Perplexed by how your ancestor could have so many aliases? Our unique index to those elusive old girls' Irish names is particularly useful where an individual does not appear on record as expected.
Many native, old Irish (pre-Norman) origin given names were still popular first names for baby girls in 19th-century Ireland. Discover how these names were disguised by Latin and English "translations" to break down that Irish Genealogy brick wall.
Introduction
When Christianity was introduced to Ireland, some old Gaelic names became more popular because they sounded similar to saints' names e.g. Treasa > Teresa | Máiréad > Margaret | Áine > Anna.
In the early 20th century, confidence in the official use of one's authentic Irish (Gaelic) personal name grew. So, in the Census of Ireland for example, a given name may have been recorded in English in 1901, but in Irish (or alternative spelling) in 1911.
In addition, your ancestor may have been recorded under a nickname (or childhood pet name e.g. Ellie, Nellie) in one census and by their formal name (e.g. Ellen, Helen, Eleanor) in another. The following index will prove invaluable if you are struggling to find an ancestor on record. Few nicknames were exclusive to one Irish name, so keep note of any nickname that can be shared by multiple given names.
To facilitate your Irish ancestry research, we will continue to update this index with as many known spelling variations as possible. To contribute to this resource, click HERE.
READ Insights: Old Irish First Names & aliases
Index Guide
Format: Original Gaelic Irish name > how it was recorded in Latin (italics) > all known variations in English (to include nicknames).
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Links to the 1901 Census have been included for the most popular spelling variant.
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County of origin has been included as a hint where the association is significant.
Please note:
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Some letters in the English alphabet do not occur in Gaelic Irish.
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Old Gaelic Irish names were often batched together and disguised by one shared Anglicisation.
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To flag this, some Gaelic Irish names (from entirely different roots) have been combined in the same box.
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Gaelic Irish names were Latinized as the priest saw fit. So an individual may appear in the same parish register under as many variants as there were priests.
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Use of the Latin form of a Gaelic Irish name was not exclusive to church records e.g. Bidelia
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Some of these varied forms became popular Irish American girls' names.
The key takeaway is, of course, that a Gaelic name could have been recorded under a variety of "translations" (one individual could have multiple aliases) depending on the transcriber.
To add to this index, please click HERE.
How to Search the Irish Girls' name index
To search for a particular Irish name or nickname (without having to scroll) use the FIND function on a desktop PC. The following keyboard shortcut will open a search/ find window:
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Hold down the CTRL key [Mac = command].
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Press F.
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Type in the name (or part of) and press RETURN.
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No results? Re-try using a partial spelling of the name.
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To submit a query or a suggestion, click here.
POPULAR / COMMON IRISH NAMES FOR GIRLS OF GAELIC ORIGIN IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
A
Ailbhe, Oilbhe (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Albea
Anglicized: Alvy, Elva, Olive, Olivia
Nicknames: Bea
Notes: also a boys' name
Aifric (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Affrica, Africa
Anglicized: Aphria
Aine (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Anna, Annae, Annam
Anglicized: Anne, Ann, Hannah
Nicknames: Nan, Nannie, Nanny, Nancy, Nansí, Neansí, Nance, Nanno, Nano, Honny, Nancy, Nan, Nanny, Naney, Nannie.
