Celtic Names Glossary

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For female names, see Celtic Female Names Glossary

Contents

1 General Celtic Male Names

2 Breton Celtic Male Names

3 Celtic Male Names of Cornwall

4 Celtic Male Names of the Isle of Man

5 Celtic Male Names of Ireland

6 Celtic Male Names of Scotland

7 Celtic Male Names of Wales

General Celtic Male Names

Afton — "from the Afton River".

Arlen — "pledge".

Banning — "blond child".

Brieg — "esteem".

Caedmon — "wise warrior".

Creighton — "near the creek".

Dacey — "southerner".

Darcy — "dark".

Doane — "dune dweller".

Donat — "given".

Eavan — "fair form".

Floyd — "the hollow".

Breton Celtic Male Names

Alan — (AH-lan) Introduced to England by the Breton contingent of William the

Conquerer's forces. St. Alan was a 6th C. bishop of Quimper.

Alar — (AH-lahr) Name of the patron saint of goldsmiths and blacksmiths, and the

protector of horses. Alaric (ah-LAH-reek), Laric (LAH-reek).

Alor — (AH-lohr) Name of 6th C. bishop of Quimper who signed a peace treaty with the

Roman Empire. St. Alor is the patron saint of Tremeoc.

Andrev — (ahn-DRAY-oh) Breton form of Andre. Drev (DRAY-oh).

Arc'hantael — (ahr-XAHN-tel) from Old Breton argant "silver, shining" + hael "noble,

generous". Argantael (ahr-GAHN-tel).

Arzhel — (AHR-zel) from British artos "bear" + maglos "chief". St. Arzhel was born in Wales

in 482, founded a monastery in the Forest of Broceliande in Brittany. Famed as a magician,

Arzhel was summoned to King Childebert's court in Paris. After his death, Arzhel's name

was invoked to end droughts.

Arzhur — (AHR-zoor) Fr. Celtic artos "bear" or fr. Latin name Artorius. In Breton tradition,

King Arzhur (Arthur) was made a saint. Arzhul (AHR-zool).

Bernez — (BAYR-nes) Breton form of Bernard.

Blaez — (BLAYS) from Old Breton word for "wolf". Bleiz.

Brendan — (BRAYN-dahn) After 5th C. Irish St. Brendan the Navigator.

Brevalaer — (bray-VAH-layr) Fr. Old Breton bran "raven" + uualatr "prince". Name of an

early bishop, about whom little is known.

Briac — (BREE-ahk) Breton form of Irish name Brian. 6th C. Breton St. Briac.

Briec — (BREE-ayk) from British name Brigacos, fr. Celtic brig "high, mighty". Born to a

pagan family in Wales in 5th C., St. Brieg was converted by St. Germain of Auxerre, France.

Briec founded several monasteries in Brittany, including * Saint-Brieuc. Brieg, Brieuc,

Brieug.

Budoc — (BOO-dok) from Celtic bud "victory". Son of St. Azenor. Founded a monastery on

the island of Lavret, and became a celebrated teacher. Budog.

Deniel — (DAY-nyel, day-NOH-el) Breton form of Daniel. Deniel was the name of a

founding saint of Brittany. Denoel.

Derrien — (DAY-ryen) Early Breton saint. St. Derrien performed miracles and saved a

nobleman's son (the future St. Riok) from a dragon after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Darien.

Devi — (DAY-vee) Breton form of David, patrion saint of Wales, revered in Brittany as well.

Donan — (DOH-nan) Name of a disciple of St. Briec. Tonan.

Edern — (AY-dern) from Welsh edyrn "great". St. Edern was a Welsh hermit who went to

Brittany in the 9th C. He welcomed to his hermitage a deer that was being chased by a

hunter. It is said the deer never left his side.

Efflam — (AY-flahm) Prob. derived from Celtic flamm "flame". In legend, Efflam was a 6th

C. Irish prince who took religious vows and travelled Brittany, where he defeated a dragon

by invoking God's name and brought forth a sacred spring.

Erwan — (AYR-wahn) St. Erwan (1253-1303), also known by French name Yves. Patron

saint of lawyers. He gained a lasting reputation as a church judge for his fairness and

special attention to the poor.

Ewen — (AY-ven) Popular since earliest times; a saint's name. Even.

Fransez — (FRAHN-ses, FAHNSH) Breton forms of French name Francois. Fanch, Soa

(SWAH), Soaic (SWAH-eek).

Gael — (GA-el) Popular Breton name that may have originated as a nickname for Judikael.

Girec — (GEE-rik) St. Gireg, born in Wales in 547. He founded a monastery near Lanmeur

and a hermitage near Ploudaniel. Gireg.

Glen — (GLAYN) from Old Breton glenn "valley". Name of an early Breton saint.

Govran — (GOH-vrahn) Old Breton word meaning "smith". 8th C. saint fr. Vannes. Gobrien

(goh-BREE-en), Gobrian (goh-BREE-ahn).

Gralon — (GRAH-lohn) from Old Breton grad "rank" + lon "full". Legendary king of Brittany,

hero of the doomed city of Ker-Is, which sank into the Bay of Douarnenez for the

wickedness of its people. Gralon escaped with the help of Saint Gwenole.

Gweltaz — (GWAYL-tahs) Probably several early Breton saints.

Gwencalon — (gwayn-KAH-lohn) Old Breton name, fr. gwenn "bright, shining" + calon

"heart".

Gwennec — (GWAYN-ek) Dim. Old Breton word meaning "shining, holy". Patron saint of

Plouhinec. Gwenneg.

Gwenole — (gway-NOH-lay) Name of a 6th C. saint who founded the monastery of

Landevennec.

Gwenvael — (GWAYN-vel) An Old Breton name, derived from gwenn "shining, holy" + mael

"prince, chief". Name of a saint.

Helori — (hay-LOH-ree) Old Breton name derived from hael "generous".

Herve — (HAYR-vay) Name of a popular saint, son of the bard Hyvarnion and is wife

Rivanone. Patron saint of bards. Harvey.

Hoel — (HOH-el) Popular name among the Dukes of Brittany, also the name of Morgan la

Fay's father in several medieval French Arthurian tales.

Jakez — (ZHAH-kays) Breton form of Jacques.

Jos — (ZHOS) from Old Breton iud "lord, chief".

Judikael — (zhoo-dee-KA-el) from Old Breton iud "lord, chief" + hael "generous". A 7th C.

Breton king who left the throne for a life of monastic solitude.

Kado — (KAH-doh) from Welsh cad "battle". Breton form of the name of early Welsh saint,

Cadoc. Kadeg, Kadec (KAH-dek).

Kaourantin — (kaoh-RAHN-teen) Name of a 5th C. saint who was bishop of Quimper.

French spelling Corentin (koh-REN-teen). Tin (TEEN), Tinic, Tinig (TEEN-eek), Kaour

(KAOHR), Kao (KAOH).

Kavan — (KAH-vahn) from Old Breton kad "battle". Name of an early saint whose feast day

is March 10.

Konan — (KOHN-ahn) from Celtic kuno "high, mighty". 7th C. St. Konan. Conan.

Korneli — (kohr-NAY-lee) St. Korneli is revered in the region of Carnac as the protector of

horned beasts.

Leri — (LE-ree) Name of a 7th C. hermit saint. Lery.

Loeiz — (LOH-ayz) Breton form of Louis.

Malo — (MAH-loh) from Old Breton mach "hostage" + lon "shining". One of the most

important early Breton saints, patron of St. Malo.

Marrec — (MAHR-ek) from Old Breton word for "horseman" or "knight".

Marzhin — (MARH-zeen) Breton form of Martin.

Mazhe — (MAY-zay) Breton form of Matthew.

Melan — (MAY-lahn) 5th C. saint and bishop of Reenes. Melen, Melaine (MAY-len).

Menguy — (MAYN-gee) Old Breton men "stone" + ki "hound, wolf".

Meriadec — (may-REEAH-dek) Name of a 7th C. saint and bishop of Vannes. Meriadeg,

Meriadoc (may-REE-AH-dohk).

Meven — (MAY-ven) 6th C. St. Meven founded the abbey of Saint-Meen in the Forest of

Broceliande.

Mikael — (MEE-kael, MEE-kel) Breton form of Michael. Kaelic (KAEL-eek, KEL-eek).

Morvan — (MOHR-vahn) from Old Breton mor "sea". Name of a 9th C. Breton king.

Nedeleg — (nay-DE-lek) Breton word for Christmas, the equiv. of the French or English

name Noel.

Neven — (NAY-ven) Name of an early saint.

Nikolaz — (nee-KOH-lahs) Breton form of Nicholas. Kolaz (KO-lahs), Kolazic, Kolazig (koh-

LAH-zeek).

Olier — (OH-lyay) Breton form of the French name Olivier.

Padrig — (PAH-dreek) Breton form of the Irish name Padraig (Patrick). St. Patrick.

Paol — (PAOHL, POHL) Breton forms of Paul. Breton St. Pol Aurelian (492-572) was

known as a slayer of dragons and a founder of monasteries, notably Saint-Pol-de-Leon. Pol.

Per — (PER) Breton form of Pierre.

Riok — (REE-ohk) from Old Breton ri "king". Name of an early Breton saint, disciple of

Gwenole. Riec, Rieg (REE-ek).

Ronan — (ROH-nahn) from and Old Irish name meaning "little seal". St. Ronan, 6th C. Irish-

born monk, founded a hermitage in the forest of Locronan in Brittany. Reunan (RUH-nahn).

Roparzh — (ROH-pers) Breton form of Robert. St. Roparz of Arbrissel (1045-1116) was

named bishop of Rennes, but chose to live as a hermit.

Samzun — (SAHM-zoon) from biblical name Samson. 6th C. St. Samson was born in Wales

and led a footloose existence, establishing churches in Britain, Ireland and northern

France. In Brittany, he founded the famous abbey of Dol.

Tanet — (TAH-net) Old Breton name meaning "afire".

Tangi — (TAHN-gee) from Old Breton tan "fire" + ki "hound, wolf". Name of a 6th C. saint,

the brother of St. Heodez. Tanguy.

Taran — (TAH-ran) After a statue of an ancient Celtic thunder god with the name Taran

inscribed on it was unearthed in Brittany in the 1700s, he was venerated as a saint.

Taranis was the name of a deity worshipped by ancient Celtic people from Britain to

Yugoslavia.

Treveur — (TRAY-vuhr) Name of an early prince and saint, son of St. Trifine. Treveur is the

patron saint of Carhaix, Kergloff and Camlez.

Tristan — (TREE-stahn) Popular in Brittany, from the name of the hero of the tale of

Tristan and Isolde. Tanick (TAH-neek).

Tudi — (TO-dee) 6th C. saint who gave his name to Loctudy and l'Ile-Tudy. Tudy.

Tudual — (TOO-dwahl) Prob. from the same source as the Welsh name Tudor: Celtic

teutorigos "king of the land or tribe". St. Tudual was a 6th C. Welsh-born saint who

founded several monasteries in Brittany. Tugdual.

Yann — (YAHN) Breton form of the French name Jean, equiv. of English John. Yannick or

Yannig (YAH-neek).

Celtic Male Names of Cornwall

Arranz — (AHR-anz) Cornish word for "silver".

Arthur — (AHR-thuhr) from Celtic artos "bear", or possibly from the medieval Latin name

Artorius. King Arthur, according to tradition, was born at Tintagel Castle on the coast of

Cornwall.

Arthyen — (AHRTH-yen) from Celtic artos "bear" + gen "to bear", hence "bear-borne".

Austell — (AH-stel) A companion of St. Samson, Austell founded a church in Cornwall.

Benesek — (be-NEZ-ek) from Latin name Benedictus. Found in the Bodmin Manumissions*.

Bideven — (bi-DEV-en) from Cornish word for "hawk".

Blyth — (BLIITH) from Cornish word for "wolf". Blythe.

Branwalather — (bran-wa-LATH-uhr) from Cornish bran "raven" + walather "leader". A

saint and son of a Cornish king named Kenen.

Brengy — (BREN-gee) from Cornish bren "noble" + gi "hound, wolf". A name found in the

Bodmin Manumissions.*

Bryok, Breoc — (bree-OHK) from British name Brigacos, derived from Celtic root brig

"high, mighty". Name of a 5th C. Welsh saint who was active in both Cornwall and Brittany.

Buthek, Bithek — (BITH-ek) from Celtic bud "victory". Name of a Breton saint venerated in

Cornwall. Masculine equiv. of the name of Queen Boudicca of the Iceni, who led a rebellion

against the Romans in 60 AD.

Cadan — (KAHD-an) from British cad "battle".

Cador — (KAHD-ohr) from British cad "battle" + wur "man". A legendary ruler of Cornwall

in the Dark Ages.

Carantoc — (ka-RAN-tahk) from Cornish carant "love". Name of an early saint revered in

Cornwall, Brittany and Wales.

Carrow — (CAR-aw) from Celtic cornu- "horned". Cornish word for "deer".

Casvelyn — (kaz-VEL-uhn) from British cad "battle" + Belinos, name of a Celtic fire god.

Cornish form of Cassivellaunos, father of the British King Caractacus.

Caswyn — (KAZ-win) from Celtic cad "battle" + gwen "shining, holy".

Clesek — (KLEZ-ek) from British kluto "fame, renown".

Colan, Collen — (KOHL-uhn) from Welsh collen "hazel tree". Name of a 7th C. Welsh saint.

Popular until the 18th C.

Conan — (KAH-nan) from Celtic kuno "great, high". Name of a legendary Cornish king and

a real 18th C. bishop of Cornwall. Kenan (KEN-an).

Corentyn — (koh-REN-tin) Name of a Cornish born saint who became the first bishop of

Quimper in Brittany.

Costentyn — (kahs-TEN-tin) Cornish form of Constantine. St. Costentyn was a Cornish king

who gave up his throne to become a monk. Popular until 18th C.

Cuilliok — (KWIL-yok) Cornish word for "soothsayer".

Daveth — (DAH-veth) Cornish form of David, patron saint of Wales.

Denzel — (DEN-zel) A place name that became a first name. Denzil.

Donyerth, Donyarth — (DON-yerth) Cornish form of the old British name Dubnogartos,

probably meaning "black ridge".

Elowen — (el-OH-wan) from elew Cornish word for "elm".

Gawen — (GOW-en) Cornish form of Gawain. Popular through late 17th C.

Gelvinak — (gel-VIN-ak) Cornish name for the bird "curlew", and bardic name of Richard

Gendall, editor and activist for Cornish language revival.

Gerens — (GER-enz) from Celtic gerontios "old". Later Cornish form of Geraint.

Glastenen — (glahs-TEN-en) from Cornish word for "scarlet oak".

Glewas, Glewyas — (GLOO-ahs, GLOO-yahs) from Cornish glew "clear, bright". Name of an

early saint, nephew of St. Petroc.

Golvan — (GOHL-van) Cornish word for "sparrow", which is used as the bardic name of

N.J.A. Williams, Cornish scholar, poet and playwright.

Gorlas — (GOHR-laz) Cornish for "very pure". Name of the first husband, the Duke of

Cornwall, of Ygerna, mother of King Arthur. Gorlois.

Gorneves — (gohr-NEV-ez) from British vornemetos "very holy".

Goron — (GOHR-ohn) Cornish for "hero". Name of an early saint associated with a sacred

cave and well near Gorron.

Gorthelyk — (gohr-THEL-ik) Cornish for "very beloved". Name found in the Bodmin

Manumissions*.

Gourgy — (GOOR-gee) from British gur "man" + ci (cun) "hound, wolf". Name found in the

Bodmin Manumissions*.

Gwynek — (GWIN-ek) Cornish for "little fair one". Name of an 8th C. saint associated with

the parish of Saint Winnoc.

Hicca — (HIK-uh) Cornish nickname for Richard.

Jacca — (JAHK-uh) Cornish form of Jack.

Jago — (JAHG-oh) Cornish form of Jacob.

Jammes — (JAM-uhs) Cornish forms of James. Jamma (JAM-uh).

Jory — (JOH-ree) Cornish nickname for George.

Jowan — (JOO-an, JOH-an) Cornish form of John.

Kea — (KAY) Prob. from Latin name Caius. Name of a 6th C. Cornish saint, and also King

Arthur's right-hand man. According to early biography, St. Kea went to see Guinevere after

King Arthur's death and persuaded her to become a nun.

Keresyk, Kerezik — (ke-REZ-ik) from British caractacus "amiable", also the name of a king

of early Britain. Carasek (ka-RAZ-ek).

Kevern — (KEV-ern) 6th C. Cornish saint.

Kitto — (KIT-oh) Cornish nickname for Christopher.

Madron, Madern — (MAD-ruhn, MAD-uhrn) from British mad "lucky, fortunate". Name of

an early Cornish saint whose well was the source of miraculous cures until the 1800s.

Margh — (MAHR) Cornish word for "horse", and name of the King of Cornwall in the tale

of Tristan and Isolde.

Marrek — (MAHR-ek) Cornish for "horseman".

Masek — (MAHZ-ek) Cornish form of the Welsh name Madog, meaning "lucky, fortunate".

Mawgan — (MAW-gan) from British maglo "prince" + ci (cun) "hound, wolf". Name of a 6th

C. Cornish saint. Popular in 17th C. Cornwall.

Meryasek — (mer-YAZ-ek) Name of an important early Breton saint, also known as

Meriadek or Meriadoc, who was the subject of a medieval drama Bewnans Meryasek, one

of the few remaining pieces of early literature in the Cornish language.

Meryn — (MER-uhn) Old Cornish name. Merryn.

Milyan — (MIL-yahn) Prob. from Latin aemilianus "flattering". Name found in the Bodmin

Manumissions*. Also a legendary king of Cornwall and an early saint.

Myghal — (muh-HAYL) Cornish form of Michael.

Nadelek — (nah-DEL-ek) Cornish word for Christmas.

Neythen — (NII-then) Name of a Cornish saint, who, according to legend, was beheaded by

a group of robbers he was trying to convert. Neythen then picked up his head and walked

the half mile back to his hut.

Nicca — (NIK-uh) Cornish nickname for Nicholas.

Padern — (PAH-dern) from Latin paternus "father". Name of an early Cornish chieftain.

Pasco, Pascow — (PAS-kaw) from Cornish Padk "Easter". Popular until mid-18th C.

Pawly — (PAWL-ee) Cornish form of Paul.

Peder — (PAYD-er) Cornish form of Peter.

Pencast — (PEN-cast) Cornish word for Pentecost. Popular until late 19th C.

Petrock — (PET-rok) St. Petrock and St. Piran were the two most important saints of early

Cornwall. St. Pedrog founded a monastery at Padstow in the 6th C. He is usuall depicted

with a stag, based on legend in which he protects the animal from hunters. Pedrog, Pedrek

(PED-rok).

Piran — (PEER-an) St. Piran was an Irish monk (prob. named Ciaran in Irish) who traveled

to Cornwall and founded a monastery. Feast day — March 5, celebrated as the Cornish

National Day. The Cornish flag bears the cross of St. Piran. Popular through 19th C. Pirran,

Peran, Perran (PER-an).

Rewan, Rumon — (ROO-an, ROO-man) Early Cornish bishop and saint. Name found in

Bodmin Manumissions*.

Ryol — (REE-ol) from British rigalis "king". Name of the king in the Cornish drama

Bewnans Meryasek. Also found in the Bodmin Manumissions* as a personal name.

Seleven — (ze-LEV-en) An early Cornish saint.

Silyen — (SIL-yen) from British sul "sun" + genos "born". Patron saint of Laxulyan.

Sithny — (SITH-nee) from Celtic sith "peace". Patron saint of mad dogs. In tradition, god

revealed to him that he was going to be the patron saint of girls. The saint was unhappy

with this, so God threatened to make him the patron saint of mad dogs instead. St. Sithny

replied "I'd rather have mad dogs than women any day!" Sick dogs are taken to drink at his

well on his feast day, August 4.

Talan — (TAHL-an) from Cornish tal "forehead". Name found in the Bodmin

Manumissions*.

Talek — (TAHL-ek) from Cornish tal "forehead". Bardic name of E.G.R. Hooper, third Grand

Bard of the Cornish Gorsedh.

Trevedic — (tre-VED-ik) from a Cornish word meaning "country dweller".

Tristan, Trystan — (TRIST-ahn) from British name Drustan. In Arthurian Romance, the

name of the nephew of King Margh (Mark) of Cornwall, and lover of Isolde.

Uther — (OOTH-er) Name of King Arthur's father, Uther Pendragon. Popular in the 16th C.

and 17th C.

Wella — (WEL-ah) Cornish nickname for William.

Withell — (WITH-el) Cornish word for "lion".

Wyllow — (WIL-oh) Name of a 6th C. saint. The church of Lanteglas is dedicated to him.

Zethar — (ZETH-ahr) Cornish word for "seagull".

Celtic Male Names of the Isle of Man

Aleyn — (AL-uhn) Prob. from the Old Irish name Ailin, derived from ail "noble".

Alister — (AWL-uhs-tuhr) Manx form of Alexander, introduced by way of Scotland. Alistryn

(AWL-is-truhn).

Andreays — (ahn-DRAY-uhs) Manx form of Greek name Andreas.

Anghus — (AHN-guhs) from Old Irish oen "one" + gus "vigor". Manx equiv. of the Scottish

and Irish name Angus.

Ascon — (AS-kohn) Name of an early Irish saint active on Man, Easconn.

Austeyn — (AWS-ten) Manx form of Augustine.

Bradan, Braddan — (BRAH-duhn) from Name of a Cornish saint. Paris of Kirk Braddan on

Man is dedicated to him.

Brian — (BREE-uhn) Deriv. uncertain, but may be from Celtic root brig "high, noble".

Popular on Man since early times.

Callan — (KAH-luhn) from Old Irish name Ceallachan, derivation uncertain; may mean

"someone who frequents churches" or "someone who is warlike".

Cane — (KAYN) from Old Irish name Cathan: cath "battle" + the dim. -an.

Carbry — (KAHR-bree) from Old Irish name Bairbre. Parish of Kirk Arbory on Man is

dedicated to an Irish saint by this name.

