Old Irish Names, Nickname & Aliases - Cheat Sheet

Discover Irish boys’ and girls’ names, their nicknames, and translations in our handy cheat sheet of aliases to help you trace your ancestors.

If you’ve been tracing your Irish family history, you may have noticed some puzzling name changes along the way. Maybe your ancestor appears in one record with one name, but in others, a completely different first name or nickname shows up. So if you have been asking yourself Did My Ancestor Change Name? this cheat sheet is for you.

The Irish given names that cause the most confusion in family research are often of old Gaelic Irish pre-Christian origin. When a child came to be baptised, Irish priests traditionally gave them a Latin “Christian name” for the church record. Later, that Latin alias often became the basis for the English name your Irish ancestor used in official documents.

For example, someone called Brian (Bryan) at home might have been baptised as Bernardus in Latin, and that informed why he used Bernard after immigrating. Meanwhile, another well-meaning priest might translate Bryan as Barnabus, so the same person could appear under Barnaby in a marriage record transcription or Barney in a Census record. Arrrrgh!

This is why your ancestor might seem to vanish — they’re still there, just recorded under different names. To find them, always search for all possible Latin and English versions of their Gaelic name.

I explin this in greater detail in my article → Did My Ancestor Change Name?

Wondering if an Irish nickname might actually stand for several different given names? You’re not alone - and you’ve come to the right spot! Here are your cheat sheets for unavelling the trickiest old Irish boy and girl names:

Old Irish Boys’ Names Cheat Sheet

Gaelic Name	Latin Form (as in church records)	Common Anglicised / Nicknames	Meaning / Origin Notes
Aodh, Aedh, Aedán, Ádhán	Hugo, Hugonis, Hugones, Edanus	Hugh, Hubert, Herbert, Aidan, Aiden, Hughie, Huey, Aden, Hewdie, Huedy, Hiúdaí.	Means “fire”; a favored name among important Irish clans including O’Connors, O’Neills, and O’Donnells.
Aibhistín, Augustín	Augustinus, Augustus	Augustine, Austin, Gus, Gusty, Gussie, Gussy, Gusty	Irish form of Augustine, linked to saintly heritage; Norse form Oistín also used.
Aonghas, Aonghus	Antonius, Anthoni	Anthony, Angus, Aengus, Aonas, Aeneas, Eneas, Ennis, Enos, Gus, Anton, Ant	Means “one choice” or “excellent strength”; popular in Ireland and Scotland, borne by several saints.
Airt	Arturius, Artorius	Art, Arthur, Artúr, Artie, Arty, Addie, Ady	Means noble or generous; ancient Irish name used among multiple clans.
Beairtle, Bartlí / Partalán, Partalón	Bartholomaeus	Bartholomew, Bartle, Bart, Bartie, Bertie, Bartley, Bartly, Batt, Bat, Barty, Barthow., Bartow., Partholón	Derived from the biblical Bartholomew, with many variants.
Brian	Bernardus, Barnabus, Boeticus	Bryan, Bernard, Barnaby, Barney, Brien	Means “high” or “noble,” famously borne by the high king Brian Boru.
