 😬) and I'd imagine others would too.

Others I love (mostly because they're the names of people I love! But also good solid names to me too) - Colm, Oisín, Daragh, Malachy. My nephew is one of these (half Irish), my BIL is another.

Lorcan and Cian are both lovely too.

@pontipinemum , indeed, I don't think there's an Irish person who would hear Cavan and think "ooh, handsome"!

@IamaRevenant which English names would you not call your children in case they decide to live abroad?

Cian is my personal favourite

My nephews are Cáolan, Cónan, Aodhan, Caoimhin, Rowan, Rían, Killian, Earleigh, Daíthi and Pauric. (The rest aren't Irish names)

Setanta is a great name, also Senan but it is quite popular.

Thanks @StephanieSuperpowers!! God forbid any of us every want to leave the country with our unpronounceable names.

A few other names I've remembered.....
▪︎ Caoimhán (was the best looking boy in the boys school across the road, we were all madly in love with him!)
▪︎ Caoimh
▪︎ Donal
▪︎ Fergal / Fergus
▪︎ Conleth
▪︎ Eamon
▪︎ Aengus
▪︎ Declan
▪︎ Gearoid

On the spelling of Cuan, I'd say no fadas. At least in my pronunciation. It means Harbour and is a name I'm liking more and more.

I'm not going to say what it is as it's outing, but mine, frankly! I have lived in several countries and everyone gets it wrong. It's constantly either mispronounced or I get called one of two completely different but similarly spelled (and more internationally known) names.

Just speaking from my own experience! It does get a bit annoying tbh.

Edit - @Slanabhaile really not being negative about Irish names. This is literally me speaking about my own experience of having a name that it seems 90% of the world gets wrong initially (and sometimes continue to even after being corrected multiple times...).

Another vote for Lorcán as I have one too. And we are not at all posh lol

@scoopoftheday I really like Cáolan DH isn't as sure. Although he doesn't really want to think about it too much until we find out at the 20 week scan.

@IamaRevenant , that's fair enough! I jumped to a conclusion there, I shouldn't have.

I’ve come back to say Páidí, met a small boy recently with that name and loved it!

** just remembered you have a Padraig already, nevermind!

This would be more Northern Ireland, Scottish. People are scared to use it. But, I'm actually Bonnie 4th generation male.

Current Irish rugby player is Caelan, so perhaps one to become more well known 🤔

Torin
Rossa
Rua

my 3 favs. Also I wouldn’t worry about Ruairi being Rory, I live in Ire and generally they’re seen as totally different names

Diarmuid
Donal / Domhnall

I love Conall and Diarmuid. Also Aengus.
And Lorcan..lrish for Lawrence is a great name and not posh in any way.

Senan / Senàn
means “little wise one”

I've always loved Colmán!
A few others not mentioned yet...
Darach
Naomhán
Traolach
Maitiú
Muiris
Rónán

Daragh.