Colum — (KAW-luhm) from name of the Irish saint, Colum Cille, derived from Latin

columba "a dove" + Old Irish cille "church".

Conan — (KOH-nuhn) from Celtic kuno "great, high". St. Conan of Man was the first bishop

of sodor in the 7th C.

Conchor — (KAWN-uhr) from Old Irish name Conchobar: cu (con) "hound, wolf" + cobar

"desiring".

Connaghyn — (KAWN-a-huhn) from Old Irish cu (con) "hound, wolf" + cenn "head". Name

of an early saint commemorated in the parish of Onchan.

Corcan — (KAWR-kuhn) from Old Irish corc "heart" + -an, dim. suffix.

Cowan — (KOW-uhn) from Old Irish name Comgan. Name of an 8th C. saint who founded

churches in Ireland and Scotland and may have been active in Man as well.

Cowel — (KOW-uhl) from Old Irish name Comgall. 6th C. Irish St. Comgall was the teacher

of many great Irish missionary saints.

Cristall — (KRIS-tuhl) Manx form of Christopher.

Donal — (DAWN-uhl) from Old Irish name Domnall: domun "world" + gal "ardor, valor".

Nicknames: Dolen, Dolyn (DAW-luhn).

Doncan — (DAWNG-kuhn) from Old Irish Donnchad: donn "brown" or "chief" + cath

"warrior".

Doolish — (DOO-lish) Manx form of Douglas, from Old Irish dub "dark, black" + glas "green

or blue".

Dugal — (DOO-guhl) from Old Irish name Dubhall: dubh "dark" + gall "a stranger". Name of

a prince of Man.

Eoin — (YOH-een) Manx form of John. Two early bishops of Man bore this name.

Ferghus — (FER-uhs) from Old Irish name Fergus.

Finlo — (FIN-loh) from Old Irish name Finnlug: finn "bright, shining" + lugh, the name of a

Celtic god.

Finn — (FIN) Old Irish name meaning "bright, shining". Fynn.

Garmon — (GAHR-muhn) from Latin name Germanus "a German". Saint of the early 5th C.,

served as bishop on Man. Jarmon, Jarman (JAHR-muhn).

Gilandrew — (gil-AHN-droo) from Old Irish gilla "servant, devotee" + Andrew "of Saint

Andrew".

Gilbrid — (gil-BREED) "servant of Saint Brigid".

Gilchrist — (gil-KREEST) "servant of Christ".

Gilcolm — (gil-KAWLM) "servant of Saint Columba".

Gilmartyn — (gil-MAHR-tuhn) "servant of Saint Martin".

Gilmore — (gil-MOHR) "servant of Mary".

Gilno — (GIL-noh) "servant of the saints".

Hugh — (HYOO) Widely used as an English version of Manx name Aedh. Huchon (HUH-

chuhn), Hugen (HUH-guhn).

Illiam — (IL-yuhm) Manx form of William.

Jamys — (JAY-muhs) Manx form of James.

Juan — (JOO-uhn) Manx nickname for John.

Kerron — (KER-uhn) Manx version of Old Irish name Ciaran.

Laurys — (LEOO-ruhs) Manx form of Lawrence.

Loghlin — (LAWX-luhn) from Old Irish Lochlainn, a name for the Vikings' homeland.

Lonan — (LAWN-uhn) from Old Irish lon "blackbird" + dim. -an. 6th C. Irish St. Lonan was

noted for a large library.

Lugh — (LOO) from Celtic lugu "bright". Name of a Celtic god found in Irish and Welsh

mythology.

Machonna — (mah-XAW-nuh) from Old Irish ma "my" + cu (con) "hound, wolf". 6th C.

Manx St. Machonna's Feast day — Nov. 12.

Malew — (mah-LOO) from Old Irish ma "my" + the god-name Lugh. Early Manx saint; Kirk

Malew (Malew Church) is dedicated to him.

Manus — (MAH-nuhs) Traditional Manx name, from Latin name Magnus "great".

Maruna — (mah-ROO-nuh) from Old Irish ma "my" + the name Ronan.

Mian — (MII-uhn) Manx nickname for Matthew.

Michal — (MIK-uhl) Manx form of Michael. Also Mayl (MAYL).

Mores — (MAW-ruhs) from Old Irish name Muirgius.

Murdach — (MUHR-dahx) from Old Irish muir "sea".

Nele — (NAYL) Manx form of Irish name Niall.

Oran — (OH-ruhn) from Old Irish name Odran "otter". St. Odran was the charioteer for St.

Patrick.

Orry, Gorry — (OH-ree, GOH-ree) After King Godred I, Norseman who ruled the Isle of Man

as well as parts of Ireland and Scotland from 1079-95. The Milky Way in Manx is known

as Raad Mooar Ree Gorry (The Great Way of King Orry). It is said that when Godred landed

on Man, people asked where he came from, and he pointed to the stars.

Patric — (PAHT-reek) Manx form of Padraig (Patrick), patron saint of Ireland. Nicknames

Paden (PAHD-jeen), Paton (PAHT-uhn).

Payl — (PAHL) Manx form of Paul.

Peddyr — (PETH-uhr) Manx form of Peter.

Rigard — (RIG-uhrd) Manx form of Richard.

Robart — (RAWB-urht) Manx form of Robert; nickname Robyn (RAWB-uhn).

Sorley — (SOHR-lee) from Old Norse summarliethi "one who goes forth in the summer", i.e.

a Viking.

Thomase — (taw-MAHS) Manx form of Thomas; nickname Thomlyn (TAWM-lin).

Urmen — (OOR-muhn) from Old Irish name Eremon, the legendary leader of the Sons of

Mil who went to Ireland to avenge his uncle Ith, who had been killed by the Tuatha De

Danaan.

Wilmot — (WIL-muht) Manx form of William.

Celtic Male Names of Ireland

Abbán — (A-bahn or ah-BAN) "little abbot".

Abram — (A-brahm) "high father"; version of Abraham. Ábraham.

Achaius — form of Eochaidh.

Adair — (Ah-dare) "from the ford by the oak trees". Adare.

Adam — (H) "son of the red earth". Adhamh (A-thuhv). Anglicized version of Irish Gaelic

Ádhamh; Scottish Gaelic Ádhamh. Pet form: Adie.

Adamnan — "the timid one" or "little Adam"; name of an abbot of Iona. Awnan, Adomnan,

Adhamhan.

Adrian — "of the Adriatic"; from original form Latin Hadrianus. Aidrian.

Aed — derived from the word aedh "fire"; common in early Ireland; name of several early

saints, and four Ui Neill High Kings.

Aedan — (EH-thahn) dim. form of Aed. St. Aodhan of Fern performed many miracles,

including healing the lame and blind son of a British king.

Aeducan — common dim. form of Aed in medieval Ireland. Aodhagan.

Aeneas — "worthy of praise"; anglicization of Aengus. Aenéas.

Aghy — form of Eochaidh.

Ahern — "lord of the horses".

Aichlinn — possibly a form of Echlin.

Aidan — (AY-den)(Celt) "flame, fire, fiery"; derived from word aedh "fire". Edan, Aodhan

(EH-thahn); anglicized form of Irish Aodán; dim. of Aodh; Edan.

Ailbe — (AL-vyuh or AL-fe)(OGer) "noble, bright". Ailbhe, Alvy, Albert.

Ailbhe — (AL-vee) from Celtic albho "white". Ailbe, Alby, Albert, Ailbhis (AL-vis).

Ailbhis — (AL-vis) 6th C. Irish saint; perhaps a form of Ailbhe. Anglecized as Elvis.

Ailfrid — (AL-frid) Irish Gaelic form of Alfred, from OE ælf "elf, supernatural being" + ræd

"counsel".

Ailill — (AL-ill) "sprite"; name of a legendary king of Connacht and husband of Medb.

Ailín — (A-lin or ay-LEEN)(Gael) derived from Old Irish ail "noble". Alan, Allen.

Aindréas — (AHN-dree-ahs) "manly"; Irish form of Andrew. Aindrea, Aindrias, Aindriú.

Ainmire — (AHN-meer?) "great lord".

Ainsley — (AYNS-lee) "one's own meadow"; occasionally used as a female name; probably

originally a local name, either Annesley in Nottinghamshire, from Old English An "one,

only" + leah "wood or clearing"; or Ansley in Warwickshire, from OE ansetl "hermitage" +

leah. Ainslee.

Alan — "handsome" or "peaceful".

Alaois — (A-leesh)(Teut) "mighty battle". Aloys, Aloysius, Alabhaois.

Alastar — (AH-lah-star) Irish form of Greek Alexander, introduced to Ireland via Scotland;

modern Gaelic form Alasdair. Alistair, Allister, Alister, Alastir, etc.

Albany — from Fionn, from find "white, fair"; anglicized as Albany from Latin albus "white".

Albert — (OGer) "noble, bright". Ailbe, Alby.

Albion — (AL-be-on)(Celt) "mountain".

Alby — (al-bee) anglicized from of Ailbhe.

Alexander — (Gr) "helper or defender of mankind". Alex, Alick, Alsandair, Alsander,

Alastrom, Alastrann.

Allister — (Gr) "defender of mankind". Alastar, Alistair, etc.

Alphonsus — Irish; Latinized form of Alfonso, used as an equivalent of Gaelic name

Anluan. Uncertain origin, could be composed of an intensive prefix + an element meaning

"hound" or "warrior". Pet forms Fonsie, Fonso.

Alpin — "attractive".

Alsandair — (AHL-san-dare) Irish form of Alexander.

Amargein — (aw-VEER-een) from Old Irish ama "singing, song" + gein "birth". Most

celebrated bearer of the name was the druid poet and judge of the Sons of Mil, legendary

ancestor(s) of the Irish. He pronounced the first judgment given on Irish soil, and his

magic ensured that the Sons of Mil would triumph over the Tuatha De Danann. A

traditional name in the O'Cleary family.

Ambrós — Irish Gaelic form of English Ambrose, from Greek Ambrosios "immortal". The

surname MacAmbrois is anglicized as McCambridge.

Amhlaoibh — (A-leev)(Norse) "ancestral relic"; IrGael form of Olaf, an Old Norse name

introduced to Ireland by Viking settlers. Anglicized Auliffe, Olave, Auliff, Humphrey.

Angus — "unique choice, chosen one, unique strength". Scottish and Irish; anglicized form

of Gaelic Aonghus/Aonghas (EUN-eu-uss), composed of Celtic elements meaning "one" and

"choice". Name of an old Celtic god, and is first recorded as a personal name in Adomnan's

"Life of St. Columba," where it occurs in the form Oinogus(s)ius as the name of a man for

whom the saint prophesied a long life and a peaceful death. Almost certainly the name of

an 8th C. Pictish king variously recorded as Omnust and Hungus. Aengus, Aonghus,

Aonghas, Enos, Oengus, Ungus. Short form Gus; pet form Angie; feminine form Angusina.

Annraoi — (AHN-ree)(Teut) "ruler of an estate". Henry, Harry.

Anrai — Irish Gaelic form of Henry. Einrí.

Antain(e) — Irish Gaelic cognate of English Anthony.

Antoine — (AN-ton)(L) "inestimable". Anntoin, Antoin.

Aodh — (EH or AY) from Old Irish aed "fire". Another name for the god The Dagda in Irish

myth. Borne by six high kings and twenty saints in early Ireland. Name of two Irish rebels

in Queen Elizabeth I's time, Aogh (Hugh) O'Neill and Aodh Rua (Red Hugh) O'Donnell.

Anglicized as Hugh, Ea.

Aodhan — (EH-dawn or AY-dawn) version of Old Irish Aedan, dim. of aed "fire". Aedan was

the name of 21 early Irish saints. Popular name, often anglicized as Aidan (AY-dahn).

Aodhfin — (EH-fin or AY-fin) "white fire".

Aonghus — (AYNG-ghus) from Old Irish oen "one" + gus "vigor". In Irish myth, Oengus was

a god of youth and love, the son of the goddess Boand and god Dagda Oengus Tirech was

the name of a legendary hero, said to be the ancestor of the O'Briens an MacNamaras. Five

saints, including Oengus Ceile De bore this name. Angus.

Ardal — (AHR-dawl) from Old Irish art "bear" + gal "fury, valor"; also from Old German

"eagle power". A version of Arnold; Irish anglicized form of Gaelic name Ard(gh)al, from

ard "high" or art "bear" + gal "valour". Artegal, Arthgallo.

Ard-Greimne — "high power"; father of Scathach and Aoife.

Arlen — "pledge". Arland, Arlyn.

Árón — possibly "high mountain"; Irish version of Aaron.

Art — (ART) from Old Irish art "bear". Ancient Irish name, not a nickname for English

Arthur (but both derive from a common Indo-European bear word arth). In legend, Art

Oenfer (Art the Lonely) was a high king of Ireland and father of Cormac mac Airt. A later,

historical Art, Art McMurrough, was a medieval king of Leinster who fought the English.

Both Irish and Scottish, now as an informal shortening of Arthur. Artagan.

Artúr — (AR-toor) "noble, bear man". Irish form of Arthur, first recorded in Ireland in the

9th C. Artair, Arthur, Artus, Arth, Art, Atty.

Auliffe — (AW-lif) Irish anglicized form of Amhlaoibh.

Austin — (L) "venerable". Águistín (AH-guhs-teen).

Bain — (BAYN) short version of Bainbridge, "fair bridge".

Bainbridge — "fair bridge".

Baird — (BAYRD) "bard, poet, ballad singer, traveling minstrel". Bairde, Bar, Bard, Barr.

Bairre — (BAW-re) form of names Bearach and Finnbarr, also used as a name in its own

right; anglicized as Barry; Barra.

Bairrfhionn — (BAR-fin)(Celt) "fair-haired" or "good marksman". Barrfind, Barram, Barre,

Barra, Bairre, Barry.

Bairtleméad — Irish Gaelic form of Bartholomew.

Banning — "fair and small".

Barclay — Scottish, Irish; transferred use of the Scottish surname, which was taken to

Scotland in the 12th C. by Walter de Berchelai, who became a chamberlain of Scotland in

1165. Probably derived from Berkeley in Gloucestershire, which is from OE beorc "birch

tree" + leah "wood or clearing". In Ireland, its been anglicized in the form of Parthalán.

Barra — (Celt) "good marksman". Bearach (BAHR-akh), Bearchan, Barry.

Barram — version of Barrfhionn.

Barry — "spearman". Irish anglicized form of Gaelic name Barra (Old Irish Bairre), a short

form of Fionnb(h)arr (see Finbar). Pet forms: Baz, Bazza (Australia).

Bartel — (Aramaic) "ploughman". Bartholomew.

Bartley — (Aramaic) "ploughman". Barclay, Berkley, Parthalan.

Batt — from Bartley (Aramaic) "ploughman". Bat.

Beacán — (BE-kawn or BA-kawn) from Old Irish bec "little, small" + dim. -an. St. Becan

founded a monastery in Westmeath in the 6th C. Becan.

Beagan — "small" or "little one".

Bearach — (BA-rak) from Old Irish berach "pointed, sharp". Berach was the name of many

Irish saints, including the patron siant of the O'Hanlys. Berach.

Bearchan — (BAR-uh-kawn or BAR-uh-hawn) Dim. of Bearach. Common name in early

Ireland; name of numerous saints, including Bearchan of Inishmore in Galway, whose feast

day is April 6.

Bearnárd — (BEHR-nard)(OGer) "having the courage of a bear". Barney; Irish, Scottish

Gaelic form of Bernard.

Beartlaidh — (BEHRT-lee)(Aramaic) "ploughman". Bartley.

Belenus — (bel-eh-nuss) name of a sun and fire god similar to Greek Apollo and connected

with the druids. His name is seen in Beltane, the May 1 festival.

Benen — (BEH-non)(L) "blessed". Beineón (BEH-non), Bineán (BIN-ahn).

Bevan — (Celt) "youthful warrior".

Blaine — (BLAYN) "thin" or "lean". Blain, Blane, Blayne.

Blair — "plain" or "field". Blaire, Blayre.

Blathmac — (BLAW-vak) from Old Irish blath "flower" + mac "son". Popular in early

Ireland. Blathmacc mac Con Brettan was an 8th C. poet.

Bodb — (BOVE) Bodb the Red was a son of The Dagda and suceeded his father as king of

the Tuatha De Danann. At Lough he had a sidhe, underground fairy palace.

Bogart — "bog" or "marshland".

Bowen - "son of Owen".

Bowie — (BOO-ee)(Gael) "yellow-haired, blonde". Bow, Boyd.

Brady — "spirited". Bradaigh.

Bram — (BRAHM) "raven". Irish form of Abraham. Abracham.

Bran — (BRAWN) from Old Irish bran "raven". Bran was the name of a pagan Celtic god in

both Irish and Welsh myth. Popular in the Middle Ages.

Brandubh — (BRAWN-doov) from Old Irish bran "raven" + dubh "black". Name of a

medieval king of Leinster and 2 saints.

Brasil — (Celt) "battle, brave, strong in conflict". Breasal, Basil, Brazil.

Bréanainn — (BREH-neen)(Celt) "sword". Brendan, Breandán.

Breandan — (BRAWN-dan) Poss. a borrowing of Welsh word brenhin "king or prince". In

the medieval Latin tale, The Voyage of Saint Brendann, the 6th C. Irish saint known as

Brendan the Navigator explored regions perhaps as far as N. America in a leather-clad

boat, or curragh; Brendan; Brendis, Brannon, Bryn, Breanainn (BREH-neen).

Breasal — (BREE-sal) "land of the young" or "land of the blessed". Hi Breasil was another

name for Tir-na-Nog.

Brendan — (Gael) "raven". Bran, Bram, Broin (bree-AHN), Brennan.

Breck — "freckled". Brec, Brexton.

Bress — son of Elathan of the Fomors who married the goddess Brighid. The Fomors were

a sea-dwelling race who opposed the Tuatha De Danann over Ireland and lost.

Bret — (Celt) "from Brittany".

Brett — (Celt) "native of Brittany". Britt.

Brian — (BREE-an or BRI-an) Of uncertain derivation, poss. from Celtic brig "high, noble";

"the strong". In Irish myth, Brian was one of the three sons of the goddess Danu of the

Tuatha De Danaan. High King Brian Boru ruled Ireland from 1002-1014 and defeated the

Vikings at the battle of Clontarf. Brant, Brien, Bron, Bryon, Bryan, Bryant.

Bricriu — (bree-cri-oo?) a mischief-maker at the court of Conchobar, where he instigated a

rivalry among the heroes Cu Chulainn, Conall, and Loegaire.

Brody — (bro-dee) "man from the muddy place, ditch".

Brogan — St. Brogan was scribe to St. Patrick during his meeting with the Fianna. Broccan.

Caeoimhin — (kwee-veen?) "gentle". Caemgen.

Cahan — derived from cath "battle" or "warrior".

Cailean — (KAL-lan)(Gael) from Gaelic word for "child". Cailan, Colin.

Cairbre — (KAHR-bre or KAHR-bruh) "charioteer". First legendary Sons of Mil to settle in

Ireland. Two noted saints by this name: Bishop of Assaroe and Bishop of Moville. Carbry.

Cairell — (KAHR-el or KAIR-el?) name of several Irish saints. Carroll?.

Cairpre — (KAIR-pre) the legendary Cairpre was the chief bard of the Tuatha De Danann

and son of the god Ogma. Cairpre Liffechair wiped out the Fianna at the battle of Gabhra

where he killed Fionn's grandson.

Calbhach — (KAHL-vach?) from the word meaning "bald".

Caley — (KAY-lee) "slender"; alternate Irish form of Caleb.

Calhoun — (KAHL-hoon) "warrior" or "narrow woods". Coillcumhann, Colquhoun.

Callough — (KAHL-uh) "bald". Calvagh, Calbhach (KAHL-ahkh).

Caoilte — (KWEEL-te) In legend, Cailte was a member of Finn mac Cumaill's warrior band.

In medieval tale Colloquy of the Ancients, Cailte returned from the otherworld to tell St.

Patrick stories of Finn and other heros of old pagan Ireland. Cailte.

Caoimhin — (kwee-VEEN) Old Irish Caemgen: caem "gentle" or "beautiful" + gein "birth".

7th C. St. Caemgen established the monastery at Glendalough in County Wicklow.

Anglicized as Kevin. Caoimhghin, Kevin, Kevan.

Caolán — (KWEE-lahn) "slender". Kealan, Kelan.

Caolfionn — (Keel-in) from the noun caol meaning "the slender one" + the adjective fionn

meaning "fair haired". The masculine noun comes first and no alteration is required and in

the Ulster dialect, the "f" naturally elides out to give an approximate pronunciation of

Keelin.

Carlin — (kar-lin)(Gael) "little champion". Carley, Carlie, Carling.

Carlus — (OFr) "full-grown, manly".

Carney — (kar-nee)(Celt) "warrior" or "victorious". Cearnach, Kearn, Karney, Kearney, Car.

Carrick — "rock" or "dweller of the rocky cape". Caroq, Carraig.

Carroll — (Gael) "champion". Carly, Carolus, Cairell(?).

Casey — (kay-see) "brave".

Cass — (KAHS) from Old Irish cas "curly". Popular name in early Ireland. Name of a

legendary ancestor of the O'Briens, MacNamaras and O'Gradys.

Cassidy — (kass-ih-dee)(Gael) from a word meaning "clever"; or "curly hair".

Cathal — (KOH-hal, KA-hal or KOH-al) "strong in battle, battle-mighty". from Old Irish cath

"battle". Popular in the Middle Ages. Cathal Crobderg (Red-Handed Cathal) was a king of

Connacht in the 13th C. Traditonal in the MacManus, Maguire and MacDonagh families.

Cahal (KA-hal).

Cathbad — (kah-bad?) legendary name of the druid and son of Conchobar mac Nessa who

prophesied Cu Chulainn's warrior valor and the sorrow that Deirdriu would cause

Conchobar of Ulster.

Cathaoir — (KAH-heer)(Celt) "battle lord" or "warrior". Cathair (KA-heer).

Cavan — "handsome". From Caoimhin. Cavin.

Ceallach — (KAL-ak?) "bright-headed". Cellach, Kelly.