Notes: see also: Ancestors-named-Anne-or-Nan
Aislinn, Aisling (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Ester
Anglicized: Esther, Ashling, Hester
Nicknames: Ash, Essie, Essy
Aithche (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Atia, Acia
Anglicized: Atty, Alicia
Aoibheann, Aibfinn (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Aibfinnia
Anglicized: Eavan, Yvonne
Nicknames: Evan, Evey, Evie, Evelyn, Eveline, Evelina
Aoife (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Eva
Nicknames: Aifa, Aife, Evie, Evey, Evy,
Athracht (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Attracta
Anglicized: Attracta
B
Bean Mhumhan (Original Gaelic)
Anglicized: Benvon
Nicknames: Benna, Benie, Bency
Bean Mhidhe (Original Gaelic)
Anglicized: Benvy
Nicknames: Benna, Benie, Bency, Benery, Benry
Béibhinn (Original Gaelic)
Anglicized: Bevin, Vivian Vivienne
Nicknames: Bevan, Babeen, Babbie, Baby, Babe, Bab, Baveen
Blinne, Bluinse (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Moninna
Anglicized: Blanche, Blanch
Bláth (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Flora
Anglicized: Flora
Nicknames: Flo, Flossie, Flors
Bláthnaid, Bláthnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Florentia
Anglicized: Florence
Nicknames: Flo, Flossie, Flors
Bríd (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Bidelia, Brigida, Phidelia
Anglicized: Bridget, Brigid, Delia, Breeda
Nicknames: Biddy, Breege, Bride, Bridie, Bessie, Dina, Delia, Dilly, Dillie, Beesy, Dina, Bedina, Cordelia
Notes: see also Ancestors-named-Brigid
C
Caoilfhionn (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Coelfinnia
Anglicized: Keelin
Nicknames: Keelie, Keely, Keeleen
Caoimhe (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Pulcheria
Anglicized: Keavy , Keavah
Nicknames: Keevie, Keevy
Ciannat (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Ciannata
Anglicized: Kinnat, Keenat
Clíona (Original Gaelic)
Latinized:
Anglicized: Cleena, Cliona, Cliodhna, Clionadh, Cliodna, Kleena
D
Dairíne (Original Gaelic)
Anglicized: Darina, Darene, Dareen
Nicknames: Reena, Rina, Reeny, Darry, Darrie, Dereenie
Damhnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Dymphna
Anglicized: Devnet, Downet, Dymphna
Dearbháil, Deirbhile (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Dervilia
Anglicized: Derval, Dervilia
Nicknames: Derv, Dervy, Dervie
Deirdre (Original Gaelic)
Anglicized: Deirdre, Derdra
Nicknames: Dee, Dedrie, Deerdry
Doireann (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Dorinnia
Anglicized: Dorren, Dorothy, Darina
Nicknames: Dora, Doreen, Dolly, Dot, Dotty
E
Éadaoin (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Edwina
Anglicized: Aideen, Edwina
Earnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Ernata
Anglicized: Ernet
Etáin (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Etania
Anglicized: Etaun
Nicknames: Etty
Eithne (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Ethnea
Anglicized: Ethna, Eithne, Enya
Nicknames: Etney, Annie
F
Fainche (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Fanchea
Anglicized: Fauncha
Nicknames: Fanny
Faoiltighearna (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Failtigerna
Anglicized: Whiltierna
Fiadhnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Fiadnata
Anglicized: Feenat, Feena
Fionnuala, Fionnghuala (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Finguala, Finola
Anglicized: Finola, Nuala, Penelope
Nicknames: Fionna, Flora, Nuala, Nappy, Nappa, Nell, Nelly, Penny
Notes: The Children of Lir
G
Gobnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Abigail, Gobnata
Anglicized: Abigail, Deborah, Gobinet, Gobnet
Nicknames: Abbi, Abbie, Abby, Abina, Bena, Bina, Debbie, Debby, Gail, Gubbie, Gubby, Libby, Nabbie, Nabby, Webbie, Webby
Notes: Saint Gobnait
Gormlaith, Gormfhlaith (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Gormlata
Anglicized: Gormlaith, Gormley, Barbara
Nicknames: Barbary, Babs, Babeen, Barb, Babbie, Baby, Babe, Bab
Gráinne (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Grania, Gratia
Anglicized: Grace, Gertrude
Nicknames: Gertie, Gerry, Jerry, Trudy, Trudie, Grissel, Grizel, Grizzel
Notes: The Pursuit of Diarmuid & Grainne