Ciarán	Kyrianus, Kieranus	Kieran, Ciar, Kieron, Kerne, Cairn, Kierrin, Kyran, Kieren, Cairan, Kernan	Means “little dark one”; name of early Irish saints.
Conchobhar, Conchubhar, Conchúr	Cornelius, Constantinus	Constantine, Conor, Connor, Con, Conn, Connie, Conny, Nialus	Means “lover of hounds”; classic Irish royal name.
Diarmaid, Diarmuid	Jeremias, Ieremias, Hieremias/ Dermitius, Demetrius, Dermicius	Dermot, Darby, Jeremiah, Jerome, Jerry, Derry,	Traditional Gaelic name with many historic bearers.
Domhnall, Dónall	Danielus, Danieli, Donaldus, Donatius, Donallus, Donatus	Donald, Daniel, Donal, Dan, Danny, Donny, Donnie, Don, Donie, Donat	Means “world-mighty.”
Donnacha, Donncha, Donnchadh, Donnchad, Donnchadha, Dúnchad	Donaldus, Duvenaldus Dyonisius, Dionisius, Dionysius	Denis, Donncha, Donagh, Donough, Donaghy Donny, Donnie, Dinnis, Dinny, Dinnie, Den, Don, Donie, Donal,	Common Gaelic name often rendered as Denis in records.
Éamon, Éamonn, Éanna	Edmundus, Eduardus	Edmond, Edmund, Enda, Edward, Edwin, Ned, Neddy, Ed, Eddie, Eddy, Edm., Edw.	Gaelic form of Edmund, meaning “wealthy protector.”
Eoghan, Eoin	Eugenius, Eugenus, Oenus, Owenus	Eugene, Owen, Gene	Means “born of the yew tree.”
Fergal, Feargal	Furgallum, Fergallus, Fernaldus, Ternaldus	Farrell, Farrill, Farrelle, Fergal, Ferrigal, Farrigal, Fregal, Fergie, Fergy, Ferdie, Fardy, Ferdinand, Virgil, Farage.	Means “man of valor,” with many regional spelling variants.
Féilim, Feidhlimidh	Fedelmius, Fedlimius, Fedlimidius, Fidelmidius, Fidelmius	Felim, Phelim, Phelimy, Felimy Pheily, Felix, Phillip, Phil, Philly, Phelen, Phelan / Pilib, Phalim, Phelam,Phelem, Pheliam, Phelem, Phelm, Phelum.	Medieval Gaelic name often Anglicised in multiple ways.
Flann, Flannán, Fitheal, Fithcheallach	Flannus, Flannanus, Florentius	Flan, Florence, Flannan, Florrie, Florry, Flor	Flan (and its diminutive Flannán) means “ruddy”.
Lorcán	Lorcanus, Laurentius	Lorcan, Lawrence, Laurence, Larry	Means “little fierce one.”
Maodhóg	Maidocus	Aidan, Moses, Mogue, Aedan, Ayden, Aodan, Aydin, Aydan, Adyn, Aidyn, Aedyn, (see also Aogán, Aodhagán, Aodhgan).	Maodhóg is a variant of Aodhán. The M represents ‘Mo’ meaning my.
Maolsheachlainn, Maeleachlain	Malachi, Malachius	Melachlin, Malachy, Lacky, Malachey, Malichy, Malicky, Mallachy, Malochy, Mallaghan, Millican, Michelan, Lackey, Lachey, Myles, Miles, Milo Maoileachlainn, Melaghlin, Loughlin, Laughlin, Lanty	Maolsheachlainn is the name of a disciple or servant of St Secundinus.
Niall, Néil, Niallán	Joannes Neallus, Niallanus, Nigellus	Neil, Neal, Nicholas, Niallus, Niellus, Nellus, Nei, Nigel	Means “champion” or “noble knight.”
Raghnall, Rághnall	Raganaldus, Reginaldus Randlphus	Reginald, Ronald, Raonall, Randal, Randall, Randolph, Ralph, Raph
Tadhg	Thaddeus, Thadius, Timotheus, Timotheus	Timothy, Tim, Thady, Thade, Theady, Thaddy, Tade, Teague, Teige	Means “poet” or “philosopher