Ceallachan — (KAL-a-kawn) Meaning uncertain: may mean "someone who frequents

churches" or "someone who is warlike". Name of a 10th C. king, and a saint. Anglicized as

Callaghan.

Cearbhall — (KAHR-e-val or KEE-a-ruhl) "full-grown, manly"; from Old Irish name Cerball

or Cerbhall. Name of early kings of Ossory and Leinster; traditional among O'Dalys.

Cearbhall O Dalaigh was a president of the Irish Republic; anglicized as Carroll.

Cecil — (see-sill)(L) "blind". Siseal (SEE-sil).

Cedric — (sed-rick)(Celt) "chieftain".

Chad — (Celt) "defender".

Chullain — (KUHL-in) a mythic name coming from Cu Chullain.

Cian — (KEEN or KEE-an) from Old Irish cian "ancient, enduring". In legend, Cian was the

son of Dian Cecht, god of healing of the Tuatha De Danaan. Also the father of the hero

Lugh. Cianan (KEE-nahn, Céin, Cain, Kian, Kioan, Keon, Kean.

Cianán — (KEE-nahn) dim. of Cian. Kienan, Kenan.

Ciaran — (KEER-an) from Old Irish ciar "dark" + dim. suffix -an. 6th C. St. Ciaran founded

the monastery on Clonmacnoise. Kieran.

Ciarrai — (KEH-ehr-ree) masculine version of the Irish County Kerry.

Cillian — (KEEL-yan) "war or strife"; variant of Ceallach. Keallach, Killian.

Cinaed - "handsome". Irish form of Kenneth. Kennet.

Cinnéide — (kih-NEH-juh) "helmeted-head". Kennedy.

Clancy — "red-headed fighter".

Cleary — derived from a word meaning "learned".

Cluny — (kloo-nee) from a word meaning "meadow".

Coinneach — (KUH-nukh or KI-nek) from Old Irish name Cainnech, from cain "good,

beautiful" or "fair one". 6th C. St. Cainnech founded monasteries in Scotland and Ireland,

including Aghaboe in County Laois. The city of Kilkenny takes its name from him.

Anglicized as Kenneth. Canice, Kenny.

Coireall — (kohr-EE-ahl)(Gr) "lord". Kerrill, Cyril.

Colin — "victor". Collin, Cailan, Cailean, CHulainn, Culin.

Colla — an ancient Irish name.

Colm — (KUHL-uhm) from Latin columba "dove". 6th C. St. Colm Cille (Columba) "dove of

the church" is one of the most important Irish saints, with Patrick and Brigid. Born in

Donegal to a branch of the royal Ui Neill clan, Colm Cille was banished to Scotland for

allegedly copying a book without its owner's permission. Founded the monastery on Iona

and converted pagan kings of Scotland to Christianity. Colum, Columba, Colman.

Colman — (KOHL-mawn) Dim. of Colm. In early records, there were more than 200 Irish

saints by this name. Given name of St. Columbanus (c. 543-615), who founded several of

most renowned monasteries in Eurpose, including Luxeuil in France and Bobbio in Italy.

Comán — (KOH-mahn) "bent".

Comhghall — (KOH-gahn or CO-en) "fellow hostage".

Comhghan — (KOH-gahn, or CO-en) "twin". Cowen.

Conaire — (KAW-ni-re) Ancient Irish name, poss. from cu (con) "wolf, hound" + aire

"farmer, landowner". Conor, Conroy, Conlan ("hero").

Conall — (KAW-nal) "strong as a wolf" or "high-might"; from Old Irish cu (con) "hound,

wolf". Conall Cernach was a legendary hero of Ulster. Conall Gulban was the great-

grandfater of St. Colm Cille and the ancestor of the O'Donnells, O'Gallaghers, and

O'Dohertys. Connell.

Conán — (KOH-nawn) from Celtic cuno "great, high"; "hound, wolf" or "wisdom"; "wisdom,

intelligent". Of legend, Conan mac Morna was a member of Finn mac Cumaill's band. Six

Irish saints also of this name. Conann, Conn.

Conary — (KOH-ner-ee) ancient Irish name. Conaire.

Conchobhar — (KON-kho-var or KROO-ar) derived from cu "hound, wolf" + cobar

"desiring" = "wolf-lover" or "lover of hounds"; "high will, desire". Conchobhar, Conor,

Connor, Conny, Cornelius.

Conlaed — (kon-lee?) derived from connla "prudent, chaste" + aed "fire". Conlaodh.

Conlaoch — (KON-la) son of Cu Chulainn and Aoife.

Conleth, Conley — (KAWN-lay, KOHN-leth) from old and rare name Conlaed. Most famous

bearer Conlaed, a 6th C. bishop of Kildare, head of school of manuscript illumination there.

Conn — (KOHN) Ancient Irish name, poss. derived from cu (con) "hound, wolf"; "reason,

intelligence". Conn Cethchathach (Conn of the Hundred Battles) was a high king of Ireland

in legend. Claimed as an ancestor by the O'Connors, O'Donnells, O'Dowds, O'Flahertys,

O'Neills, and O'Rourkes. Cuinn (KWIN), Con.

Connacht — (kon-nocked or kon-naht) from the Irish County of the same name and

spelling.

Connla — "son of Conn". Conlaoch.

Connlaoi — (kon-lee?) "chaste fire". Conley, Conleth, Connolly.

Connor — (KAW-nor) from Old Irish Conchobar: cu (con) "hound, wolf" + cobar "desiring"';

"wolf-lover". In Irish epic The Cattle Raid of Cooley, Conchobar mac Nessa was king of

Ulster. Modern Irish form Conor, Conchobhar (KROO-ar).

Conor — "wise aid"; form of Connor.

Conri — (KAWN-ree) from Old Irish cu (con) "hound, wolf" + ri "king". An early recorded

men's name. Conroy.

Conroy — (Celt) "wise man". Conn.

Conway — (Gael) "hound of the plain".

Corcoran — (kor-kor-ahn) "ruddy", "red" or "of reddish complexion". Corc.

Corey — (kohr-ee) "raven", "from the hollow" or "helmet". Cori, Cory.

Cormac — (KAWR-mak) from corbaid "defile" + mac "son"; or "charioteer". Cormac mac Airt

was a legendary high king of Ireland, ancestor of the O'Neills. Also the name of many

kings, bishops and saints.

Corrigan — from a word meaning "spearman". Corey, Corrin.

Cosgrove — (koz-grohv) derived from a word meaning "victor" or "champion".

Cowan — (kow-an) possibly "hillside hollow".

Coyle — (KOYL) derived from a word meaning "leader in battle".

Craiftine — (krayf-teen?) harper to Labraid Longseach; his harp was made of wood that

had retained a secret about the king.

Craig — (KREG or KRAYG) "a steep rock", "crag" or "from near the crag". Craigen.

Credne — (kred-nee?) a bronzesmith god of the Tuatha De Danann and one of the triad of

smiths. He helped Dian Cecht make the silver arm for Nuada.

Criofan — (KREE-fan) from Old Irish name Criomhthann (CROH-an or CRONE) old, rare

name meaning "a fox". Crimthan was common among the Kavanaghs of Leinster. First

name of St. Columcille; St. Criomhthann's feast day is May 23. Crimthann was the name of

ten of Finn mac Cumhaill's warriors, and of one St. Crimthann/Criomhthann. Crimthan,

Crimthann, Crimathann.

Críostóir — (KRIS-ter)(Gr) "Christ-bearer"; version of Christopher. Criostal (Scotland & N.

Ireland).

Crofton — "a small town with little houses and fields".

Cu Chulainn — (KOO KUHL-in) Name of the hero of the early Irish epic The Cattle Raid of

Cooley. Cu Chulainn's birth name was Setanta, and was given his adult name after he killed

a watch dog of the smith, Culann. He then assumed the dog's place and duties and was

renamed Cu Chulainn "hound of Culann". Other early names that begin with cu are Cu

Maige (Hound of the Plain); Cu Mara (Hound of the Sea); and Cu Coigriche (Hound of the

Border). Cu was a common title of Celtic chieftains.

Cu Roi — (KOO REE/ROY?) name of a king of Munster, Cu Roi mac Daire; he had great

Otherworld powers. Because his wife, Blanaid, loved Cu Chulainn, she helped kill Cu Roi.

Cú Uladh — (koo-ULL-uh) "hound of Ulster". Cooley, Cullo, Cooey, Covey.

Cuirithir — a poet who loved a woman Liadin, but she refused to marry him and became a

nun.

Culann — variant of Cu Chulainn. Cu Chulainn served the chief Culann in payment for

killing his dog. Culin.

Culley — possibly "woods".

Cúmheá — (kuhm-EH) "hound of the plains". Cooey, Cuulagh, Cooley, Cullo, Covey.

Cunningham — possibly "village of the milk pail".

Curran — (Gael) derived from a word for "hero". Currey, Curr, Curney.

Curry - "a marsh or an herb".

Dagda — a god called the Good God. Daghda.

Daibhéid — (DEH-vid or da-VEECH)(H) "beloved". Daighi, David, Daibhead (same pronun.)

Daigh — (DEHV or DAVE?) "flame or fire".

Daimine — (day-min?) derived from word dam "deer" or "ox". Daimhin, Damon.

Dáire — (DEH-ruh, DI-re or DAHR-uh) Old Irish word meaning "oak grove", "fruitful" or

"fertile", and most likely the name of an early fertility or bull god; the Brown Bull of Cooley

was owned by Daire mac Fiachna, and his refusal to loan his bull to Queen Medb was part

of the reason for the fight between the Ulsterman and the men of Ireland. Dary, Darragh.

Dáithí — (DAH-hee) "swiftness, nimbleness". Dahy.

Daley — (day-lee) possibly "advisor", "an assembly" or "a valley". Dawley, Dale, Daly.

Dallas — (Gael) "wise". Dall.

Damhlaic — (DAW-lik)(L) "like the Lord". Dominic, Doiminic (DOH-min-ic).

Daniel — (H) "beloved".

Daray — (Gael) "dark"; version of French-Norman name D'aray. D'aray, Dar, Darce.

Darby — (dar-bee) (Gael) "free man".

Darren — (Gael) "great". Daron, Darrin, Darrion.

Dearg — "son of the Dagda".

Declan — (DEK-lawn) Name of a 6th C. saint who founded the monastery Ardmore in

County Waterford. Déahglán (DEK-lan).

Delaney — "descendant of the challenger".

Delano — (deh-LAH-no)(Gael) "dark" or "a healthy black man".

Demne — when Fionn was tutored by Finneces, he took this name.

Dempsey — (DEM-se) "proud".

Dermot — "free man" or "free from envy". Dermod, Darby, Darcy.

Derry — (Gael) "red-headed"; "great lover", "an ancient hero". Also a city in Northern

Ireland.

Desmond — (DEZ-mond) "man of the world"; from a surname based on an old name for the

territory of South Munster. Demond.

Desmumhnach — "man of Muman" which was a tribe or territory in the Cork area of

Munster before the Anglo-Norman invasion.

Devin — (Celt) "a poet". Dev, Devon.

Devine — "ox". Daimhin.

Devlin — (Gael) "brave or fierce". Devlyn.

Devnet — "poet".

Diancecht — (DI-an-ket) the great physician of the Tuatha De Danann; father of Miach,

Cian, Cethe, and Cu, daughter Airmid. Dian Cecht.

Diarmaid — (DEER-mit) "free man"; legendary member of the warrior band of Finn mac

Cumaill. He had a beauty mark on his forehead that made any woman who saw it to fall

madly in love with him. Diarmait, Diarmuid, Dermot, Dermod.

Digby — "a town with a ditch or dike".

Dillon — (Gael) "faithul" or "faithful".

Dinsmore — possibly means "fortified hill".

Doherty — "harmful".

Dolan — from a word meaning "dark-haired". Dolin, Dolyn.

Dominic — (L) "like the Lord". Damhlaic.

Domnall — (DON-al) "world-mighty"; popular in ancient Ireland. Donal, Domhnall.

Don — "brown stranger"; form of Donald; Irish lord of the Underworld or Land of the Dead.

Donahue — (Gael) "dark hued" or "dark warrior"; related to Don, the Irish god.

Dónal — (DON-al or DOH-nal) from domun "world" + gal "ardor" or "valor"; "world-mighty".

Popular since the earliest times. Domnall was the name of five high kings including Domall

Ilchelgach (Donal of the Many Treacheries), ancestor of the O'Neills and MacLoughlins.

Domhnall, Domnall, Donall, Donald.

Donald — (Celt) "world ruler, brown stranger". Donal, Doughal, Don.

Donn — (DON or DOWN) from Old Irish donn, meaning both "brown" and "chief".

Mythological god of the dead, who lived on an island off the of Munster. Popular until the

end of the 19th C., esp. with the Maguires and Kennedys. Donnagan, Donnan (DUN-ahn).

Donnan — (DUN-ahn) "brown".

Donnchadh — (DUN-uh-khuh) "brown lord"; "strong warrior"; from Old Irish name

Donnchad: donn "brown" or "chief" + cath "battle". Name of the son of Brian Boru, King

Donnchadh Donn (d. 1064). Traditional in O'Brien family. Donaghy, Donogh, Donagh (DOH-

na).

Donnell — related to Donal and Domnall; Doneal, Donnelly.

Donnelly — "brave, dark man, a brave black man".

Donovan — "dark or brown warrior". Donvan.

Dooley — "dark hero".

Doran — "stranger" or "exile". Deoradhain.

Dougal — (DOO-gahl) "dwells by the dark stream" or "dark stranger, from the dark water".

Dubhghall (DOO-gal, or DOO-ahl), Dubgall, Douglas, Douglass, Duglas.

Dow — "dark-haired. Dubg.

Doyle — (Celt) "dark stranger". Doy.

Driscol — "interpreter". Driscoll.

Drummond — (Celt) "unclear".

Duane — (Celt) "song". Dewain, Dwayne.

Dubaltach — "black-jointed" or "dark-limbed". Dubhaltach, Dualtach.

Dubgall — (DOO-ahl) "dark or black foreigner"; refers to the Vikings, esp. from Denmark,

who came to Dublin in 850. Dubghall.

Dubhán — (DUH-ven, or DUH-wen) "dark, black". Dowan, Duggan, Duane, Dwayne,

Dubhagain.

Dubhdara — (doov-DAW-ra) from Old Irish dub "dark" + dara "oak" = "dark man of the

oak".

Dubhghlas — from dubh "black" + glas "blue". More popular in Scotland than Ireland.

Douglas.

Duer — (Celt) "heroic".

Duff — (Celt) "dark-faced; black-faced".

Dugan — variants Dubhan, Duggan.

Dunham — (Celt) "dark man; black man".

Dwayne — derived from "dark"; or "from the dunes". Duwain, Duane.

Ea — (EH)(Celt) "fire" form of Aodh. Hugh.

Eachan — (eh-kawn?) "horseman".

Eadoin — "blessed with many friends".

Eamon — (EH-mon or AY-mon) "wealthy guardian". Irish version of Anglo-Saxon name

Edmund. American Eamon de Valera (1882-1975) served as both president and prime

minister of the Irish Republic. Aimon, Eamonn.

Eanna — (eh-nah?) possibly "birdlike". Ennae.

Earnán — "knowing, experienced".

Edan — (Eh-dan or AY-dan)(Celt) "flame, fiery, zealous".

Egan — (EE-gan)(Celt) "ardent or fiery". Aodhagán (EH-uh-gahn), Egon, Eagon, Eoghan,

Eogan.

Éibhear — (EH-ver) meaning unknown, perhaps (OE) "strong as a bear". Ever.

Éimhin — (EH-veen) from eim "prompt" or "ready" or "swift, active"; male or female. Evan,

Evin.

Eion — from of Ian. Eann, Ein.

Eireamhon — (AY-ra-vohn) from Old Irish name Eremon. In legend, Eremon led the

expedition of the Sons of Mil to Ireland to avenge his uncle Ith, who was slain by the

Tuatha De Danaan; which would make Eremon the chief ancestor of the Irish people.

Eirnin — possibly from iarn "iron"; male or female.

Elatha — (AHL-a-hah) An old name meaning "art or craft".

Énán — (AY-nahn) Irish saint name. Eanan (EH-nahn).

Ennis — (Gael) "sole or only choice".

Eochaid — (OH-kad) from Old Irish ech "horse". May mean "horse rider". Real and

legendary kings bore this name, horses were symbols of kingship and nobility in early

Irish culture. Also a St. Eochaid who was bishop of Tallaght, and another who was the

abbot of Lismore. Eochaidh.

Eocho — (OH-koh) Nickname for Eochaid that became its own name. Eocho mac

Tairdelbaig was an ancestor of the O'Hallinan and O'Quinn families.

Eoghan — (oh-GAHN or OHN) from Old Irish name Eogan "born of the yew tree": eo "yew"

+ gein "birth"; "god's gracious gift". Name of several early kings and saints. Eogan mac

Damthacht was a celebrated Ulster hero. Earliest St. Eoghan was a 6th C. bishop of Tyrone,

and uncle of St. Kevin. Eoin, Eogan, Egan.

Eoghan — (YO-wun)(Gr) "well-born". Owen.

Eóin — (OH-en or OH-een) "god's gracious gift". Irish form of Latin Johannes. Irish names

Eoin and Sean both derive from Johannes. Sean, from the French Jehan, was introduced to

Ireland by Norman French centureis after Johannes became an Irish name. John.

Eóin Baiste — (OH-en BAHSH-chuh) John the Baptist.

Erc — (EHRK) possibly "battle boar". Earc.

Eremon — (EHR-eh-mohn) he fought his brother Eber to see who should become the king

of Ireland. All later Irish kings claimed descent from him.

Erin — (EHR-in)(Gael) "peace". An alternate name for Ireland, from the goddess Eriu. Eryn.

Esras — (EHS-ras) master of wisdom in Gorias, one of the the four cities that the Tuatha De

Danann came from; he later gave Lugh the victory spear, one of the Tuatha's treasures.

Evan — "young warrior"; Irish form of John. Ewan, Ev, Evin.

Eveny — (ehv-en-ee) name used in Derry County. Aibhne.

Fagan — (FAY-gan) "little fiery one".

Fallon — variant of Faolan. Fallamhain.

Faolán — (FEH-lahn or FAY-lawn) from Old Irish faol "wolf" + dim. -an. Faolan was the

name of fourteen saints, and ten warriors in Finn mac Cumhaill's band. Source of the

surnames Phelan and Whelan. Anglicized Fallon, Faelan, Felan..

Farrell — (Celt) "heroic, courageous". Fearghal (FAHR-gahl), Farr.

Fearghus — (FAHR-gus or fay-REES) from Old Irish fer "man" + gus "strength, vigor";

"super-choice". Fergus mac Roich, foster-father of Cu Chulainn, was a hero of the Irish epic

The Cattle Raid of Cooley. Renowned for his strength and stamina both on the battlefield

and the bedroom. Fergus Finbel (Fergus Wine-Mouth) was a poet of the Fianna. Classic,

anglicized Fergus (FER-guhs).

Fechine — possibly from fiach "raven," or from a word meaning "battle". Fechin.

Feidhlim — (FELL-em) "fortunate, lucky" or "ever good". Male or female name. Feidhlimidh.

Felix — (L) "fortunate or lucky". Feidhlim (FELL-em).

Feoras — (FEE-uh-rus)(Gr) "stone". Pierce.

Fercetrniu — poet of King Cu Roi, whose wife caused the king's death; when the poet

discovered this, he leaped over a cliff taking her with him to her death.

Fergal — (FAYR-gal) "man of strength"; from Old Irish fer "man" + gal "fury, valor" =

"manly" or "valorous". Fergal mac Mael Duin was another ancestor of the O'Neills.

Fearghal.

Ferris — (fair-is)(Gr) "the rock"; form of Peter. Farris.

Fiachra — (FEE-uh-khruh) "battle-king" or "eagle". Irish saint name. Fiachna, Fiach, Feary.

Finghin — (FIN-jin) "fair birth"; variant of Fionn, Fionnbarr. Fineen, Finnin, Fionan, Finian,

Finbar.

Finlayv — (Gael) "little (blond) fair-haired soldier". Finlay, Findlay, Findley, Finlea, Finn.

Finneces — poet who lived by the River Boyne and guarded the Salmon of Knowledge for

seven years. He planned to eat it himself to gain the knowledge, but his student Fionn mac

Cumhail tasted it first. Finegas.

Finnegan — "light skinned".

Finnian — (fin-ee-an) from finn "fair, pale-colored". Finnen.

Fionan — (FIN-ee-ahn) "fair". Finnian, Fionn.

Fionn — (FYUHN or FIN) from Old Irish finn "bright, fair". Anglicized as Finn. Finn mac

Cumhaill was a hero, poet and sometime outlaw who led a band of warriors known as the

Fianna. Fiann, Finian.

Fionnbharr — (FYUHN-var or FIN-ver) from Old Irish finn "bright, fair" + barr "hair". Eight

Irish saints by this name. Best known is 6th C. St. Finnbarr, patron of Cork and of Barra in

the Outer Hebrides. Anglicized as Finbar, Finnbarr, Barram, Bairrfhoinn; nicknames Barra,

Bairre.

Fionntan — (FIN-tan or FYUN-tawn) from Old Irish finn "bright, fair". In myth, Fintan was

the consort of Cessair. Fintanwas the only one of the group to survived the great flood.

Afterwards, he lived on for thousands of years as a salmon, an eagle and a hawk. Also the

name of 74 early Irish saints.

Fiontan — possibly "white ancient" or "white fire".

Fitzroy — "son of Roy".

Flann — (FLAHN) from Old Irish flann "blood red" or "redhead, ruddy". Flann has been the

name of poets, scholars, abbots, saints, queens and kings. Flann Feorna was king of Kerry

in the 8th C., and an ancestor of the O'Connors. Male or female name. Flainn, Floinn,

Flannan, Flanagan, Flannagain, Flynn, Flannery.

Flannery — form of Flann; "redhead".

Flinn — form of Flynn; "son of the redhaired man".

Flynn — (Gael) "son of the red-haired man". Flin, Flinn.

Forbes — (Gael) "prosperous or headstrong".