H
Hilde (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Hilda
Anglicized: Hilda
Nicknames: Hildy, Hillie, Hilly
I
Íde, Míde (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Ita, Mita
Anglicized: Ita, Ida, Eda
Nicknames: Itie, Edie, Edy, Meeda, Meedy
L
Lasairfhíona (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Lassarina
Anglicized: Lassarina
Nicknames: Feena, Fíona
Luighseach, Laoiseach (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Lugsecha
Anglicized: Lucinda, Lucia
Nicknames: Lisa, Lucy, Lou, Louie, Luey
M
Márgrég (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Margarita
Anglicized: Margaret
Nicknames: Maggie, Molly, Minnie, Maighréad, Greta
Méabh, Meadhbh (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Bena
Anglicized: Meave
Nicknames: Maud, Bina, Mabel, Margery, Marjory, Madge, Méibhinn
Notes: The Cattle Raid of Cooley
Mealla (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Mella
Anglicized: Mella
Nicknames: Mellie, Melly
Moncha (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Monica
Anglicized: Monica
Nicknames: Mon, Monnie, Monny
Mór, Móire (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Mora
Anglicized: More, Mora
Nicknames: Martha, Marta, Martie, Marty, Martle, Martly, Mary, Agnes
Muadhnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Muadnata
Anglicized: Monat, Mona
Nicknames: Mo
Muireann, Muirinn, Murainn (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Murinnia
Anglicized: Morinn, Marion
Nicknames: Madge, Mo
Muirgheal (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Murgela
Anglicized: Murel, Muriel
Nicknames: Murie, Mury, Mel, Ella, Murial
N
Neasa (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Nesia
Anglicized: Nessa, Nesa
Nicknames: Ness, Nessie, Neassa, Neas
Notes: The Ulster Cycle
Niamh (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Nabitha
Anglicized: Neeve, Neve, Niav
Nicknames: Neevy, Ninnie, Ninny, Niney, Nevia, Niva, Neeves, Nives, Niveen, Neeveen, Nivin
Notes: The Legend of Tír na nÓg
O
Odharnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Odarnata
Anglicized: Ornat, Orna, Eorna
Nicknames: Ornie, Orney
Órla, Órfhlaith (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Orlata
Anglicized: Orla
R
Rathnait (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Ratnata
Anglicized: Renny
Nicknames: Rennie
Ríonach (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Regnacia
Anglicized: Regina, Riona
Nicknames: Reena, Reenie, Reeny, Reg, Ina
Notes: short for Catherine/ Caitriona
S
Sadhbh, Sabha (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Sabia
Anglicized: Sarah, Sive, Sabina, Sophia
Nicknames: Sally, Sal, Sophie, Sophy, Sarah, Sibby, Sibbie, Bee, Bina, Sadie
Notes: Saidhbhín
Sláine (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Slania
Anglicized: Slany
Sorcha (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Sorcha
Anglicized: Clara, Sarah
Nicknames: Sorca, Sorsha, Sally, Sal, Sadie
T
Treasa, Treise (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Teresia
Anglicized: Teresa, Theresa
Nicknames: Tess, Tessie, Tressa, Tressy, Toireasa, Treise, Treesy, Terry
U
Úna (Original Gaelic)
Latinized: Una
Anglicized: Winifred, Agnes, Oonagh
Nicknames: Oona, Unity, Winny, Winnie, Aggie
Can't find your Irish ancestor's name?
Some popular Irish Gaelic girls' names won't appear on this "Old Irish" list if introduced later by the Normans e.g.
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Siobhán (Jeanne > Siobhan, Shivaun, Shevaun, Johanna, Judy, Judith),
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Síle (Caelia > Celia, Sheila, Shelagh, Sheelagh, Cecilia), and
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Sinéad (Janette > Sinead, Jane, Jean, Jennifer).
Our index to Irish Christian names of Norman origin is coming soon. For notification, be sure to sign-up / join here.
Over to you...
Got any of these names in your family tree? We'd love if you added them to our Ancestors roll-call here:
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What Next?
BACK TO Old Irish First Names & aliases
READ MORE Irish Naming & Baptism Traditions | Irish Surnames 101
Sources
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