Old Irish Girls' Names Cheat Sheet

Gaelic Name	Latin Form(s)	Common Anglicised / Nicknames	Origin / Meaning Notes
Ailbhe, Oilbhe	Albea	Alvy, Elva, Olive, Olivia, Bea	Means "bright," "white," "fair," "rock."
Aifric	Affrica, Africa	Aphria	Means "benefit"
Áine	Anna, Annae, Annam	Anne, Ann, Hannah, Honny, Nannie, Nanny, Nancy, Nance, Nanno, Nano, Nan, Naney, Nannie.	Means "brightness," "radiance," or "glow."
Aislinn, Aisling	Ester	Esther, Ashling, Hester, Ash, Essie	Means "dream" or "vision"
Aithche	Atia, Acia	Alicia, Atty	Aithche (pronounced AH-hee) is sometimes interpreted as "night" or "shadow"
Aoibheann, Aibfinn	Aibfinnia	Eavan, Yvonne, Evan, Evie, Evie, Evelyn, Eveline, Evelina	Gaelic name meaning "pleasant radiance"
Aoife	Eva	Eva, Eve, Aifa, Evie, Evey, Evy	Gaelic form meaning "life" or "beauty"
Athracht	Attracta	Attracta	Meaning uncertain, linked to an early Irish saint
Bean Mhumhan	—	Benvon; Nicknames: Benna, Benie, Bency	Traditional Gaelic name
Bean Mhidhe	—	Benvy, Benna, Benie, Bency, Benery, Benry	Means "Lady of Meath."
Béibhinn	—	Bevin, Vivian, Vivienne, Babe, Baby	Means "fair lady"
Blinne, Bluinse	Moninna	Blanche, Moninne	Early Irish saint's name
Bláth, Bláthnaid, Bláthnait	Florentia, Flora	Florence, Flo, Flossie, Flors	Means "flower" or derived from.
Bríd	Bidelia, Brigida, Phidelia	Bridget, Brigid, Delia, Breeda, Biddy, Breege, Bride, Bridie, Bessie, Dina, Dilly, Dillie, Beesy, Dina, Bedina, Cordelia	Saint Brigid’s name, very common in Ireland
Caoilfhionn	Coelfinnia	Keelin, Keelie, Keely, Keeleen	Means "slender and fair"
Caoimhe	Pulcheria	Keavy, Keavah, Keevie, Keevy	Means "gentle, beautiful"
Clíona	—	Cleena, Cliona, Cliodhna, Clionadh, Cliodna, Kleena	Mythological Irish name
Dairíne	Darina	Darene, Dareen, Darry, Darrie, Dereenie, Reena, Rina, Reeny	Gaelic personal name
Damhnait	Dymphna	Devnet, Downet, Dymphna	Means "little doe" or "little fawn",
Dearbháil / Deirbhile	Dervilia	Derval; Nicknames: Dervy	Ancient Gaelic name
Doireann	Dorinnia, Darina	Dorothy, Darina, Doreen, Dora, Dot, Dotty	Means "ash tree"
Etáin	Etania	Etaun, Etty	means “jealousy” or “passion.”
Éadaoin	Edwina	Aideen, Edwina	Means "little fire"
Eithne	Ethnea	Ethna, Enya, Annie	Ancient Irish name meaning "kernel" or "grain"
Fionnuala	Finguala, Finola	Finola, Fionna, Flora, Nuala, Penelope, Penny Nappy, Nappa, Nell, Nelly	From the mythology of the Children of Lir
Gobnait	Abigail, Gobnata	Abigail, Gail, Abbi, Abbie, Abby, Abina, Bena, Bina, Deborah, Debbie, Debby, Gobinet, Gobnet, Gubbie, Gubby, Libby, Nabbie, Nabby, Webbie, Webby	Means "she who gives help" a saint.
Gráinne	Grania, Gratia	Grace, Gertrude, Gertie, Gerry, Jerry, Trudy, Trudie, Grissel, Grizel, Grizzel	Gaelic for "love"; mythological Irish heroine
Márgrég	Margarita	Margaret, Maggie, Molly, Minnie, Greta	An early medieval form of Margaret meaning "pearl"
Meadhbh, Méabh	Bena	Maud, Bina, Mabel, Margery, Marjory, Madge, Méibhinn	Legendary queen from "The Cattle Raid of Cooley"
Muireann	Murinnia	Morinn, Marion, Madge, Mo	Muireann (pronounced Mwir-in) means means "sea white" or "sea blonde."
Niamh	Nabitha	Neve, Neeve, Neve, Niav, Neevy, Ninnie, Ninny, Niney, Nevia, Niva, Neeves, Nives, Niveen, Neeveen, Nivin	Means "brightness" or "radiance"
Órfhlaith, Órla	Orlata	Orla	Means "golden princess" like Goldilocks
Ríonach	Regnacia, Regina	Regina, Reena, Reenie, Reeny, Reg, Ina	Means "regal" or "queen-like"
Sadhbh, Sabha	Sabia, Sabina	Sarah, Sarah, Sive, Sabina, Sophia, Sally, Sal, Sophie, Sophy, Sarah, Sibby, Sibbie, Bee, Bina, Sadie	Means "sweet, good"
Sorcha	Sorcha	Clara, Sarah, Sorca, Sorsha, Sally, Sal, Sadie	Means "bright, radiant"
Treasa, Treise	Teresia	Teresa, Theresa,Tressa, Trassa, Toireasa Tressy, Treesy, Terry, Tess, Tessie	Treise (pronounced Tresh-a) means "strength" or "power."
Úna	Una	Agnes, Aggie Winifred, Winnie Oonagh, Oona, Unity	Gaelic name meaning "lamb"

How to Use This Cheat Sheet

When searching Irish genealogy records, try all the variants—Gaelic, Latin, and Anglicised/nicknames—since your ancestor may appear under any of these.
Latin forms commonly appear in church records—especially baptisms and marriages— but may inform the English name your ancestor used.
Be mindful of regional spelling variants and nicknames; Irish names were highly flexible, especially in the 19th century. More about this in my article → Did My Ancestor Change Name?
Combine these with surname variations to improve your chances of uncovering elusive ancestors.
Common given names like James, John, Michael, Thomas, William, Catherine, Eileen, Eleanor, Honora, and Joanne were Christian names introduced to Ireland by the Normans, rather than old Gaelic Irish names (so they are not included in this cheat sheet).
Join my free community to ask questions about other Irish first names HERE.

Happy hunting!

Irish ancestry research doesn't have to be as confusing as they say. The first key step is to get up close and personal with your ancestors aliases so you can find them on record faster and easier.

That is why I have broken it down into 4 unmissable Can-Do Steps in my latest workbook & mini-course:

Click here to check out my special introductory offer → [ Get Started for Success with Irish Ancestors ]

Categories: : Irish Names