Frederick — (Teut) "peaceful ruler". Feardorcha (fee-ar-e-DOHR-ekh-e).

Gaeth — (GAYTH) Old Irish "intelligent, skillful".

Gair — "small". Geir, Gaer.

Galbraith — (gahl-brayth) Old Irish meaning "Scotsman".

Gale — "a stranger". Gael, Gaile, Gayle.

Galen — (gay-len)(Gael) "calm"; or "small but lively".

Gallagher — from the word for "eager helper".

Galloway — once referred to a Scotsman from Galloway, Scotland. Galway.

Galvin — (GAHL-vin) from Old Irish gelbann "a sparrow".

Gannon — (Gael) "light or fair-complexioned". Gannie.

Garbhán — (GAHR-van) from garb "rough". Garban, Garvan.

Garrett — (Teut) "brave spearman" or "with a mighty spear". Garret, Garett.

Garvey — from a word meaning "rough place". Gairbith.

Gaynor — "son of the fair-skinned man" or "son of the fair-haired one". Gainor, Gaenor.

Gearóid — (GAHR-ohd) Irish form of Gerald, from ancient name Gelgeis, from gel "shining".

May also mean "spear-mighty" and come from the Anglo-Normans. Gearalt, Garalt, Gerald,

Garret.

Genty — from a word meaning "snow".

Gilchrist — "servant of Christ". Ghilchrist, Giolla Chriost, Gilvarry, Gil, Gilley.

Gillean — "servant of St. John". Gillan.

Gillespie — "son of the bishop's servant". Gillis.

Gilmore — (Gael) from words meaning "devoted to the Virgin Mary".

Gilvarry — (gil-very or gil-var-ee) "servant of St. Barry". Giolla Bhearaigh (GIL-a VER-ee).

Giolla Bhríghde — (GIL-a BREED) from words meaning "servant of St. Brighid" or "Saint

Brigid". Gillbride.

Giolla Chríost — (GIL-a KREEST) "servant of Christ". See Gilchrist.

Giolla Deacair — (GIL-a dah-keer?) an Otherworld champion who owned a horse that could

not be ridden. The hero Conan managed to mount the horse, but it carried him away to Tir

Tairngire, and had to be rescued by Fionn.

Giolla Dhé — (GIL-a DEH) "servant of god". Gildea.

Gilroy — "devoted to the king". Gildray.

Glaisne — (GLAS-nee) a favored name in Ulster up to modern times. Glasny.

Glen — (Celt) "glen or narrow valley" or "a secluded, woody valley". Glyn, Glynis, Glenn.

Glenville — "village in the glen".

Gobban — (GOH-ban) from Goibniu, the ancient god of smithcraft who worked for the

Tuatha De Danann. Goban.

Gofraidh — (GO-free-y) "god's peace"; variant of the Old German name Godfrey. Goffraidh,

Godfrey, Gorry.

Goibniu — god of blacksmiths known in Ireland and Wales, he forged all weapons for the

Tuatha De Danann, they never missed their mark and the wounds inflicted were always

fatal.

Gordon — (Gael) "hero"; a Scots-Irish name used in Ulster. Gordain.

Gorman — from a word meaning "dark" or "swarthy"; male or female name. Gormain.

Grady — (Gael) from a word meaning "noble" or "illustrious". Gradleigh, Gradey.

Greagoir — (GREG-or) "vigilant" or "fierce". Grioghar, Gregory, Gregor; pet form: Greg.

Guaire — common name of early Ireland meaning "noble or proud".

Guthrie — (guhth-ree) "windy place".

Guy — "sensible".

Hagan — "youthful" or "young".

Ha* ley — from a word meaning "ingenious".

Hannraoi — (HAN-ree)(Teut) "ruler of an estate". Henry, Einri (EHN-ree).

Harkin — from an old word for "dark red".

Heremon — form of Irving; "handsome and fair".

Hogan — (Gael) similar to Hagan, meaning "youth".

Hoyt — from a word meaning "spirit" or "mind".

Hurley — (Gael) from a word for "sea tide". Hurlee.

Iarfhlaith — (YAR-lath) Irish saint name; St. Iarlaith was born in Tuam and ordained in 468

and built the first monastery and school at Cloonfush. Iarlaith, Iarlaithe, Jarlath.

Ibor — (EE-bohr?) from iobar "yew tree". St. Ibor opposed St. Patrick because he was a

"foreigner". Iobhar.

Imar — (EE-MAHR?) probably the name Ivarr borrowed from the Norse-Vikings who

invaded Ireland. Iomhar (EE-var).

Innis — "from the island". Innes, Iniss.

Ionhar — (YOWR, or YO-ver)(Teut) "archer". Ivor.

Íoseph — (YO-sef)(H) "god will add". Iosep, Joseph.

Irv — "handsome". Irving.

Irving — (Gael) "handsome and fair". Earvin, Ervin.

Iuchar — a brother of Brian mac Tuirenn, who killed Lugh's father Cian.

Iucharba — a brother of Brian mac Tuirenn, who killed Lugh's father Cian.

Jarlath — (JAR-leth) Name of 6th C. saint, teacher of St. Brendan the Navigator. Brendan

told Jarlath to drive his chariot east and build a church where his wheel broke; it broke in

Tuam, and he founded a church that became a great center of learning and art. Modern

Irish Iarlaith (YAR-lath or YAHR-le).

Jonathan — (H) "god gives".

Joseph — (H) "god will add".

Kacey — (kay-see) alternate spelling of Casey.

Kane — (Gael) "tribute, warrior". Kayne, Kaine.

Kavan — "handsome". Kavenaugh.

Keallach — (KAL-ak?) "little Kelly". Killian.

Keary — (keer-ee) "dark or dark-haired".

Kearney — (keer-nee)(Celt) "warrior". Carney.

Keefe — (KEEF)(Gael) "cherished, handsome, lovable". Keeffe.

Keegan — (Gael) "little and fiery". Keagen, Kegan.

Keelan — from a word meaning "slender" or "little".

Keeley — "handsome" or "beautiful and graceful". Kealey, Kealy.

Keenan — "little Keene" or "little ancient one". Keanan, Kienan.

Keene - "wise, learned".

Keir — (KEER)(Celt) "dark-skinned".

Keiran — (KEER-an)(Celt) "dark-skinned".

Kellen — "mighty warrior". Kaelan, Kael, Kailen, Kallen, Kaylen, Kaylan, Kealan, Kelan.

Keller — from a word meaning "little companion".

Kelvin — "a narrow river" or "from the narrow river". Kelvyn.

Kendrick — from a word meaning "son of Henry"; or "royal chieftain". Keondric.

Kennard — "brave chieftain". Kenner.

Kennedy — (KI-ne-dee or KEN-eh-dee) from Old Irish Cennetig: cenn "head" + etig "ugly";

or "helmeted chief". Kennedy became a surname while still used as a first name. Cennetig

mac Lorcain was the father of high king Brian Boru. Cennetig.

Kenyon — "white or blond hair". Kenyan.

Kermit — possibly a variant of Dermot, or may mean "son of Diarmaid" or "free man".

Kern — (Gael) "little black one, dark". Kearn, Kerne, Kieran.

Kerry — (Gael) "manly", "dark hair" or "son of the black one". Form of Carol(l). Keary.

Kerwin — "small and dark" or "little jet-black one". Kervin, Kerwyn.

Kevin — (Celt) "kind, gentle, lovable".

Kieran — (KEER-an) "small and dark-skinned".

Kiernan — (KEER-nan) "dark-skinned".

Kildare — an Irish county.

Kilian — (KIL-yan) from Old Irish Cillene, prob. from cell "church". Many saints bore this

name including an abbott of Iona in Scotland. Cillene, Killian, Killy.

Korey — variant of Corrigan.

Kyle — (Gael) "handsome", "near the chapel", "one from the strait", or "a narrow piece of

land". Kyele, Kiel.

Labraid — "speaker". Labhraidh.

Labhrás — (LAU-rahsh)(L) "a laurel bush". Labhras, Labras, Laurence.

Laegaire — (LEERY) possibly "calf-herd". Laoghaire.

Laisrean — from laisre "flame". Laisren.

Laoire — (LAY-re, LEER-ee, LAIR-ee, L'Heery) from Old Irish name Laegaire, may mean

"calf-herder". Name of two saints and a king of Tara. Leary, Laoighaire, Laoghaire.

Larkin — "rough and fierce".

Laughlin — (LOFF-lin or LOCK-lin) "servant of St. Secundinus". Lanty, Lany, Leachlainn,

Loughlin.

Laurence — (L) "crowned with laurel".

Lawler — from an Irish word meaning "mutterer" or "soft-spoken". Lawlor.

Leachlainn — (LEKH-len) "servant of St. Secundinus". Laughlin, Lochlainn, Lanty.

Leary — variant of Laoire and Laegaire.

Lennan — (LAN-awn) Old Irish work meaning "lover, sweetheart". Leannan.

Lennon - "little cape".

Léon — (L) "lion".

Liam — (LEE-am) "resolute protector, unwavering protector". Irish form of William, short

for Uilliam, derived from name Guillaume, introduced to Ireland by Anglo-Normans.

Lir — (LEER) father of Manannan mac Lir, his second wife turned his other four children

into swans.

Lochlainn — (LOCH-lan, LOKH-lan or LOCK-lin) from Old Irish word for the land of the

Vikings, Lakeland. In fairy tales, Lochlainn was the imaginary abode of the princess-who-

must-be-rescued. Popular in Middle Ages. Lochlain, Lochlann, Lakeland, Laughlin, Lochlyn,

Lochlynn, Loughlin.

Loegaire — (LOH-geer?) Cu Chulainn's charioteer who went to Mag Mell with him to

rescue its queen from abductors; another tale says he died from a spear meant for the

hero.

Logan — (Gael) from a word meaning "meadow" or "from the (little) hollow".

Lomán — (LO-man) from the word lomm "bare". Lomman.

Lonan — (LYO-nawn) from Old Irish lon "blackbird" + dim. suffix -an. Eight early saints had

this name, including St. Lonan Finn.

Lorcan — (LOR-kawn) from Old Irish lorc "fierce" or "cruel" + dim. suffix -an. Several early

kings with this name. St. Lorcan O Tuathail (Laurence O'Toole) was archbishhop of Dublin

at the time of the Norman invasion.

Lúcás — (LOO-kahsh)(L) "bringer of light". Lucan.

Luchtaine — god of carpentry for the Tuatha De Danann and a member of the trio of

smiths. Luchta.

Lugaid — son of Cu Roi and Blanaid, and known as the Son of Three Dogs because his

mother had lain with three men with cu in their name. When Lugaid cut off Cu Chulainn's

head, the sword slipped and cut off his own hand.

Lugh — (LOO) Name of a Celtic sun god, from lugu "light". Lugh is also known as the god

Lleu in Welsh myth. Lughan (LOO-awn), Lughna (LOO-na).

Lughaidh — (LOO-ee)(OGer) "renowned warrior". Lewy.

Lunn — "warlike". Lonn, Lun.

Lynch — from a word meaning "mariner". Linch.

Mac Dara — (mahk-DAH-ra) from Old Irish mac "son" + dara "oak" = "son of the oak". St.

Mac Dara of Connemara is the patron of fisherman.

MacBride — from the Irish meaning "son of the follower of St. Brighid". Mcbride, McBride,

Macbride).

Macallister — "son of Alistair". Mcallister, McAllister, MacAllister.

Macarthur — "son of Aruthur". Mcarthur, McArthur, MacArthur.

Maccoy — "son of Hugh". Mccoy, McCoy, MacCoy.

Maclean — from "son of Leander". Mclean, McLean, Maclaine, MacLean.

Macrea — from the Irish meaning "son of grace". Mccrea, Mccrae, McCrea, MacRea.

Mackenzie — "son of Kenzie". Mckenzie, McKenzie, MacKenzie.

Mackinnley — "son of the learned ruler". Mckinnley, McKinnley, MacKinnley, McKinley,

MacKinley, Mackinley, etc.

Macklin — (MAK-lin) "son of Flann". Macland.

Macmahon — (MAK-MAN)"son of Mahon". Mcmahon, McMahon, MacMahon.

Mael Coluim — (MAL KOL-um) "servant or devotee of Colm". Maeolcholuim.

Mael Iosu — (MAL YO-shoo?) "devotee of Christ"; at one time it was a name used among

clergymen.

Maelduine — (MAL-doon? or MAL-doo-een?) his mother was a nun who was raped by his

father, Ailill. He made a skin boat and sailed among the Blessed Islands in search of his

father's murderers.

Maeleachlainn — (MAL-uh-khlin) "servant of St. Secundinus". Malachy, Milo, Miles.

Maghnus — (MAKH-hus) "great"; variant of Manus, or the Norse-Viking Magnus.

Mahon — (MAN or MAH-hohn) "bear".

Mairtin — (MAHR-teen)(L) "warlike one". Martin, Martain.

Maitias — (muh-THY-uhs)(H) "gift of god"; version of Mathias. Matthias, Maithias.

Maitiú — (MATH-yoo)(H) "gift of god"; version of Matthew.

Mal — Irish shortened version of names starting with "mal".

Malachy — (MA-la-kee)(H) Used in Ireland as an anglicization for Irish names beginning

with mael "servant or devotee" such as Mael Maedoc and Mael Sechlainn. St. Malachy of

Armagh was a church reformer in the 12th C. Maelachlainn, Milos.

Malone — "church-going" or "servant of St. John". Maloney.

Malvin — Irish form of Melvin. Malvyn.

Manannan mac Lir — (mah-NAN-awn mac leer) chief Irish sea god, son of the sea god Lir.

see the Deities page for more info.

Mannix — from a word meaning "monk". Mainchin (MAN-e-kheen).

Manus — (MA-nuhs) from Latin magnus "great". Borrowed from the Norse, who in turn

borrowed it from Carolus Magnus, Latin name for Charlemagne. Mannuss.

Maolruadhan — (mal-ROO-ahn) "servant of St. Ruadhán". Melrone.

Marcan — (MOR-kawn) from Old Irish marc "horse" + dim. -an. Marcan mac Cennetig was

the brother of High King Brian Boru and abbot of Killaloe. St. Marcan of Clonenagh's Feast

day — October 21.

Mathghamhain — (ma-HOHN) Old Irish word for "bear" and popular in Middle Ages.

Brother of High King Brian Boru. Mahon.

Mayo — from the County in Ireland, meaning "yew-tree plain".

Meallan — (MAHL-an) from Old Irish mall "lightning" + dim. suffix -an. Three early saints

whose Feast days are Jan. 28, Feb. 7, and Oct. 26.

Meilseoir — (MEL-shyahr)(H) "king". Melchior.

Mel — (MEL) no recorded meaning; St. Mel was a bishop and patrion of Ardagh, County

Limerick, and a nephew of St. Patrick.

Mellan — possibly derived from an early word meaning "lightning".

Melvin — (Celt) from an Irish word meaning "armored chief"; or "mill worker". Mal, Malvin,

Melvyn, Melwynn.

Merril — "bright sea". Meryl.

Merritt — (MAIR-it or MEHR-it) from a word meaning "valuable" or "deserving". Meritt.

Miach — (MEE-ahk?) son of the Tuatha De Danann physician Dian Cecht; he was slain by

his fther when he and his sister Airmid restored Nuada's physical hand.

Micheal — (mee-HAHL or MEE-kal) Irish form of Michael, "who is like God?"

Midir — (MY-tir) a fairy king and another god of the Underworld, connected with the Isle

of Falga (Isle of Man) where he had his palace. Midhir.

Miles — Several derivations, including Latin miles "soldier". From the 17th C. on, Miles

was used to anglicize names beginning with mael "servant or devotee," such as Mael Muire.

Myles.

Mochaomhog — name of a priest who cared for the swan-children of Lir. He made silver

chains to hang around their necks so people could identify them as enchanted humans.

Monahan — (mohn-ah-han) "monk". Monohan.

Mongan — son of Manannan mac Lir and Caintigerna; some tales say he was the

reincarnation of Finn mac Cumhail.

Monroe — (mun-roh) name derived from the mouth of Ireland's Roe River; or "from the red

swamp".

Morann — (MOOR-an) from Old Irish name Morand, derivation unknown. Legendary judge

of ancient Ireland who allegedly never gave a false verdict. Also the name of several if Finn

mac Cumhaill's warriors. Moran, Morand.

Morc — son of Dela, a Fomor King.

Morfessa — a master of great wisdom who lived in Falias, one of the cities the Tuatha De

Danann came from. He gave the Tuatha the Stone of Fal, the inauguration stone for making

a king.

Morgan — (Celt) "sea warrior", "lives by the sea" or "from the sea"; possibly derived from

the war goddess Morrigan. Morgun.

Morven — (Celt) "mariner". Morvin.

Moss — shortened form of Maurice or Morris.

Muireadhach — (MUR-e-thekh) from muiredach "lord, master"; or "sea-lord". Murry,

Murray, Muiredach, Muirioch.

Muirios — (MEER-ees) from Old Irish Muirgius: muir "sea" + gus "strength, vigor". Muirios

was the name of several kings of Connacht.

Mundy — (MUN-dee) "from Reamonn".

Murchadh — (MUR-kha or MOOR-uh-ka) from Old Irish muir "sea" + cath "warrior" = "sea-

warrior". Name of several early kings and warriors. Murrough, Murphey, Murchach,

Murphy, Morgan.

Murphy — (MUR-fee) "sea warrior". Murphey.

Murray — (MUR-ee or MUR-ray)(Celt) "seaman". Murry, Murrey..

Murtagh — (MUR-tah or MUR-taw) variant of Murdock. Murtaugh.

Naoise — (NEE-shah?) son of Uisliu and served Conchobhar mac Ness, King of the Ulaidh;

fell in love with Deirdre, who was promised to the king, and had to flee for his life. When

they returned under a promise of forgiveness, Naoise was ambushed and killed. Naoisi.

Naomhan — (NAU-ahn) "holy". Nevan.

Neal — (Celt) "champion". Neil, Neill, Neale, Nealon.

Neasán — (NESH-ahn) Irish saint name; variant of Nessa. Nessan.

Nechtan — (neck-tahn) husband of the goddess Boann and keeper of a magic well of

knowledge which had nine hazel trees around it.

Neil — (Celt) "champion". Neal, Niall, Neill, Neale.

Nemhglan — the bird-like being who was teh father of Conaire Mess Buachalla by a human

woman.

Nessan — "stoat".

Nevan — "holy". Naomham (NAU-ahn).

Nevin — (Gael) "worshipper of the saints, nephew". Nevins.

Niall — (NEE-AL)(Celt) "champion"; or Old Irish name poss. derived from nel "cloud". King

Niall Noigiallach of Tara founded Ui Neill dynasty and ancestor to the O'Neills and

Scotland's MacNeils. Neal, Neil, Neill, Nyle, Nealy, Niallán (NEE-a-lahn).

Niece — (NEES)(Celt) "choice". Aonghus, Neese.

Nioclás — (NEE-klahs)(Gr) "victory of the people". Nicholas.

Niocol — (NEE-col)(Gr) "victory of the people". Nicol.

Nolan — (NOH-luhn)(Gael) "famous" or "noble". Noland, Nolin.

Nuada — (NOO-ah-dah) a god known in both Ireland and Wales; he lost his hand in battle

and had to step down as king of the Tuatha De Danann, since they demanded that a king

be perfect. He wore a flexible silver hand made by Dian Cecht, until Miach and Airmid

replaced the physical hand by magic.

Nyle — (Celt) "champion".

O'Neil — "son of Neil". O'Neal, O'Neill.

Odhrán — (OH-rahn) from odhar "dun-colored"; from an old name for "otter"; or "pale

green". Oran, Orrin, Odran.

Oengus — variant of Aonghus. Aengus.

Ogma — known as Sun-Face and Honey-Mouthed, similar to the Greek hero Hercules. He

carried a huge club and was the champion of the Tuatha De Danann. Legend says he

created the Ogham script alphabet.

Oisin — (oh-SHEEN) from Old Irish oisin "fawn" or "deer". Finn mac Cumhaill's son, was

poet of the Fianna. Two saints by this name (Oissine). Oissine, Ossian.

Oistin — (OHS-teen)(L) "venerable". Austin.

Oran — (OHR-an) from odran, Old Irish word for "otter". St. Odran is patron of Waterford.

Oscar — (OHS-car) from Old Irish os "deer", prob. meaning "one who loves deer"; or

"warrior". Legendary warrior, grandson of Finn mac Cumhaill.

Owain — (Celt) "born to nobility" or "lamb, young warrior". Owen, Uaine, Ewen, Eoin.

Owney — old Irish name meaning "elderly". Oney.

Paddy — (pad-ee)(L) form of Patrick; "noble, nobleman".

Padraig — (PAH-drig or PAH-dreek) from Latin Patricius "noble". St. Patrick, patron saint

of Ireland, was the first successful Christian missionary on the island. Patrick has only

been a given name of children since 1700; considered too sacred earlier, children were

given names Gilla Patraic "servant of Patrick" or Mael Patraic "devotee of Patraic".

Padhraig, Paddy, Padraic, Patraig, Patrick.

Parlan — see Bartholomew "ploughman"; or Parthlán. Patholon, Parthalan (PAR-ha-lahn).

Parthalán — (PAR-ha-lahn)(Aramaic) "ploughman". Parlan, Bartholomew, Bartley.

Patrick — (L) "noble". Pat, Patty.

Patterson — "son of Pat".

Peadar — (PA-der)(Gr) "stone". Peter, Peadair.

Pembroke — (Celt) "bluff, headland".

Phelan — from a word meaning "wolf"; variant of Faolan.

Piaras — (PEER-as or PEE-a-ras) "stone"; Irish form of Peter, from French-Norman

namePiers. Peter, Perais, Ferus, Pierce, Piers.

Pilib — (PEE-lib)(Gr) "lover of horses". Philip, Filib.

Piran — (PEER-an) "prayer"; the Irish saint of miners had this name.

Proinnsias — (PRON-shee-as)(Teut) "free"; Irish version of Francis (of Assissi). Frank.

Quigley — from a word meaning "from the maternal side".

Quillan — "cub". Quillon.

Quinlan — "strong" or "well-shaped, athletic". Quinlin.

Quinn — "wise"; variant of Conn, and the old spelling Cuinn.

Raegan — (ray-gehn) "little king" or "royal". Reagan, Reegen, Regan.

Rafer — (ray-fer) from a word meaning "rich, prosperous". Raffer, Rafferty.

Ragallach — king of Connacht, he abandoned his infant daughter because of a prophecy

that he would die at his daughter's hand.

Raghnall — (RAN-al) "wise or mighty power"; from the Norse-Vikings. Reginald, Reynald,

Randal, Randall, Reynold.

Réamonn — (RYEH-mon or RAY-moon)(Teut) from ragan "counsel" + mund "protection";

"mighty protector"; Irish version of Old German Raymond, brought by the Anglo-Normans

in the invasion. Reamonn, Remann, Raymond, Mundy.

Regan — see Raegan. Riagan.

Reilly — "valiant". Riley.

Renny — (REN-ee) Irish version of the French Rene, "small but strong". Raighne.

Revelin — form of Rolan; "famed throughout the land".

Rian — (REE-an) Dim. of Old Irish ri "king"; "little king". Old first name is the source of

surname Ryan, since adopted as a first name in N. America. Ryan, Ryanne, Rhyan, Ryne,

Riane, Rigan, Rigan (REE-gan).

Riddock — "smooth field". Reidhachadh, Riddoc.

Riocárd — (REE-kard)(OGer) "powerful ruler"; Irish form of Richard, brought by the Anglo-

Normans. Richard, Risteard (REESH-tyard).

Riordan — (REER-dawn) from Old Irish rigbarddan "royal poet" or "the King's poet".

Roarke — (ROHRK) "famous ruler". Roark, Ruarc, Ruark, Rorke, Ruaidhri, Rourke.

Rodhlann — (ROH-lan)(L) "fame of the land"; Irish version of Roland. Rowland, Rowland.

Rogan — (RO-gahn) "red-headed". Ruadhagan, Rowe, Rowen, Rowyn, Rowin, Rowan,

Ruadhan.

Roibeárd — (ROH-bahrd)(Teut) "of shining fame". Robert, Roibart.

Roibhilín -(ROH-ve-lin) "shining fame"; Old Irish name, dim. of Robert and Irish version of

Robin. Roibin, Roibeard, Ravelin, Ravelyn, Revelin.

Roibín — (ROH-bin) dim. or Roibeard. Robin.

Rónán — (ROH-nawn) from Old Irish ron "seal" + dim. suffix -an; or "a pledge". Ten saints,

including Ronan of Lough Derg and Ronan of Lismore had this name. Ronan.

Ronat — (ROH-naht) "seal".

Rooney — (ROO-nee) "redhaired". Ruanaidh.

Rory — (ROHR-ee)(Teut) "famous ruler"; variant of Ruairi. Ruaidhri, Roderick.

Ross — (RAWS) from Old Irish ros "promontory". Popular; borne by kings, heroes, saints.

Ross MacMahon, Archbishop of Armagh was an opponent of Cromwell.

Ruadan — (ROO-an) from Old Irish ruad "red-haired". Son of Bress and Brighid, and fought

with the Fomorians against the Tuatha De Danann. Ruadhan, Rhodan.

Ruaidhri — (RWE-e-ree)(Teut) "famous ruler"; from Teutonic Roderick. Rory, Roderick.

Ruairi — (ROO-e-ree) from Old Irish name Ruaidri: ruad "red" + re "king". Ruaidre Ua

Conchobair, last high king of Ireland died in 1170. Ruaidhri, Rory.

Ruarc — (ROO-ark) from Old Irish arg "champion, hero", and source of surname O'Rourke.

Anglicized Rourke, Roarke.

Rylie — form of Riley; "valiant".

Saoirse — (SHAHR-sha?) "freedom" or "liberty"; male or female name.

Scanlon — (SKAN-lun) "little trapper".

Scully — (SKUHL-ee) (Gael) from a word meanign "town crier". Scolaighe.

Séafra — (SHEE-a-fra or SHE-fra) "god's peace"; Irish form of Jeffrey, brought by the Anglo-

Normans. Sheary, Geoffrey, Seafraid, Seathrun.

Séamas — (SHAY-muhs or SHEE-a-mus) from James (H); "the supplanter, one who

supplants". Seamus, Seumus, Shemus, Shamus.

Seán — (SHAWN) "god's gracious gift"; Irish form of John, der. from Norman French name

Jehan. Shaun, Shane, Sion, Shawn, Seaghan (SEE-a-gun).

Seanán — (SHAW-nawn or SHAH-nan) from Old Irish sen "ancient". Seanan was the name

of 20 Irish saints, including St. Senan of Iniscathy. Seanan, Shannon, Senan, Sinon.

Searbhreathach — (SAR-vra-huhkh) "noble judge"; Irish version of Justin.

Séarlas — (SHAHR-las)(OFr) "full-grown, manly"; Irish version of Charles. Searlus.

Sedric — (SED-rik) form of Cedric; "chief".

Semias — master of wisdom from Murias, one of the four cities the Tuatha De Danann

came from; he gave his cauldron Undry to the Dagda.

Seoirse — (SYAHR-sha) "farmer"; form of George. Seorsa.

Seosamh — (SHOH-sav) "god will add"; Irish form of Joseph. Seosaph.

Setanta — birth name of the warrior Cu Chulainn.

Shanahan — (SHAN-ah-han) "clever, wise". Seanachan (SHAWN-a-kahn?).

Shane — (SHAYN)(H) "gracious gift of god, god is gracious".

Shanley — (SHAN-lee) "small", "ancient", or "child of the old hero". Seanlaoch (SHAWN-

loch?).

Shannon — (SHAN-ohn) "wise one"; from the River Shannon. Rarely, if ever, used as a name

in Ireland.

Shea — (SHAY) "courteous" or "hawk-like, stately". Seaghda, Shae, Shaye, Shay.

Sheehan — (SHEE-an) "little, peaceful". Shean, Siodhachan.

Sheridan — "wild one" or "untamed". Seireadan.

Sierra — "black".

Sioda — (SHEE-da) may mean "silk" or a pet form of a longer name.

Síomón — (SHEE-mohn)(H) "god is heard"; Irish version of Simon.

Siseal — (SEE-sil)(L) "blind;" Irish form of Cecil.

Sithchean — a druid who disguised himself as a smith and tested all the sons of the King

of Tara to see who was fit to be the next king; only Niall completed the test satisfactorily.

Skelly — (SKEL-ee) "storyteller"; possibly from Viking influence and their word for bard,

skald.

Sleibhin — (SLE-veen) from Old Irish sleib "mountain", meaning "mountain man",

"mountaineer" or "man of the mountain". St. Slebine was abbot of Iona in Scotland in the

8th C. Slevin.

Sloan — "warrior". Sloane, Slone.

Somhairle — Irish version of Old Norse-Viking name meaning "summer-farer" or "summer

wanderer". Sumerled, Summerled, Sommerly, Somerly.

Steafán — (STEF-ahn)(Gr) "crowned with laurel". Stephen, Stiofan.

Strahan — "minstrel". Sruthan, Strachan.

Struthers — from a word meaning "brook". Sruthair.

Sualtam — husband of Dechtire and foster-father of Cu Chulainn. His severed head warned

men of Ulster about Maeve's attack.

Suibhne — (SHEEV-ne) from Old Irish Suibne, of several early saints and kings. King

Suibne Gelt (Mad Sweeney) went insane at the battle of Mag Rath in 637 as a result of a

curse put upon him by a saint he had insulted. Spent the rest of his life living in trees and

composing nature poetry. Sweeney.

Sullivan — "black eyed". Suileabhan, Sully.

Sweeney — "small hero"; variant of Suibhne. Suidhne.

Tadhg — (TAYG)(Gr) "poet" or "honors god"; form of Timothy. Tadc, Tiomoid, Teague,

Taidgh, Tiege.

Taggart — from a word meaning "son of the priest".

Tarlach — (TAHR-lak) "abettor" or "instigator". From Old Irish Tairdelbach, prob. meaning

"one who assists or aids". Popular during Middle Ages. Two kings: Tairdelbach, King of

Munster, and Tairdelbach O'Connor, King of Ireland. Tairdelbach, Toirdhealbhach,

Turlough..

Téadóir — (TEH-dohr)(Gr) "divine gift".

Teagan — "attractive".

Teague — "bard" or "poet, philosopher". Teagan.

Thady — (Aramaic) "praise"; Irish version of Thaddeus.

Tiarnach — (TEER-nahk or TEAR-nakh) from Old Irish Tigernach, from tigerna "lord,

superior, chief". Name of several saints, including St. Tigernach of Clones. Tiarchnach,

Tighearnach, Tierney

Tiarnan — (TEER-nawn) from Old Irish Tigernan: tigerna "lord, superior, chief" + dim. -an.

Popular in early and medieval Ireland; name of several kings and saints, including St.

Tigernan of County Mayo. Tier, Tighearnach, Tiernan.

Tiernan — "lordly". Tierney.

Tigernach — from tigern "lord". Tighearnach, Tiarnach.

Tigernan — from tigern "lord". Tighearnan, Tiarnan.

Tiomóid — (TEE-mohd)(Gr) "honors god". Timothy, Tim.

Tomaisin — (TA-ma-seen)(H) "twin"; Irish version of Thomas. Tommy.

Tomás — (TA-mahs)(H) "twin". Thomas.

Tomey — (TA-mahs) Irish form of Thomas. Tomas.

Torin — "chieftain". Toryn.

Tormey — Irish adaption of the Viking god Thor, "thunder spirit". Tormaigh.

Torn — Irish version of Torrence. Toran.

Torrance — (Gael) "tender, gracious, good, from the knolls"; form of Terrence. Torrans,

Tory.

Treasach — (TRAH-sak) from Old Irish Tressach "fierce, warlike". Tracy.

Tremain — (Celt) place name for stone house.

Trevor — "prudent". Trev, Treabhar.

Troy — from a word meanings "foot soldier".

Tulley — "at peace with God". Taicligh.

Tynan — from the word "dark".

Tyrone — (teer-OHN) from Old Irish tir "land" + Eoghain "of Eoghan" (man's name). Name

of a County in Northern Ireland and used as a first name.

Uaine — (OON-yuh) old Irish name, form of Owen; "young warrior". Owain, Owen, Oney,

Owney, Hewney.

Uileog — (IH-lig) dim. of Uilliam and Liam. Ulick.

Uilliam — (UHL-yahm, or WIL-yam)(Teut) "resolute protector"; from Old German Wilhelm.

William, Liam.

Uinseann — (WIN-shen)(L) "conqueror"; Irish version of Vincent. Uistean, Uisdean.

Úistean — (OOSH-tchen, or ISH-tchen)(Teut) "intelligence". Euston, Hugh.

Ultan — "an Ulsterman".

Uscias — master of wisdom who lived in Findias, one of the four cities the Tuatha De

Danann came from. He gave Nuada the sword that killed all enemies.

Vailintín — form of Valentine, Latin for "healthy".

Vaughn — (Celt) "small". Vaughan.

Wynne — (WIN)(Celt) "white, fair". Winn, Wynn.

Y — form of Aodh, found in 15th C. documents.

Zephan — (ZEF-ahn) listed as a name of an Irish saint.

Celtic Male Names of Scotland

Abhainn — "river." Aibne.

Acair — variant of the word meaning "anchor". Acaiseid.

Achaius — "friend of horses".

Adair — (Gael) place name meaning "from the oak tree ford" or "oak tree settlement". From

a surname, maybe derived from an early Scottish pronunciation of English Edgar. Adaire,

Athdar, Edgar.

Adhamh — Scots-Gaelic spelling of Adam, "of the earth".

Adie — Scottish pet form of Adam, and less commonly Aidan. Adaidh is the Gaelic spelling

of Adie, hence surname MacAdaidh, Anglicized McCadie..

Aedan — (Scot) a King of Scots in 560. see Aidan.

Aeneas — rare name; was quite common in Scotland as anglicized form of Aonghas; and in

Ireland as anglicized form of Éigneachán, a personal name from éigneach "violent fate or

death".

Ahearn — "lord of the horses". Aherin, Hearn.

Aidan — Fr. Old Irish aed "fire" + dim. -an. Very old Scottish name. King Aidan mac Gabran,

ruled Argyll in the 6th C., first Christian Monarch in the British Isles outside Ireland. 7th C.

St. Aidan established the celebrated monastery of Lindisfarne. Aedan.

Ailbeart — "noble"; Scots-Gaelic form of Albert. Ailbert.

Ailean — (AY-luhn) "handsome"; also from Old Irish ail "noble" + dim. -an. Anglicized as

Alan, related from the Breton language.

Ailein — from a Gaelic word for "from the green meadow".

Aillig — "from the stony place". Ail.

Aindrea — Scots-Gaelic form of Andrew, "strong"; also Anndra.

Ainsley — (Gael) "my very own meadow or lee".

Alasdair — (ALL-us-tir) "defender of mankind"; Gaelic evolution of Greek name Alexander.

Scottish royal name in 12th C. when Alexander I took the throne. MacAlisters claim

descent from Alasdair Mor (d. 1299), son of Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles. Alister,

Alistair, Alastair, Alaisdair, Alisdair, Alastair, Allaster, Alaster, Alasdair (AHL-uhs-duhr),

Alexander; pet form Aly; feminine form Alastrina.

Alec — (Gr) "defender of mankind"; short form of Alexander, now less popular then Alex,

possibly because of the term "smart alec". Ailig, Alick.

Alick — Scottish variant of Alec, which has gained popularity on it own. The form Ellic is in

use in the Highlands. Gaelic form is Ailig.

Alpin — Prob. derived from Latin albinus "white, fair". Borne by at least two Pictish kings,

source of surname MacAlpin. Scottish anglicized form of Gaelic Ailpein, a name widely

given in the Highlands from the time of earliest historical records. There is no obvious

Gaelic etymology, and is often taken to be of Pictish origin. Alpine.

Aluinn — (AH-loo-in) "handsome" or "cheerful"; Scottish of Celtic origin, possibly a dim. of

a word meaning "rock". Ailean, Alan, Allan, Allen (generally only found as a surname in

Britain, but equally common as a given name in the USA).

Amhlaidh — Scottish Gaelic form of Olaf, an Old Norse name introduced to Ireland by

Viking settlers. Aulay.

Amhuinn — "from the alder tree river".

Angus — "unique choice, chosen one, unique strength", from Old Irish Oengus: oen "one" +

gus "vigor". Scottish and Irish; anglicized form of Gaelic Aonghus/Aonghas (EUN-eu-uss),

composed of Celtic elements meaning "one" and "choice". Name of an old Celtic god, and is

first recorded as a personal name in Adomnan's "Life of St. Columba," where it occurs in

the form Oinogus(s)ius as the name of a man for whom the saint prophesied a long life and

a peaceful death. Almost certainly the name of an 8th C. Pictish king variously recorded as

Omnust and Hungus. traditional first name in Scotland, and of the men of clan Donald,

whose ancestors include Angus Og of Islay. Short form Gus; pet form Angie; feminine form

Angusina.

Anndra — (AH-oon-drah) Scots-Gaelic form of Andrew, "manly". St. Andrew the Apostle is

the patron saint of Scotland. Aindrea. Andra (Lowland form). Pet forms: Andy, Drew.

Aodh — (OOH) Fr. Old Irish aed "fire". Frequent name in early Scotland; surname Mackay

is based on it. Aoidh, Hugh.

Arailt — Scots-Gaelic form of Harold.

Archibald — Scottish of Norman French origin. Composed of elements ercan "genuine" +

bald "bold, brave". Equivalent of Scottish Gaelic Gilleasbaig. Pet forms: Archie, Archy

(Gaelic Eair(r)dsidh), Baldie.

Argyle — taken from the old placename Arregaithel, "from the land of the Gauls".

Armstrong — Scottish, transferred use of the surname, probably as a nickname for a man

with strong arms.

Art — Irish and Scottish, now as an informal shortening of Arthur.

Artair — (AHR-shtuhr) "eagle-like" or "high, noble"; Gaelic form of Arthur, fr. Celtic artos

"bear", or poss. borrowed from Latin Artorius; and the surname MacArtair is derived, and

anglicized as McArthur and Carter. Arth, Artus.

Arthur — of Celtic origin. King Arthur, British king of 5th C. or 6th C. The name was first

found in the Latinized form Artorius and its derivation is obscure.

Athol — transferred use of the name of a Perthshire district, seat of the dukes of Atholl.

The placename is thought to derive from the Gaelic ath Fodla "new Ireland". Atholl, Athole.

Aulay — from Norse Olaf. Source of surname (and first name) MacAulay; Scottish

anglicized form of Amhla(i)dh. See Amhlaoibh.

Baird — from a clan name, derived fr. Old Irish bard "a bard, poet". Bard.

Baldie — Scottish pet from of Archibald.

Balfour — "pasture land".

Balloch — from a word meaning "from the pasture".

Balmoral — taken from the placename, "from the majestic village".

Banner — "flag bearer".

Barclay — Scottish, Irish; transferred use of the Scottish surname, which was taken to

Scotland in the 12th C. by Walter de Berchelai, who became a chamberlain of Scotland in

1165. Probably derived from Berkeley in Gloucestershire, which is from OE beorc "birch

tree" + leah "wood or clearing"; "birch tree meadow". In Ireland, its been anglicized in the

form of Parthalán. Berkeley.

Bean — from a Celtic word for "spirit" or "fairy", and means "one who is white-skinned";

Scottish anglicized form of Gaelic name Beathan.

Bearnard — Irish, Scots-Gaelic form of Bernard; from the Old German words Beirn-hard

"brave as a bear".

Bhatar — (VAH-tuhr) Fr. Germanic wald "rule" + harja "folk". Usually associated with

Scottish writer Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832). Moderately popular as a first name in

Scotland. Walter.

Birk — "birch tree".

Blackburn — "black brook".

Blair — from a surname; from Gaelic blar "plain, field, battlefield"; or "child of the fields".

Blaire, Blayre.

Blane — from Gaelic bla "yellow". Name of an important Scottish saint who was Bishop of

Kingarth in late 6th C.; several Scottish churches are named Kilblane in his honor. Blain,

Blaine, Blayne.

Bothan — from a Gaelic word for "from the stone house".

Boyd — from Gaelic buidhe "yellow-haired".

Braden — modern spelling of Bhradain, "salmon".

Braigh — from the Gaelic word for "from the upper part".

Breac — from the Celtic word for "speckled". Bryce, Brice.

Bret — "from Britain". Brit.

Brian — (ONorse) "strong" or "virtuous"; brought from Ireland, King Brian Boru. Briant,

Brion, Bryan, Bryant.

Broc — from an Old English word for "badger".

Brodie — from the Irish Gaelic word for "from the ditch".

Bruce — (Fr) "woods"; derived fr. a surname based on the place name, Braose (now

Brieuse) in Normandy, and brought to Scotland by the Normans; most famous Bruce was

Robert Bruce, King of Scots from 1306-29, who liberated Scotland fr. English rule at the

Battle of Bannockburn.

Busby — "village on woodlands" or "village in the thicket".

Bryce — "quick-moving". From name of 4th C. St. Bricius of Tours, France, name is Celtic

origin. Bricius' cult was brought to Scotland by the Normans. Brice.

Bryson — from a surname meaning "son of Bryce".

Buchanan — from a surname derived from a place name in Stirlingshire. Source is prob.

Gaelic bocan "a young male deer".

Cailean — (KAH-luhn) from Old Irish cuilen "pup, cub, kitten" or "child". Favorite of

Campbells and MacKenzies; 1st Campbell chief of Lochawe, Cailean Mor, was killed in a

battle with the MacDougals in 1294, since then the chief of the clan has been MacCailein

Mor "Son of Big Cailean". Cael, Caelin, Callean, Colin, Cailean (CAL-lan).

Cairns — Gaelic place word that became a surname and first name. Traditionally, a cairn is

a heap of stones placed on top of a grave.

Calum — (KA-luhm) from Latin columba "dove". 6th C. Irish missionary St. Columba (Colm

Cille in Irish) founded a monastery on the island of Iona which became a great center of

learning. Also used as a nickname for Malcolm. Callum.

Camden — "from the winding or crooked valley". Camdin, Camdan.

Cameron — (Celt) from cam + shron "nose", or brun "hill". An important clan name, place

name in the old kingdom of Fife. Camar, Camshron, Camero, Camey.

Campbell — (KAM-bel) from cam "crooked" + beul "mouth". A clan name that is also used a

first name. Cambeul, Cam, Camp.

Carey — (Welsh) "stoney, rock island".

Carlton — from the Old English words Carla-tun "farmers' settlement".

Carmichael — "follower of Michael".

Carney — "fighter".

Carr — "from the marsh"; derived from the Norse word for "marsh". Cathair, Cary.

Cathal — Fr. Old Irish cath "battle". Ancient first name is source of the surname Macall.

Cawley — from the Gaelic word for "relic". Camhlaidh, Cauley.

Ceard — from the Gaelic word for "smith". Ceardach.

Chalmers — "son of the lord". Clamer, Chalmer.

Charles — (OFr) "full-grown, manly". Teàrlach.

Chattan — from the Gaelic word for "cat"; clan name that is used as a first name also.

Chait.

Cinead — Prob. Pictish in origin; in 843, King Cinead Mac Ailpin united Gaels and Picts in

one kingdom, Scotia. Ceanag (KEN-uhk); anglecized as Kenneth; feminine form is Kenna.

Clach — from the Gaelic word for "stone".

Cleit — from the Gaelic word for "rocky promontory".

Clennan — from a Celtic word for "servant of Finnian".

Clyde — (Scottish) name of the famous Scottish river.

Coinneach — (KON-yokh or KUH-nyuhx) Fr. Old Irish Cainnech, derived fr. cain "good,

beautiful"; "handsome face or head". St. Cainnech founded monasteries in Ireland and

Scotland in the 6th C.; city of Kilkenny (Cell Coinneach) in Ireland takes its name from him.

Identical to Irish name Cainnech; anglicized as Kenneth.

Colin — (KAW-lin)(Gael) "child"; "victory of the people"; or "young cub". Cailean, Colan,

Collin, Coll.

Conan — "wise"; Scottish form of the Irish name. Connor, Conon.

Connell — (Celt) "high and mighty".

Conran — St. Conran, 7th C. bishop and apostle to Orkney Islands.

Corey — (kohr-ee) "ravine"; sometimes translated as "seething pool". Cori, Cory.

Craig — from Gaelic place word creag "crag, cliff" or "steep rock"; "crag dweller" or "from

near the crag". Also used as a surname. Craigen, Kraig, Craggie.

Crannog — "lake dweller".

Criostal — (KREE-uh-stuhl) Gaelic form of Christopher. Produced Scottish surnames,

Chrystal, Cristal, and MacCristal.

Crìsdean — "Christ-bearer". Gaelic form of Christopher.

Cullen — "young animal, handsome".

Culloden — personal name from the placename of Culloden, meaning "from the nook of

the marsh".

Dabhaidh — (DA-ee-vee or DAEE-vee) "beloved"; Gaelic form of David. St. David, son of

King Malcolm III and Queen Margaret, was King of Scots from 1124-53. Daibhidh.

Dallas — Scots-Gaelic for "from the waterfall"; name of a town in Scotland and used as a

personal name. Dallieass, Dallis, Dalys.

Dalziel — "small field". Daziel, Dalyell.

Damh — "ox". Daimh.

Dànaidh — Danny.

Darach — from the Gaelic word for "oak".

Davis — "David's son". Dave, Davidson, MacDaibhidh.

Deargh — from a Gaelic word for "red".

Denholm — place name; prob. Denholm, Scotland, otherwise unknown.

Derek — (OGer) "people's ruler". Dirk, Derrick.

Diarmad — (DYEER-muht) from Old Irish Diarmait, "sorrow". Early Irish literature, Scottish

and Irish ballads and folktales, Diarmaid was a member of the warrior band of Finn mac

Cumaill. Diarmaid had a love spot on his face that made women fall instantly in love with

him. Clan Campbell traces its ancestry to one Diarmid O'Duibne. Dermot.

Doire — "from the grove". Dhoire.

Donald — from Gaelic Domhnall (DAW-nuhl) derived fr. Old Irish domnan "world" + gal

"valor"; "brown or dark"; or "proud ruler". Donald was an early Scottish royal name; Clan

Donald, most powerful Highland clan, took the name from a 15th C. Donald, grandson of

Somerled, Lord of the Isles. Don, Donn, Donall, Donalt, Donaugh, Donel, Donell, Dòmhnull,

Dòmhnall, Dòmhnal (DAW-ull), Donaidh (Donnie).

Donnan — Fr. Old Irish donn meaning "brown" or "chief" + dim. -an. Name of 7th C. abbot

of Iona who founded many churches in Scotland.

Donnchadh — (DON-ah-choo) old Gaelic spelling of Duncan, meaning "dark-skinned

stranger" or "dark-skinned warrior".

Dorrell — "king's doorkeeper".

Dougal — Gaelic Dubhghlas (DOO-luhs) Fr. Old Irish dubh "dark" + glas "green or blue".

Common Celtic river name surviving as the rivers Douglas in Ireland and Scotland, Dulas in

Wales, and Dawlish, Dowles and Divelish in England. Douglas, Dugall, Doughald, Dougald

(DOO-gald), Dùghall (DOO-ull), Dùghlas (DOOG-lass).

Douglas — "from the dark water"; "dark river or stream" or "dark blue-green". Scotland,

Ireland, and Wales all have a river of this name. Dubhghlas (DOOG-lass). *see Dougal.

Drummond — "druid's mountain"; "at the ridge"; or from a surname based on a clan name

that is derived from the name of the village of Drymen in Sterlingshire; used as a name in

Scotland since the 13th C.

Duer — "heroic".

Duff — "dark". Dubh.

Duncan — Gaelic Donnchadh (DOO-nuh-xuh) from Old Irish donn "brown" or "chief" + cath

"warrior" = "dark-skinned warrior". Fr. a surname based on a clan name. Duncan was the

name of two early Kings of the Scots: Duncan I in the 11th C. was immortalized by

Shakespeare's MacBeth; Clan Donnchadh (the Robertsons) claims Donnchadh Reamhar

(Duncan the Stout) as its name ancestor. Donnchadh, Donnachadh, Dunn, Dune.

Dunham — from the Gaelic word for "brown".

Dunlop — "muddy hill".

Dunmore — "fortress on the hill".

Durell — "king's doorkeeper". Dorrell, Durial, Durrell.

Eachann — (EU-chun) "steadfast". Scottish form of Hector.

Eanruig — "rules the home". Scottish form of Henry. Eanraig.

Ear — derived from the Gaelic meaning "from the east".

Edan — "fire".

Eideard — (AE-jard) "wealthy guardian"; Gaelic form of Edward.

Eilig — from a word meaning "from the deer pass".

Ennis — an alternate form of Angus.

Eòghann — (YOE-wun) "youth". Gaelic spelling of Ewan.

Eonan — (YOE-wun or YOH-nuhn) "youth"; from Old Irish name Adamnan, "little Adam". St.

Adamnan (d. 704) was abbot of a monastery of Iona in Scotland; his writings contain the

first mention of the Loch Ness Monster.

Eòsaph — Scottish form of Joseph.

Erskine — "from the height of the cliff" or "dweller of the top of the cliff"; from a clan

name based on the name of a place on the banks of the Clyde, near Glasgow. Derivation is

uncertain. Kinny, Kin.

Ervin — (Gael) "beautiful".

Evan — either "young warrior" or "right-handed".

Ewan — Gaelic Eoghann (YOH-uhn) Fr. Old Irish name Eogan "born of the yew tree": eo

"yew" + gein "birth" = "born of the yew tree". Traditional clan name, including Clan

Campbell and Clan Chattan. Ewen of Locheil, chief of Clan Cameron, was a celebrated

opponent of Oliver Cromwell. Ewen, Euen, Euan, Ewhen, Owen, anglicized as Hugh.

Faing — "from the sheep pen". Fang.

Farquhar — Gaelic Fearchar (FER-uh-xuhr or FER-a-char) Fr. Old Irish fer "man" + cara

"friendly"; "friendly man"; "one especially dear"; "strong man". King Ferchar the Long, of

Lorne (d. 697), was ancestor of the Chattan and Farquarson clans. Faarquar, Farquharson,

Ferchar.

Feandan — "from the narrow glen".

Fearghas — (FER-uh-guhsh) "of manly strength" or "dear one"; fr. Old Irish fer "man" + gus

"strength, vigor"; or "first choice". Fergus mac Eirc is considered the ancestor of the Gaels.

Fergus.

Fergusson — "son of Fergus". Ferguson.

Fife — from a surname der. from the name of ancient kingdom in eastern Scotland. Some

claim the name is from Fib, the name of one of the seven sons of Cruithne, the legendary

ancestor of the Pictish race. Fyfe, Fibh.

Fingal — from Old Irish finn "bright, fair" + gall "stranger". J. Macpherson transformed the

Irish and Scottish folk hero Finn mac Cumaill into a Scottish king named Fingal in his

Ossianic poems.

Fionnlagh — (FYOOHN-ee-loo or FYON-lax) fr. Old Irish finn "bright, fair" + laoch "warrior";

"fair hero". Finlay, Finley, Findlay.

Firth — from the placename, meanings "arm of the sea".

Forbeis — (FOR-bish) "headstrong". Clan name fr. the Gaelic place word forba "field" +

suffix of location -ais. Forbes.

Fordyce — from a surname based on a place in Banffshire.

Frang — (FRANG-g) form of the Teutonic name Frank, meaning "free".

Fraser — "strawberry fields"; from French surname de Frisselle, brought to Scotland by

Normans in 13th C. The French word for strawberries is "fraise", and there are strawberry

plants are on the Fraser coat of arms.

Gabhran — (GAHV-ruhn) Gaelic for "little goat"; an ancient Scottish name, borne by a

grandson of Fergus mac Erc.

Gair — from a word meaning "short". Gare.

Gavin — "white hawk"; popular in the Middle Ages, as Gawain in England, and Gauvain in

France; in Arthurian legends and literature, Gawain was one of the boldest knights of the

Round Table; Gavin Dunbar was Archbishop of Glasgow and Chancellor of Scotland in the

16th C., and est'd the first National Court of Justice. Gilchrist Fr. Gaelic Gille Criosd (gil-

yuh-KREE-uhst) meaning "servant of Christ"; esp. popular in the Middle Ages. Gawain,

Gawen, Gaven.

Geordan — Scottish form of Gordon.

Geordie — (Gr) "farmer"; form of George. Seòras.

Gilchrist — modern spelling of Gille Criosd, "servant of Christ".

Gillanders — Gaelic Gille Anndrais (gil-yuh OWN-drish), "servant of St. Andrew".

Gilleabart — "pledge".

Gillean — (GIL-yan) Gaelic Gilla Eoin (gil-yuh YOWN), "servant of (St.) John". The Clan

Maclean (son of Gillean) takes its name from the 13th C. warrior, Gillean of the Battle Axe;

Gillean is not to be confused with the English woman's name Gillian (Jillian), fr. Juliana.

Gilleasbuig — (GEEL-yes-pick) "genuine or bold"; variant of Old German Archibald.

Gillecroids — from the Gaelic word for "Christ-bearer" or "servant of Christ".

Gillespie — Gaelic Gilleasbuig (gil-yuh-IS-pik) "servant of a bishop"; traditional first name

among the Campbells.

Gillis — Gaelic Gille Iosa (gil-yuh EE-uh-suh) "servant of Jesus"; traditional first name in the

Hebrides.

Gillivray — "servant of judgment".

Gleann — (Gael) from gleann "valley"; male or female name. Glen, Glenn.

Glendan — (Gael) place name for "settlement in the glen" or "fortress in the glen". Glendon,

Glenden.

Goraidh — from a Celtic word for "peaceful".

Gordon — (GORSH-tuhn) from clan name based on a place name in Berwickshire, perhaps

der. fr. British gor "great" + din "hill-fort"; possibly also "hero" or "from the cornered hill".

Geordan, Gordie, Gordy, Gòrdon.

Gow — (Gael) "a smith".

Gowan — from Gaelic gobha "a smith"; blacksmiths were VIP's in early Celtic culture, often

having an aura of magic about them. Gow, Gobha.

Graham — from an Anglo-Saxon word for "warlike". Greum, Graeme, Gram "grain".

Grant — (L) "great".

Greer — from a Scottish surname, a contraction of the name Gregor.

Gregory — (Gr) "vigilant".

Griogair — (GRI-kuhr) Gaelic form of the name of St. Gregory of Tours, France; name was

brought to Scotland by the Norman French and widely used in the Middle Ages, and meant

"vigilant"; derived from greigh "a flock or herd"; all forms of this name were officially

banned for most of the 17th and 18th C.'s for alleged misdeeds of some clan members.

Gregor.

Gunn — from the Norse-Viking word for "warrior"; possibly "white".

Hamish — (HAY-mish) Gaelic form of James.

Harailt — Scottish form of an Old Norse word for "leader".

Hearn — shortened form of Ahearn, which means "lord of the horses".

Henson — "Henry's son"; surname adopted as a first name. Henderson.

Home — "from the cave". Hume.

Hugh — (Teut) "intelligence, spirit"; English name from German root hugi "heart, mind";

traditionally used in Scotland to anglicize the Gaelic names Eoghann, Uisdeann, Aodh.

Iain — (ee-AYN or EE-an) "God's gracious gift"; Gaelic form of John. Ian, Iaian, Ianv.

Innes — from Gaelic word for "island"; first a surname and clan name, then first name,

male or female.

Iomhair — (EE-uh-var) from the Teutonic name Ivor, "archer". Ivar, Iver, Ivor.

Ivar — from Gaelic form, Iomhair (EE-uh-vuhr), of the Old Norse Ivarr, meaning "yew tree

army"; traditional first name in clan Campbell of Strachan, and also the source of the

surname MacIver. Ivor.

Jamie — (H) "the supplanter"; Scottish variation of James and Seumas.

Jocelin — Dim. form of Breton saint's name, Josse. Norman French brought to Scotland in

the 12th C. Joselin, Joslin.

Jock — (H) "the supplanter"; older Scottish form of James and Seumas. Jack, Seoc.

Eòin — Scottish verstion of Jonathan. Johnathan, Jonathon.

Kade — "wetlands".

Keddy — Scottish form of Adam.

Keir — from a clan name, der. from the Old Irish ciar "dark".

Keith — as a personal name it means "the battle place"; from a surname, based on the

place name, Ceiteach, in East Lothian.

Kendrew — Scottish form of Andrew.

Kendrick — from a word meaning "son of Henry"; or "royal chieftain".

Kennan — "little Ken".

Kennedy — from Old Irish name Cennetig: cenn "head" + etig "ugly"; ; or "helmeted chief";

mostly associated with Ireland, it has been used consistently in Scotland as a family name

and first name since the 12th C.

Kentigern — from Old Irish cenn "head" + tigern "lord". The 6th C. St. Kentigern is the

patron saint of Glasgow; he was said to be the son of Owein ap* Urien, an early Welsh hero

of the Old North.

Kenzie — "wise leader"; related to the clan name Mackenzie.

Kermichil — from a Gaelic word meaning "from Michael's fortress".

Kincaid — "battle chief".

Kinnon — "fair-born".

Kirk — Scottish word for "church". Kerk.

Kyle — from a surname based on the Gaelic word caol "narrow", the name of a strait in

Ayrshire.

Lachlan — "belligerant"; from Lachlann (LAKH-luhn or LAX-luhn) a Gaelic word formerly

used to designate the "land of the Vikings" or "land of lakes or fjords"; the Maclachlans

take their name from Lachlan Mor (Big Lachlan) a chief who lived near Loch Fryne in the

13th C. Lachlann, Laochailan.

Lailoken — name of a Scottish prophet who was driven partially mad by his gift; some

author's claim Merlin's story was based on his life.

Laird — "wealthy landowner".

Lawren — "crowned with laurel". Lawrence.

Leith — "broad river". Leathan.

Lennox — "with many elms" or "from the field of elm trees".

Leod — Norse-Viking name adopted by Scots, meaning "ugly". The Clan MacLeod claims

the Viking Chief Leod as their ancestor.

Leslie — Poss. fr. Celtic lis "court" + celyn "holly"; possibly "(from the) gray fortress" or

"small meadow". Usu. spelled Lesley for a woman, Leslie for a man. Lesley.

Logan — from Gaelic place word lag "hollow" + dim. suffix -an; "from the little hollow".

Logan is used as the name of several places in Scotland, and has been a surname since the

12th C. and a very popular name in recent years.

Lorne — from a place name in Argyll; Loarn was the name of one of the three sons of the

legendary first Gael to arrive in Scotland from Ireland.

Lulach — (LOO-luhx) An old Scottish royal name, meaning "little calf" in Gaelic, borne by

the stepson of Macbeth, who lived in the 11th C.

Lundy — (Scottish) place name for "grove near the island. " Lundie.

Luthias — "famous warrior".

Lyall — "loyal".

Mac — "son of..."; used as a nickname for names beginning with Mac or Mc. Mack, Max.

Macadam — "son of Adam".

Macaulay — "son of righteousness"; from a surname derived fr. the first name Aulay "son

of Aulay".

Macdonald — "Son of Donald"; an important clan name, often used in Scotland as a first

name.

Machar -"plain". Machair.

Maelcoluim — from Old Irish mael "devotee" + Colm, fr. Latin columba "dove"; or "servant

of St. Columba". Colm Cille was the Irish name of the most important early St. in Scotland,

known also by the Latin name Columba, who founded the monastery on Iona, and

converted the Pictish kings of Scotland; three medieval kings of the Scots bore the name

Malcolm. Malcolm.

Manius — form of Norse-Viking Magnus, meaning "great". Manus.

Maoilios — Scottish form of Myles.

Maolmuire — "servant of Mary"; or "dark-skinned".

Mark — Marc.

Mártainn — (MAHRSH-teen or MAHR-shtan) "warlike"; Gaelic form of Martin.

Mata — Scottish form of Matthew.

Micheil — (MEECH-yell or MEE-hyel) "who is like God"; Gaelic form of Micheal.

Mirren — Modern form of the name of 6th C. St. Meadhran, who was active in Strathclydel;

Mirren is the patron saint of football.

Moncreiffe — "from the hill of the sacred bough".

Montgomery — Name of a Scottish clan descended from Robert de Montgomerie; name

comes from a French name which in turn is based on a German name, thus it contains the

French mont "hill" and the German guma "man" + ric "power".

Morgan — "sea warrior" or "from the sea".

Morven — from a Gaelic word meaning "mariner". Morvin.

Muir — (MYOOR) A surname based on the Gaelic place name muir "a moor" or

"marshland".

Murdoch — (Murdo-archaic) "sea protector" or "sea fighter". Murdo, Murchadh.

Muirfinn — "dweller by the shining sea".

Mungo — Nickname of Kentigern, patron saint of Glasgow, from Old Irish mo "my" + cu

"hound, wolf", also possibly "amiable"; long used as a man's first name.

Munro — from clan name Mac An Rothaich, derived fr. the Gaelic name Rothach meaning

"a person from Ro". The Munros are descendants of a family that came from a place near

the river Roe in Derry, Ireland. Monroe, Monro, Munroe.

Murchadh — (MOOR-uh-choo or MOOR-uhx) from Old Irish muir "sea" + cath "warrior";

also possibly "wealthy sailor", "sea protector" or "sea fighter". Murdo, Murdoch, Murtagh,

Murtaugh.

Murry — "sailor" or "man of the sea"; from a clan name. MacMurray, Moray, Murry,

Morogh.

Nab — from a Gaelic word for "abbot".

Nairn — "river with alder trees".

Naomhin — (NUH-veen) fr. naomh "saint". This is a traditional first name in Galloway and

Ayreshire. Nevin.

Nathair — from the Celtic word nathdrack "snake".

Naughton — "pure". Nachton, Nechtan.

Nealcail — from Gaelic words meaning "victorious people".

Niall — (NEEL or NYEE-all) An Old Irish name, prob. derived from nel "cloud"; or

"champion". Clan MacNeill traces its ancestry to Anrothan, an Irish prince who married a

Scottish princess in the 11th C. Anrothan was descended from Irish high king, Niall

Naighiallach (Niall of the Nine Hostages), who was claimed as ancestors also by the Irish

O'Neill's.

Neacal — (NEK-uhl) "victory of the people". Nicholas, Nicol, Niocal (NIK-ul).

Niels — "champion"; from Niall. Neil.

Oidhche — from a word meaning "night".

Ossian — (UH-sheen) from the Old Irish name Oisin "little deer or fawn". This character of

Irish legend was transformed into a Scottish hero in J. Macpherson's Ossianic poems.

Pádruig — (PAH-dreek or PA-trik ) "noble"; the ancient origin meaning translates to

"stone" or "anchor stone". Scottish form of the Irish name Padraig (PAH-dreek), and English

Patrick. Pádraig, Pahdraig, Padyn, Paton, Padan.

Parlan — Gaelic form of Old Irish name Partholon. This name is the source of the

surnames Macfarland and Macfarlane.

Parthalán — Scottish Gaelic form of Bartholomew.

Payton — (L) "noble"; dim. of Patrick. Paton, Peyton.

Peadair — (PED-dur or PAY-tuhr) "(the) stone"; Gaelic form of Peter. Peadar.

Perth — "thornbush" or "thicket".

Pòl — (PAHL) "little"; Gaelic form of Paul.

Pony — "small horse".

Rae — from an Old French word meaning "king".

Raghnall — (REU-ull or RUHLL) "wise power"; Scottish form of Teutonic Ronald.

Raibeart — (RAB-burt or RAH-bercht) "of shining fame"; Gaelic form of Robert. Clan

Robertson takes its name from Robert Riach (Grizzly Robert) who lived in the 15th C.

Raibert; nicknames are Rab, Rabbie.

Ranald — from Gaelic Raghnall (RUHLL), from Norse name Rognvaldr "power, might". A

traditional name among the men of the MacDonald clan. Ronald.

Rob Roy — anglicized form of Rob Ruadh, "red Rob".

Ronald — (Teut) "wise power" or "king's advisor"; form of Ranald. Ronal, Ronnold, Ranald,

Raghnall.

Ronan — from Old Irish ron "seal" + dim. suffix -an. An early St. Ronan, bishop of

Kilmaronen in Lennox, was said to have driven out the devil out of the valley of

Innerleithen. Renan, Ronat.

Ronson — "son of Ronald". Ronaldson.

Rory — Gaelic Ruairidh (ROO-uh-ree) from Gaelic ruadh "red".

Roslin — (Gael) "little redhead".

Ross — from Gaelic place word ros "upland, promontory". Ross has been used as a first

name in Scotland since the 12th C. Rosse, Rossell.

Rosse — (Gael) "headland". Rossell.

Roy — (ScGael) from the Galeic word ruadh "red".

Ruairidh — (RO-urree) Scottish form of Teutonic name Roderick, "famous ruler". Ruairdh

(same pronun.).

Ryan — (Gael) from a Gaelic word meaning "little king; strong".

Sandy — "defender of man". Nickname for Alexander.

Scott — "a Scotsman" or "from Scotland". Scot.

Scrymgeour — "fighter".

Seòras — (SHAW-russ) Scottish form of George, "farmer".

Seumas — (SHAY-muhs) "the supplanter" or "substitute"; Gaelic form of James. See also

Hamish, derived from the genitive case of Seumas.

Sholto — from Gaelic sioltaich "propagator". A traditional first name among the Douglases.

Simon — "listener"; Hebrew name long used in Scotland. Associated with Clan Fraser. The

chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat is called MacShimi "Son of Simon". Simeon, Symon; nicknames

include Sim, Sym, Syme.

Somairhle — (SOH-uhr-lyuh), from Old Norse summarliethi, "one who goes forth in the

summer" (i.e. a Viking), or "a Viking raider". Anglicized as Sorley. Vikings would spend

autumn and winter on the Isle of Man, then raid nearby Coasts of Scotland and Ireland in

spring and summer. 11th C. chief of Clan Donald, Somerled, Lord of the Isles was half-

Gaelic, half-Norse and ruled the Isle of Man, southern Hebrides and Argyll. Somerled,

Sorley, Sorely, Samuel.

Stewart — (A.S.) "caretaker or steward". Originally an occupational name, borne by keepers

of the Scottish royal house. Later changed to a hereditary family name, then became a

royal name as the House of Stuart ruled Scotland in 1371, and England from 1603-1714.

Occasionally used as a girl's first name. Stiubhart, Stuart.

Stratton — "river valley town".

Struan — (STROO-uhn) Prob. from Gaelic struan "stream". Once a common name among

the men of Clan Donnchaidh (Robertsons), who owned lands of Struan in Perthshire.

Sutherland — "southern land"; Norse-Viking name used by the Scots.

Tavish — "a twin"; form of Thomas. Tavis, Tavey, Tevis, Tevish, Tamnais.

Tearlach — (TCHAR-lokh or CHAR-luhx) Gaelic "well-shaped", "full-grown" or "manly".

Popular name among the Stewarts. Often anglicized as the unrelated name Charles, which

means "strong and manly".

Todd — "fox".

Tòmas — (TO-mass or TAW-muhs) "twin"; Gaelic form of Thomas. Tamhas, Tòmas,

Tamlane (archaic).

Tormod — (TOR-ro-mit) "from the north"; Scots-Gaelic form of Teutonic Norman.

Torquil — "Thor's kettle"; from Gaelic Torcaill (THOR-kil) fr. Norse name based on the god

Thor. Torquil was the name of the founder of Clan MacLeod of Lewis, and a popular name

for the men of that clan. Torcuil, Torkill.

Tremaine — "house of stone".

Tyree — from a Gaelic word meaning "island dweller". Tyrae, Tyrai, Tyrea.

Uilleam — (OOL-yam or OOL-yuhm) "resolute soldier"; Gaelic form of William, brought to

Scotland in the Middle Ages by Norman French companions of William the Conquerer.

Liam is the Irish form of the name and popular in Scotland also.

Uisdean — (OOSH-jan or OOS-juhn) "intelligent", "spirit"; Gaelic form of Hugh, also possibly

from Austin and/or Augustine.

Urquhart — Scottish form of Old English name meaning "from the fount on the knoll".

Wallace — Origin is Anglo-Saxon word walas or wealas "a Celt" or "a stranger", source also

of the words Wales and Welsh. First used as a surname in the border regions of Scotland,

then used as a first name in memory of national hero William Wallace, who was executed

by British authorities in 1305. Wallis.

Wyndham — "village near the winding road".

Celtic Male Names of Wales

Aberthol — "sacrifice".

Accalon — a champion from Gaul and the lover of Morgan le Fay in the Arthurian sagas.

They plotted to steal Excalibur, but Merlin helped Arthur to beat Accalon in battle.

Adda — Welsh version of Adam, "of the red earth".

Addolgar — "devout".

Adwr — "coward".

Aedd — from the Irish aedh "fire"; also a name of a king of Ireland. Shortened form of

Aeddan.

Aeddan — Welsh form of Aidan.

Aglovale — son of King Pellinore, who Lancelot accidentally killed when Lancelot rescued

Guinevere.

Alawn — "harmony".

Albanwr — "one from Scotland".

Alun — Welsh; possibly cognate of Alan. Also a river name in Wales spelled Alyn.

Alwyn — Welsh version of Alvin, "friend of all"; also the name of a river in Wales.

Amaethon — name of the son of the goddess Donn in Welsh legends.

Amerawdwr — from a word meaning "emperor".

Amhar — name of a son of Arthur in obscure Welsh legends.

Amlawdd — name of the father of Goleuddydd in Welsh tales.

Amren — name of the son of Bedwyr in Welsh Arthurian sagas.

Amynedd — "patient". Amyneddgar.

Andreas — Welsh form of Andrew. Andras.

Aneirin — "honorable" or "golden"; of uncertain original derivation. Original form Neirin,

with the "A" added in the 13th C; may be derived from Irish Gaelic nári "noble, modest".

The name also appears in Welsh mythology. Aneurin (modern form), pet form Nye.

Anfri — "disgrace".

Angawdd — name of the son of Caw in legends.

Angor — form the Welsh word for "anchor".

Anir — listed as a son of King Arthur in the sagas; vaguely hinted in the stories that he was

killed by Arthur and buried in Wales at Licat Amir. Amr.

Anwar — "wild".

Anwas — name of the father of Twrch in ancient legends.

Anwell — from the word for "beloved". Anwil.

Anwir — "liar".

Anynnawg — legendary name of the son of Menw.

Anyon — from the Welsh word for "anvil".

Ap- — one of the prefixes used to denote "son of", as is "O" in Ireland and "Mac" in Ireland

and Scotland.

Arawn — (AR-awn) in mythology, the god of Annwn (an-OON), the Underworld, but not

associated with terror or eternal punishment. It later became the underground kingdom of

the dead.

Ardwyad — "protector".

Arglwydd — from the word meaning "lord".

Arian — "silver"; masculine version of Arianrhod.

Arianwyn — (ah-ree-AHN-win) from Welsh arian "silver" + gwyn "shining, holy".

Arthur — (AHR-thir) from Celtic artos "bear", poss. from Latin name Artorius. Name of the

legendary king and culture hero of the Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons. Arthwr, Arthvawr.

Arvel — "wept over".

Avagdu — "utter darkness"; son of the goddess Cerridwen and god Tegid Foel. Afagddu,

Morfran (great crow).

Avaon — in Welsh tradition, the name of Taliesin's son.

Awstin — from the Welsh word for "august"; also a version of Austin, a contracted form of

the Latin Augustinus.

Baddon — "one from Baddon".

Barri — (BAHR-ee) prob. from Welsh bar "mound, summit, dune"; perhaps from the word

for "boar". Island of Barry off Glamorgan coast is named for the 6th C. hermit, St. Barri,

who took refuge there. The island became a popluar pilgrimage destination after his death.

Barris — "son of Harry". Barrys.

Baudwin — one of the later Knights of the Round Table, he came from Brittany ans was a

very skilled surgeon. He survived the battle of Camlan, and became a hermit.

Beda — Welsh version of Bede, a famous monk and historian.

Bedwyr — name of one of King Arthur's companions to whom he sometimes entrusted

Excalibur.

Bedyw — name of the son of Seithved in legends.

Beli — name of an Irish sun god (Bel), also known in Wales. In later tales, Beli was the

brother-in-law of the Virgin Mary. The original Beli was connected closely with the druids

and their rituals. Beltane is his festival, May 1. Beli Mawr, Belenus, Belinus.

Bellieus — a Knight of the Round Table who fought Lancelot over an incident with his wife.

Benedigeidfram — "blessed"; applied to the god Bran. A giant in Welsh mythology, Bran

the Blessed was brother to the goddess Branwen.

Bercelak — known as the Green Knight in Arthurian stories.

Berth — name of the son of Cadwy in legends.

Berwyn — the son of Kerenhyr in ancient tales.

Beven — "son of Evan" or "youthful".

Blair — "place". Blayre, Blaire.

Blaise — Merlin's mysterious teacher, he lived in Northumberland.

Blathaon — legendary name of the son of Mwrheth.

Bleddyn — (BLETH-in) from Welsh blaidd "wolf" + dim. suffix -yn. Related Welsh wolf

names: Bledri (BLED-ree): blaidd + rhi "king". The slang name Wolf was applied to both

warriors and outlaws in Wales.

Bledri — (BLED-ree) from Welsh blaidd "wolf" + rhi "king" = "leader of the warriors or

outlaws".

Bleidd — (BLAYTH) "wolf".

Bleiddian (BLATH-yahn): blaidd "wolf" + -ian, verbal ending, "one who goes wolfing, i.e.

looting, raiding".

Bogart — "bof" or "marshland"; a name in both Ireland and Wales.

Bors — son of the king of Benoic and cousin to Lancelot. He was one of the best Knights of

the Round Table along with Galahad and Perceval.

Bowen — "son of Owen". Bowie, Bowe.

Brac — "free".

Brad — from the word for "treason".

Bradwen — name of the son of Moren in ancient legends.

Bradwr — "traitor"; variant of Brad.

Braen — "corrupt".

Bran — (BRAN) from Welsh for "raven" or "crow". Famous bearer-Bran Bendigeidfran (Bran

the Blessed) in the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.*

Brastias — originally a knight in Cornwall, he was one of Arthur's captains, and later

Warden of the North.

Brathach — name of the son of Gwawrddur in old tales.

Brian — legendary name of the son of Turenn.

Brice — "alert".

Broderick — "son of the famous ruler". The name ap-Roderick appears often, signifying

"son of Roderick".

Bryn — (BRIN) from Welsh for "hill". Popular for boys. Brynn, Brynley, Brinley (BRIN-lee).

Brys — legendary name of the son of Brysthach.

Bwlch — name of the son of Cleddyv Kyvwlch in old tales.

Cadarn — "strong".

Caddoc — "battle-sharp" or "eager for war".

Cadell — from a word meaning "spirit of the battle" or "battler".

Cadellin — name of the son of Gweir in legends.

Cadeyrn — (KAHD-ayrn) from Welsh cad "battle" + teyrn "prince".

Cadfael — (KAHD-file or KAHD-vil) either from words cad "battle" + ban "summit", or cad +

mael "prince". Cadfan, Cadoc.

Cadfan — (KAHD-vahn) from Welsh cad "battle" + ban "summit". 6th C. saint associated

with a healing well.

Cadman — "warrior". Cadmon.

Cadoc — (KAHD-ok) from Welsh cad "battle". Originally a nickname for Cadfael. Cadoc was

the name of one of the most important Welsh saints. St. Cadoc was carried on a cloud to

Northern Italy, where he became a bishop and was martyred.

Cadwaladr — (kahd-WAHL-ah-der) from Welsh cad "battle" + gwalar "ruler, leader". 7th C.

saint and ruler of northern kingdom of Gwynedd.

Cadwallen — "battle dissolver".

Cadwgawn — legendary name of the son of Iddon.

Cadwr — name of the son of Gwryon in old tales.

Cadyryeith — "well-spoken".

Caer Llion — "one from Caerleon (Castle of the Lion)".

Caerwyn — (KIR-win or KAYR-win) from Welsh caer "fort" + gwyn "shining, holy".

Cai — (KAY) Usu. derived from Latin name Caius, poss. similar with Irish cai (coi) "path,

way"; other sources say it means "rejoicer". Cai was described as King Arthur's closest

companion. In the 10th C. poem, Pa gur yw y porthawr, Cai killed nine witches and rid the

island of Anglesey of a fierce monster call the Palug Cat. Cei, Caius, Caw.

Cain — "clear water".

Cairn — the Welsh word for a pile of stones used as a landmark. Carne.

Calcas — name of the son of Caw in legends.

Calder — "brook or stream".

Caledvwich — the name of Excalibur in Welsh legends.

Cant — "white".

Caradawg — name of Eudav's father in old tales.

Caradoc — "beloved". Craddock, Cradoc.

Carey — "from the castle". Cary, Caerau.

Carnedyr — legendary name of the son of Govynyon.

Cas — name of the son of Seidi in legends.

Casnar — name of a nobleman in old tales.

Casswallawn — according to legends, the name of the son of Beli.

Caw — a name from old legends.

Cedric — "bountiful".

Ceithin — name of the uncle of Lugh in old tales.

Celyn — (KEL-in) Welsh word for "holly". Celyn ap Caw was a member of Arthur's court in

the medievel tale Kulhwch and Olwen.

Cerdic — "beloved". Ceredig.

Ceri — (KER-ee) Name of two rivers, one in Dyfed and on in Glamorgan. May come from

Welsh caru "to love"; male or female name.

Cerwyn — (KER-win) possibly means "black" or "white".

Cian — (KEE-an) possibly from Welsh ci (cwn) "hound, wolf", or from Old Irish cian

"ancient, enduring". Cian is known as on of the five Cynfeirdd, founding poets of Welsh

tradition, although none of his poems have survived.

Clud — "lame".

Clust — name of the son of Clustveinydd in legends.

Clyde — "loud voiced", "heard from afar", or "warm". Clywd.

Cnychwr — name of the son of Nes in old tales.

Coed — "dwells in the woods".

Colgrevance — a Knight of the Round Table who was slain when the Knights tried to

capture Lancelot while he was in Guinevere's chamber.

Collen — (KOLH-en) Welsh word for "hazel tree". Name of a 6th C. saint.

Colwyn — name of a Welsh river.

Conwy — (CON-oo-ee) personal name from the river in northern Wales, from the Irish

Gaelic name Connmhaighe, "hound of the plain".

Corryn — "spider".

Cradelmass — a king of north Wales whom Arthur defeated at tge start if his reign.

Crist — from the word "Christian".

Cubert — lengendary name of the son of Daere.

Culhwch — (COOL-oo) son of Kilydd in old tales.

Culvanawd — name of the son of Gwryon in old tales.

Custenhin — legendary name of Erbin's father.

Cymry — (KUM-ree) "from Wales"; the Welsh people's name for themselves.

Cynan — (KUHN-ahn) from Celtic kuno "great, high". Popular in Medieval Wales.

Cynbal — "warrior chief". Cynbal.

Cystennin — from the word "constant".

Dafydd — (DAH-vith) "dearly beloved"; Welsh form of David. St. David is patron saint of

Wales. Nicknames: Dafi (DAH-vee); Dai (DII); Deian (DAY-an); Deio (DAY-oh); Dewi (DE-

wee).

Dagonet — name of King Arthur's jester, who was made a knight and excelled in bravery

during many tournaments.

Dalldav — son of Cunyn Cov in old legends.

Daned — son of Oth in old tales.

Davis — "son of David"; variant of Dafydd.

Deiniol — (DAYN-yol) Welsh form of Daniel. St. Deiniol was active in late 6th C. in N.

Wales.

Deverell — "from the riverbank".

Dewey — "beloved"; form of David.

Digon — son of Alar in old tales.

Dillan — "faithful"; form of Dillon, Dylan.

Dillus — legendary name of the Eurei's son.

Dilwyn — "shady place". Dillwyn.

Dinadan — a Knight of the Round Table who had a sense of humor, and loved to play jokes

on the other Knights. He was later killed by Mordred.

Dirmyg — legendary name of one of Caw's sons.

Drem — "sight".

Dremidydd — the father of Drem in old tales.

Drew — "wise". Dru, Dryw.

Druce — "son of Dryw". Drywsone.

Drudwas — name of Tryffin's son in old tales.

Drwst — obscure name from Welsh tales.

Drych — legendary name of the son of Kibddar.

Drystan — Welsh version of Tristan, "full of sorrow".

Duach — name of Gwawrddur's son in old legends.

Dylan — (DIL-un or DUHL-an) Welsh word for "ocean, sea, the deep". In Mabinogi, Dylan

eil Ton (Sea Like a Wave) was a son of Arianrhod. Welsh-born 20th C. poet Dylan Thomas

was one of the finest English language poets. Dillan, Dillon.

Dyvynarth — legendary name of the son of Gwrgwst.

Dyvyr — name of Alun's son in ancient stories.

Dywel — legendary name of the son of Erbin.

Earwine — "white river". Erwyn.

Ector — Ector of the Forest Sauvage was Arthur's foster father in the Arthurian sagas.

Edern — name of the son of Nudd in legend.

Edmyg — "honor".

Ehangwen — a name from old legends.

Eiddoel — name of Ner's son in old tales.

Eiddyl — name of unknown meaning in legends.

Eiladar — legendary name of Penn Llarcan's son.

Einion — "anvil". Einian.

Eiryn — name of Peibyn's son in old stories.

Eivyonydd — a name out of old tales.

Elis — (EL-is) Welsh form of Elijah, from Greek Elias. Ellis (ELHis).

Elphin — name of the son of Gwyddno in old legends; in Taliesin stories, he rescued the

infant Gwion Bach, later named Taliesin, from a salmon weir.

Emhyr — "ruler". Emyr.

Emlyn — (EM-lin) from Latin aemilianus "flattering, charming"; some sources say

"waterfall".

Emrys — (EM-rees) Welsh form of English Ambrosius, from Greek Ambrosios "immortal";

Emryus was an epithet of the magician and poet Myrddin (Merlin).

Ennissyen — a giant Welshman related to Bran the Blessed and started the war with the

Irish, which led to the death of Branwen and her son.

Eoin — "young warrior"; form of Evan.

Erbin — legendary name of Custinhin's son.

Ergyryad — name of one of Caw's sons in old tales.

Ermid — name of the son of Erbin in legends.

Eryi — "from Snowdon".

Eudav — son of Caradawg in ancient stories.

Eurosswydd — name in old Welsh tales.

Eus — name of Erim's son in legends.

Evan — (EV-ahn) Welsh form of John. Ioan (YOH-ahn); Ianto (YAHN-toh); Iwan (YEW-ahn);

Eoin, Ieuan (YAY-ahn).

Evnissyen — (ev-NESS-yen) "lover of strife". Half-brother of god Bran in ancient legends.

Evrawg — "from York".

Evrei — name out of old stories.

Fercos — name of Poch's son in old legends.

Fflam — legedary name of the son of Nwyvre.

Fflergant — legendary naem of one of Brittany's kings.

Fflewdwr — name of the son of Naw in old stories.

Ffodor — son of Ervyll in old tales.

Ffowc — "of all the people".

Ffransis — (FRAWN-sis) Welsh form of Francis. Nickname Frank is Ffranc in Welsh.

Fychan — "small".

Fyrsil — version of Virgil, "bears the staff". Fferyll.

Galahad — illegitimate son of Lancelot and Elaine; a pure knight who surpassed his

father's deeds of valor and died when he saw the Holy Grail.

Galehodin — Lancelot's brother; he became the Duke of Saintongue.

Gamon — a name from old stories.

Gandwy — a name in ancient legends.

Garanhon — legendary name of Glythvyr's son.

Gareth — (GAHR-eth) from Welsh gwaraidd "civilized, gentle"; other sources have the

meaning "powerful with the spear" from an Anglo-Saxon word. Tennyson used the name

for a knight of King Arthur's in his Idylls of the King.

Garnock — "dwells by the alder tree river".

Garselid — a name from old legends.

Garwyli — name of Gwyddawg Gwyr's son in old legends.

Garym — a name from old stories.

Gavin — "white hawk" or "hawk of the battle".

Gawain — a Knight of the Round Table, and a son of Lot and Morgause of Orkney. He was

also known as Gwalchmai, "Hawk of May".

Geraint — (GER-iint) from Celtic Gerontios similar to Greek gerontius "old". Geraint mab

Erbin was hero of a medieval Welsh romance. A knight of the Round Table, renowned for

his prowess in tournaments, the way he won his wife Enid. Also said to have beeen the

king of Cornwall. A Welsh elegy to Geraint mab Erbin dates c. 900, and also mentioned as

a warrior in the Gododdin.

Gerallt — (GER-alht) Welsh form of Gerald.

Gerwin — "fair love". Gerwyn.

Gethin — (GETH-in) from Welsh cethin "dark, dusky". Geth.

Gilbert — legendary name of the son of Cadgyffro.

Gildas — (GIL-dahs) 6th C. monk and saint Gildas was the author of De excidio Britanniae

(The Destruction of Britain), in which he blamed his fellow Welsh for allowing Anglo-

Saxons to overrun Britain. St. Gildas venerated in Brittany as St. Gweltas and credited there

for performing numerous miracles.

Gilvaethwy — name of one of the goddess Donn's sons. He lusted after his Uncle Math's

virgin foot-holder and caused a war between Gwynedd and Dyfed in an attempt to get her.

His punishment was to undergo shapeshifts into various animals, and to bear young.

Gleis — legendary name of Merin's son.

Glendower — "one ofr Glyndwer". Glyndwer.

Glew — name of Ysgawd's son in old stories.

Glewlwyd — Arthur's gatekeeper in the Culhwch and Olwen myth.

Glinyeu — name of Taran's son in legends.

Glyn — (GLIN) "one who lives in the glen or valley"; from Welsh glyn "valley".

Glythvyr — a name in ancient tales.

Gobrwy — name of Echel Pierced Thighs in old stories.

Gofannon — on of the goddess Donn's sons. He was a god of blacksmiths and the equal of

the Irish Goibniu.

Gogyvwlch — a legendary name of unknown meaning.

Goreu — legendary name of one of the sons of Custinhin (or Custennin) and an unnamed

woman who was Igraine's sister.

Gorlois — the Duke of Cornwall and Igerna's husband, the woman whom Uther Pendragon

coveted. Father of Morgan, Morgause, and Elaine.

Gormant — name of Rica's son in old tales.

Goronwy — (gohr-ON-wee) from Welsh gwr "man". Goronwy Owen (1723-1769) was an

18th C. Welsh language renaissance poet; emigrated to the colonies and died in Virginia.

Also Goronw (gohr-ON-oo); Gronw (GROHN-oo).

Gorsedd — "from the mound".

Govan — name of one of Caw's sons in old legends.

Govannon — son of the goddess Donn in old legends; he was a smith-god.

Govynyon — a name from old legends.

Gowerr — "pure".

Gowther — a hero in Arturian tales who tames his savage disposition by penances.

Granwen — name of one of Llyr's sons in legends.

Greid — legendary name of Eri's son.

Greidyawl — obscure name from old tales.

Griffin — (GRIFF-in) from the mythological beast. From Welsh cryf "strong" + udd "lord".

Several medieval rulers bore Gruffudd, a variant.

Griffith — (GRIF-ith) from Welsh cryf "strong" + udd "lord"; possibly also "red-haired".

Gruffudd, Gruffydd.

Griflet — name of one of the first Knights; King Arthur accepted him even though he was

very young.

Gromer — a powerful shapeshifter and magician who captured Arthur in the story of

Gawain and Dame Ragnell.

Gronw Pebr — lover of Blodeuwedd, and rival of Llew.

Gruddyeu — name of Muryel's son in legends.

Gruffen — "fierce lord". Gruffyn.

Guinglain — only legitimate son of Gawain and Lady Ragnall; a Knight of the Round Table,

and killed by Lancelot.

Gusg — legendary name of Achen's son.

Gwalchmei — "Hawk of May" or "hawk of the battle". Legendary name of Gwyar's son.

Gavan, Gaven, Gavin.

Gwalhaved — name of one of Gwyar's sons in old legends.

Gwallawg — name of Llenawg's son in old tales.

Gwallter — Welsh version of Walter, "strong fighter".

Gwarthegydd — name of one of Caw's sons in old legends.

Gwawl — legendary name of Clud's son; at one time betrothed to the goddess Rhiannon

before she married Pwyll.

Gwern — "old". The name of Branwen's son by Irish King Matholwch; the infant was

thrown into a fire and killed by Branwen's half-brother Ennissyen.

Gwevyl — name of Gwastad's son in legends.

Gwilym — (GWIL-im) Welsh version of William.

Gwion Bach — original name of Taliesin.

Gwitart — name of Aedd's son in ancient stories.

Gwrddywall — legendary name of Evrei's son.

Gwres — name of Rheged's son in old tales.

Gwyddawg — name of Menestyr's son in old tales.

Gwyddno — (GWITH-noh) from Welsh gwyd "knowledge" + gno "fame".

Gwydion — (GWID-yon) from Welsh gwyd "knowledge" + -on, divine ending. Gwydion ap

Don was a powerful magician in the Mabinogi. In Welsh, Caer Gwydion (Gwydion's Castle)

is the Milky Way.

Gwydre — name of one of Arthur's sons in old legends.

Gwyglet — name of a hero in the epic The Goddoddin; he fought and died in the battle of

Catreath (Catterick).

Gwyn — (GWIN) from Welsh gwen, gwyn "white, shining, holy". Gwyn ap Nudd was the

leader of the Wild Hunt and the lord of lost souls.

Gwyneira — (gwin-AYR-ah) from Welsh gwyn "shining, holy" + eira "snow".

Gwynn ap Nudd — began as a deity, Lord of the Underworld and leader of the Wild Hunt.

He kidnapped Creiddylad, causing a battle with Gwythyr ap Greidawl, her betrothed. Later,

he was known as King of the Fairies and the Plant Annwn, subterranean fairies. Medieval

tales say the entrance to his kingdom is in Galstonbury Tor.

Gwyr — "from Gower".

Gwythyr — son of Greidyawl in old legends; also the name of the lord of the Upperworld.

Hafgan — (HAHV-gahn) from Welsh haf "summer" + can "song"; male or female name.

Name of an Otherworld deity who annually fights Arawn for rulership of the Underworld.

Heddwyn — (HETH-win) from Welsh hedd "peace" + gwyn "shining, holy". Hedd Wynn was

the bardic name of Ellis Evans (1887-1917), a poet and soldier killed in Flanders during

WWI; and posthumously won the chair at the 1917 Eisteddfod. His life has become a

symbol of the futility of war.

Hefaidd Hen — name of Rhiannon's fahter in ancient legends, he ruled part of the

Underworld.

Heilyn — name of Gwynn's son in old legends.

Hen Beddestyr — legendary name of Erim's son.

Hen Was — "old servant".

Hen Wyneb — "old face".

Heulfryn — (HIIL-vrin) heul "sun" + bryn "hill".

Heulyn — (HIIL-een) "ray of sunshine".

Howell — "remarkable" or "attentive"; "alert one". Howell.

Huw — (HYOO) Welsh version of Hugh, from Old German hugi "intelligence, spirit". Hew,

Hewe, Hu.

Hydd — "deer".

Hywel — (HUH-wel) from Welsh hywel "eminent". Hywel Dda (Hywell the Good) was a

10th C. king of Wales. Made the druids' oral legal tradition into a written code of law.

Anglicized Howell.

Iago — (EE-ah-goh) Welsh version of James, "god's gift" or "supplanter".

Iau — Welsh version of Zeus.

Iddawg — name of Nynyo's son in old legends.

Idris — "eager lord". Idriss, Idriys.

Iestyn — Welsh version of Justin, "one who is just".

Ieuan — (YAY-an) from Latin Johannes. Ieuan is the Welsh version of John, "god is

gracious". Ioan (YOH-uhn), Iwan.

Ifor — Welsh version of a Teutonic name meaning "archer".

Inek — Welsh version of Irvin.

Iolo — (YOH-loh) Nickname for Iowerth. Iolo Morganwg (Iolo or Glamorgan) was the

bardic name of Edward Williams (1747-1826), stonemason, poet, scholar, and initiator of

the National Eisteddfod.

Iona — name of a French king in old legends; also the Celtic name for the Isle of Anglesey

off the northern Wales coast.

Iowerth — (YOH-wayrth) from Norse ior "lord" + Welsh gwerth "value, worth". Used as the

Welsh version of Edward since the Middle Ages.

Irvin — "white river". Irv, Inek, Irving.

Ithel — "generous lord".

Iustig — name of one of Caw's sons in old legends.

Jestin — Welsh version of Justin.

Jones — "son of John". Joenns.

Kai — variant of Cei; possibly derived from a word meaning "fiery", others believe it means

"keeper of the keys". Kay, Kei.

Kane — from a Welsh word for "beautiful".

Keith — "wood-dweller" or "dwells in the woods". Keath, Keithon.

Kelli — "from the wood".

Kelyn — name of one of Caw's sons in old tales.

Kenn — "clear water".

Kent — "white".

Kenyon — "from Ennion's mound".

Kevyn — "from the ridge", or from Irish Gaelic Caoimhin, "gentle, lovable".

Kian — possibly Welsh version of Irish Cian, "ancient". Name of Lugh's father in old

legends.

Kilydd — legendary name of Kelyddon's son.

Kim — "leader".

Kynan — "chief".

Kyndrwyn — legendary name of Ermid's son.

Kynedyr — name of the son of Hetwn in legends.

Kynlas — name of Kynan's son in old tales.

Kynon — name of Clydno's son in ancient tales; possibly a variant of Kynan.

Kynwal — name of one of Caw's sons.

Kynwyl — name of a very early Welsh saint.

Lancelot du Lac — son of King Ban of Benoic in France, Galahad's father, Knight of the

Round Table and an unbeatable warrior. His affair with Queen Guinevere caused the death

of many knights and the destruction of King Arthur's kingdom.

Lavaine — in old Arthurian legend, he was a young Knight and son of Sir Bernard of

Astolat. He was knighted by Lancelot and became one of the greatest Knights of the Round

Table.

Leodegrance — name in old tales given as the King of Cameliard, who was Guinevere's

father.

Lionel — a Knight of the Round Table, cousin to Lancelot, and brother to Bors.

Llacheu — name of one of Arthur's illigitimate sons by Lysanor in ancient legends. Borre,

Boare, Lohot.

Llara — from a word meaning "meek".

Lleu — a Welsh sun god Llew Llaw Gyffes, son of Arianrhod and an unnamed father and

raised by his uncle Gwydion.

Llevelys — legendary name of Beli's son.

Lloyd — "one with gray hair". Loy, Llwyd, Loyde.

Lludd — "from London" or from the god Llud Llaw Ereint (similary to Irish Nuada and

Greek Neptune). Llundein.

Llwch Llawwyanawc — a warrior who went with Arthur to retreive the great cauldron

when it was stolen and taken to Annwn.

Llwybyr — legendary name of one of Caw's sons.

Llwyd — (LHOO-eed) from Welsh llwyd "grey, holy". Lloyd.

Llwydeu — name of Nwython's son in old stories.

Llwyr — legendary nae of the Llwyryon's son.

Llyn — "from the lake".

Llyr — "of the sea"; a Welsh sea and water god, similar to Irish Lir. Listed as father of Bran

and Branwen. Lear.

Llywelyn — (lhu-WEL-en) from Welsh llwy "leader, steerer" + eilun "image". Nicknames

Llelo (LHE-loh) and Llew (LHE-oo), which is also Welsh for "lion". Llewellyn.

Lot — king of Orkney and Lothian and husband of Morgause. Lotha.

Lovel — one of Gawain's illigitimate sons who was killed by Lancelot.

Lug — Welsh version of Luke, "the bringer of light". Luc.

Mabon — "the son"; name of a mysterious child in the Arthurian sagas; he was stolen from

his mother at three days old and imprisoned at Gloucester. His story is told in Culhwch

and Olwen.

Mabsant — legendary name of one of Caw's sons.

Macsen — (MAK-sen) from Latin name Maximus. Maxen Wledig (Lord Maxen) was a 4th C.

Spanish-born general who led the remnants of the Roman army out of Britain to claim the

emperorship and was briefly successful. Maxen.

Madawg — name of Teithyon's son in old legends. Madoc.

Maddock — "generous".

Maddox — "the benefactor's son".

Madoc — (MAH-dog) from British mad "fortunate, lucky". In legend, Madog ap Owain

Gwynedd colonized N. America in the late 12th C.

Mael — legendary name of Roycol's son.

Maelgwn — (MAYL-goon) "prince of the hounds"; from Welsh mael "divine prince" + ci

(cwn) "wolf, hound". Maelgwn Gwynedd was a 6th C. Welsh king.

Maelogan — (may-LOH-gahn) "divine prince"; from Welsh mael "prince" + -on, a divine

ending. Maelon (MAY-lon).

Maelwys — name of Baeddan's son in old tales.

Mallolwch — name of the legendary king of Ireland who married Branwen.

Malvern — "bare hill".

Manawydan — name of sea god Llyr's son; equal to Irish god Manannan mac Lir. He was a

skilled shapeshifter and keppt the Isle of Man and the Isle of Arran under his protection;

and broke the enchantment on Dyfed.

March — (MAHRX) from Welsh march "horse". Name of King Mark in the Welsh version of

the Tristan saga, in which he is known as March ap Meirchion (Horse, Son of Horses). The

horse was a symbol of kingship in Celtic culture. Mark, Marc.

Marrock — a knight who was secretly a werewolf.

Math — (MAHTH) from Celtic math "bear". According to the Mabinogi, Math ap Mathonwy

(MAHTH mahth-ON-oo-ee) was king of N. Wales and a powerful magician; and helped creat

a flower-wife for his great-grandson Llew.

Mawrth — Welsh version of Mars, a Roman god of war.

Medyr — legendary name of Medyredydd's son.

Meical — (MAYK-al) Modern Welsh form of Michael. Older form Mihangel (mi-HAHNG-el);

nickname Meic (MAYK).

Melkin — a pre-Merlin prophet and poet mentioned in the Annals of Glastonbury Abbey.

Menw — name of Teirwaedd's son in old tales.

Mercher — Welsh form of Mercury, Roman messenger of the gods.

Meredith — (me-RED-ith) from mawr "great, big" + udd "lord"; other sources give the

meaning "guardian from the sea". It was also the name of many medieval Welsh princes.

Merlin — "by the sea". the great sorcerer of the Arthurian sagas; his father was from the

Otherworld, his mother was earthly. Legend says he learned all his magic from Nimue (also

known as Morgan, Viviane, Lady of the Lake, and Queen of the Fairies); old legend says he

is guardian of the Thirteen Treasures of Britain that he locked in a glass tower on Bardsey

Island. Welsh tradition says Myrddin still sleeps in a hidden crystal cave. The Welsh name

Myrddin means "hawk".

Meurig — "dark skinned"; Welsh version of Morris or Maurice.

Mil — name of Dugum's son in old tales.

Modred — name of King Arthur's son by Morgause, his half-sister. He was raised with his

half-brothers, the other children of Morgause and Lot. Arthur killed him at the Battle of

Camlan. Mordred.

Moesen — Welsh version of Moses, "from the water".

Mordwywr — "sailor".

Morgan — (MOHR-gahn) from Welsh mor "sea" or mawr "great, big" + can "bright" or cant

"circle" or geni "born". Could mean "big circle", "bright circle", "bright sea", or "sea-born";

or "dwells near the sea". Male or female name. Most famous Morgan is probably Morgan la

Fee, King Arthur's half-sister and famed sorceress. Morcan, Morgant (MOHR-gahnt).

Morgannwg — "from Glamorgan".

Morthwyl — from a word meaning "hammer".

Morvran — name of Tegid's son.

Mostyn — "fortress in a field".

Myrddin — (MUHR-din or MUHR-thin) from British moridunon "sea fortress". Welsh source

of the name is from the sorcerer Merlin.

Naw — name of Seithved's son in legends.

Neb — name of one of Caw's sons.

Nentres — one of eleven kings who revolted against Arthur; he later married Elaine and

became the King's ally.

Nerth — name of Cadarn's son in old tales.

Nerthach — son of Gwawrddur in legend.

Neued — legendary name of Tringad's father.

Newlin — "dwells near the new pool".

Nissyen — (NESS-yen) "lover of peace"; brother of Evnissyen and his total opposite in

morals and temperament. He was also a half-brother to the god Bran.

Nodens — variant of the sea god Llud Llaw Ereint.

Nynnyaw — legendary name of one of Beli's sons.

Odgar — name of one of Aedd's sons.

Ofydd — Welsh version of Ovid, a Roman poet.

Ol — legendary name of Olwydd's son.

Olwydd — "tracker".

Oswallt — Welsh version of Oswald, "strength from god".

Owein — (OH-wayn) from Latin name Eugenius (Eugene) "well- or noble-born"; some

sources list it as "young warrior". Owain, Owen.

Padrig — (PAHD-rig) Welsh form of Padraig (Patrick), "noble", patron saint of Ireland.

Parry — (PAHR-ee) from Welsh ap Harri "son of Harry or Henry".

Pasgen — (PAHS-gen) from Welsh Pasg "Easter".

Pawl — (POWL) Welsh form of Paul, "little".

Pedr — (PEDR) Welsh form of Peter, "rock". Pedran (PED-rahn), Petran (PET-rahn).

Peissawg — name of a king of Brittany in legends.

Pelles — known as the Wounded King of the Grail Castle after he was wounded through

both thighs; his daughter Elaine bore Galahad, Lancelot's son.

Pellinore — brother of Pelles, King of the Isles, and one of the greatest Knights of the

Round Table.

Pellyn — "from the lake's headland".

Pembroke — "headland".

Penn — "from the peak".

Pennar — (PEN-ahr) from Welsh pen "head" + ardd "hill, height".

Penvro — "from Pembroke".

Perceval — name of a Knight of the Round Table. Percival, Parzival.

Peredur — (per-ED-eer) Derivation uncertain, perhaps from Welsh peri "spears" + dur

"hard". Peredur mab Efrawc was the hero of a Welsh Arthurian grail romance.

Powell — "son of Howell"; name of one of the Welsh kings.

Price — "son of Rhys" and "son of the ardent one".

Pryderi — (pra-DAYR-ee) In the Mabinogi, Pryderi was stolen by a monstrous claw on the

night of his birth and deposited in Teyrnon Twrf Fliant's stable. He renamed the child Gwri

Gwallt Euryn (Gwri Golden-Hair) and raised him, until it was clear he was the missing son

of Pwyll and Rhiannon. When returned to his mother, her first words were "I would be

relieved of my care (pryder) if this were true!" So he was renamed Pryderi.

Prydwen — "handsome".

Prys — (PREES) from ap Rhys "son of Rhys". Price.

Puw — Welsh version of Pugh, "son of Hugh".

Pwyll — "son of Howell"; in ancient legends, he was the lord of Dyfed when he met Arawn,

lord of Annwn, and took his place for a year in the Otherworld.

Pyrs — Welsh form of Pierce, "stone" or "rock".

Reese — "ardent one".

Ren — "ruler". Ryn.

Renfrew — "dwells near the still river" or "raven wood". Rhinfrew.

Rhain — (RHIIN) from Welsh rhain "spear, lance". Rhainallt (RHIIN-alht) "hill".

Rheged — legendary name of Gwres' father.

Rhett — "enthusiastic".

Rhionganedd — name of a prince of Ireland in old legends.

Rhisiart — (RHISH-art) Welsh form of Richard, "strong ruler".

Rhobert — Welsh form of Robert, "brilliant, renowned".

Rhodri — (RHOD-ree) from Welsh rhod "circle" + rhi "ruler". Rhodri Fawr (Rhodri the

Great) was an important 9th C. king He was a renowned warrior, as well as the ancestor of

many of the later dynasties of Wales.

Rhun — name of one of Beli's sons.

Rhuvawn — name of Deorthach's son in legends.

Rhyawdd — name of Morgant's son in old tales.

Rhychdir — "from the plow land".

Rhyd — "from the ford".

Rhydderch — (RHUHTH-erx) from Welsh rhi "king" + derchafu "ascending". Rhydderch

Hael (Rhydderch the Generous) was a king of the Old North in the 6th C. He fought

alongside Urien Rheged and Morcant against the incursions of Anglians into the area that

is now southern Scotland.

Rhys — (RHEES) from Welsh rhys "ardor, passion, rash". Reece, Rice, Reis, Riess, Rhett.

Robat — (ROB-at) Welsh form of Robert. Nickname Robyn (ROB-een). The 15th C. Robyn

Ddu (Black Robin) and the 19th C. Robyn Ddu Eryri (Black Robin of Snowdonia) were noted

Welsh poets. Robet.

Romney — "dwells near the curving river". Rumenea.

Sayer — from the word for "carpenter".

Seith — "seven". Saith.

Sel — legendary name of Selgi's son.

Selwyn — (SEL-ween) from Welsh sel "ardor" + gwyn "shining, holy".

Selyf — Welsh version of Solomon, "peace".

Selyv — name of Kynan's son in old legends.

Seren — (SER-en) Welsh word for "star". Sirona, from the same Celtic root, was an ancient

Gaulish goddess of hot springs. Male or female name.

Siam — (SHAM) Welsh form of James.

Siarl — (SHARL) Welsh form of Charles, "manly".

Siawn - name of Iaen's son in old tales.

Siencyn — Welsh version of Jenkin, "god is gracious".

Sinnoch — name of one of Seithved's sons in tales.

Sion — (SHON) Welsh form of John. Sioni (SHON-ee), Sionyn (SHON-een).

Sior — (SHOR) Welsh form of George, "farmer".

Steffan — Welsh form of Stephen, "crowned with laurels".

Sugyn — legendary name of Sugynedydd's son.

Sulien — (SIL-yen) from Welsh sul "sun" + geni "born". Originally the name of a Celtic sun

god. 11th C. Welsh bishop of St. David's named Sulien was reputed to have been the most

learned man in all Wales.

Sulyen — variant of Sulien; and name of one of Iaen's sons in old tales.

Syvwlch — legendary name of Cleddyv Kyvwich's son.

Tad — "father". Tadd.

Taffy — "beloved".

Taliesin — (tahl-YES-in) from Welsh tal "forehead, brow" + iesin "radiant, shining". A 6th C.

poet who composed pems in praise of the heroes Owein, Urien Rheged and others.

Tarrant — variant of Taranis, a thunder and storm god, similar to Jupiter. Tarran, Taryn,

Taren, Terrant.

Tegid Foel — husband of the goddess Cerridwen, their home was under Lake Tegid.

Tegvan — name of Cerridwen's son.

Teilo — (TAY-loh) A 6th C. saint who founded a church at Llandeilo Fawr in Dyfed. After

his death, a dispute arose between the churces of Llandeilo, Llandaf, and Penally on where

Teilo's remains were to be kept. His body miraculously triplicated so that no one would be

left out.

Teithi — name of one of Gwynnan's sons in old tales.

Teregud — name of one of Iaen's sons in old stories.

Teryrnon — (TAYR-non) from Celtic tigernonos "divine prince". In the Mabinogi, Teyrnon

Twrf Fliant was Pryderi's foster father.

Timotheus — Welsh version of Timothy, "honors god".

Tomos — (TOHM-ohs) Welsh version of Thomas, "twin". Nickname Twm (Tom) (TOOM).

Twm Sion Cati (1530-1609) was an antiquarian, poet and outlaw, and known as the Welsh

Robin Hood.

Tor — natural son of King Pellinore, who was raised by a cowheard. The truth of his

ancestry came out when he asked to be a Knight of the Round Table.

Trahern — "incredibly strong" or "strong as iron".

Trefor — (TREV-ohr) from Welsh tref "home, town" + mor "great". Name used since the

10th C.

Tremayne — "lives in the house by the rock". Tremen.

Trent — "dwells near the rapid stream". Trynt.

Trevelyan — "from Elian's home".

Tringad — legendary name of Neued's son.

Tristan — from an Old Welsh word for "noisy one"; "clamor". Confused with Tristram;

Tristan is mentioned as a Knight of the Round Table in the Arthurian sagas.

Tristram — "sorrowful". The tragic tale of Tristram (Tristan in Arthurian legend) and

Isolde; he was the son of King Meliodas and Queen Elizabeth of Lyonnesse and went to his

uncle King Mark in Cornwall after his country sand under the ocean. There, he fell in love

with Isolde, his uncle's wife, and caused a great scandal. He served King Arthur for a time,

but went to Brittany where he was mortally wounded.

Tudur — (TID-ir) from Celtic teutorigos "king of the tribe". Tewdwr ap Giffri was a 10th C.

king of Brecon. Tudur Aled was a renowned Welsh poet of the early Tudor era. Tudor (TID-

or), Twedwr (tee-OO-door).

Twrgadarn — "tower of strength".

Tywysog — "prince".

Uchdryd — name of Erim's son in ancient tales.

Urien — traditional name of the king of the land of Gorre who was associated with the

Round Table. He married Morgan le Fay, their son was Owain.

Vaddon — "from Bath".

Vaughn — "small one". Vychan.

Wadu — name of one of Seithved's sons in lengends.

Waljan — "chosen".

Weyland — a god of smiths, said to have made Excalibur. His name is still associated with

several sites in Wales and Britain.

Wmffre — (OOM-free) Welsh form of Humphrey, "friend of the Huns". Wmmffre.

Wren — "ruler".

Wynn — "handsome", "fair, white one" or "light complexion". Wyn.

Yale — "fertile upland".

Yestin — Welsh form of Justin.

Ysberin — name of Fflergant's son in old tales.

Ysgawyn — name of Panon's son in old tales.

Yspadaden Pencawr — named as the father of Olwen in the story Culhwch and Ol.