Irish Baby Boy Names A through E

Irish Baby Name	Irish Pronunciation	Anglicized Version	Name meaning and origin
Aedan, Aodhán	AY-den	Aidan	Derived from the name Aed meaning "fire" and would imply "born of fire." It became a popular name in honour of St. Aidan of Iona (c. 630 AD) who founded a famous monastery on the island of Lindisfarne which he used as a base to evangalize the North of England. In art Aidan is usually represented as a stag, a reference to the legend that he saved a deer that was being hunted by making it invisible.
Aengus, Aonghus	AYNG-guhs	Angus	From aon "excellent" and gus "strength, vigor." Aengus was the god of love and of youth who was the son of the goddess Bo and the god Dagda.
Ailbe	ALL-bay	Alby	Derived from an old Irish word meaning "white," St. Ailbe (6th century) was associated with the monastery at Emly in County Tipperary. The local people requested that he bless a river that had no fish. St. Ailbe did and that very day the river was filled with an abundance of fish. The people built five churches in St. Ailbe's honor at the best fishing spots along the river.
Ailill	ALL-yill		Derived from the Irish ailleacht "beauty." Ailill was the young husband of Queen Maebh, chosen by her because he was "a man without meaness, fear or jealousy, a match for my own greatness." His argument with Maebh over who had the greater herd of cattle led to The Cattle Raid of Cooley.
Alroy	AL-roy	Alroy	From the Irish word rua meaning "red" sometimes used to name a red-headed child.
Ardan	ARE-dawn	Ardan	Derived from the Irish word ardanach meaning "high aspiration." Ardan was one of the sons of Usna who helped Deirdre escape to Scotland so that she would not be forced to marry King Conchobhar MacNessa.
Bradan	BRAY-dawn	Braden	Derived from the Irish word bradan meaning "a salmon" and the bradan feasa, the "Salmon of Knowledge" is central to the tales of Fionn MacCool.
Breandan	BREN-dawn	Brendan	There are at least seventeen saints who bear the name but St. Breandan the Navigator is probably the best known. Tradition has it that he was born in County Kerry, set sail in a small boat with a group of monks in the early 6th century, visited an island inhabited by birdmen, rode on the back of a whale and was the first European to set foot on the shores of the Americas, nearly a thousand years before Columbus. St. Breandan is venerated in Ireland as the patron saint of seafarers and travelers.
Brian	BREE-awn	Brian	From brigh "high, noble, strong." In honor of the most revered High King of Ireland, Brian Boru who united all of Ireland against the vikings and finally defeated an army of invading Vikings at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. He died in this battle at the age of 76.
Cáemgen	kwee-VEEN	Kevin	From the Old Irish caem, meaning 'beautiful' + gein, meaning 'birth'. This is a classic Irish baby boys name, although the anglicized version is more well-known. June 3 is the feast day of Saint Cáemgen, who founded the great Glendalough monastery in County Wicklow during the 7th century. Modern Irish version: Caoimhín.
Carrick, Carrig	CARE-ick	Craig	From carraig "a rock."
Cathal, Cahal	KA-hal	Charles	cath "battle" and all "mighty" and signifies "a great warrior." On his way home from a visit to Rome (c. 666 AD) St. Cathal was asked to fill the vacant see of Taranto in southern Italy and served as it"s prelate until his death. Known as St. Cathaldus, he is still venerated in the area and a fresh water stream in the bay is known as "l'annello di san Cathaldo," "the ring of St. Cathaldus," as it marks the place where he is believed to have stilled a storm by throwing his ring into the water. He was the patron saint of the Italian army during WWI.
Cearul	KAR-ul	Carl, Carroll	From the Irish word cearbhall which means "fierce in battle."
Cian,Kian	KEY-an	Keane	From cian "ancient, enduring." According to Irish legends, Cian was the father of Lugh, and the son of Dian Cécht, the god of healing of the Tuatha De Dánaan.
Ciarán	KEER-an	Kieran	From the Old Irish ciar, meaning 'dark' + the diminutive suffix an. This is a very popular Irish baby boy name, greatly in honor of Saint Ciarán, who founded the Clonmacnoise monastery. His feast day is September 9.
Coinneach	KON-ick	Kenneth, Kenny	From the Old Irish male name Cainnech, which is derived from cáin, meaning 'good and beautiful'. The Aghaboe monastery in County Laois was founded by Saint Coinneach, along with many other monasteries throughout Ireland and Scotland. His feast day is celebrated October 11.
Colm	KULL-um	Callum	Derived from the Latin columba, meaning 'dove'. This is a classic Irish baby boy name, meaning "dove of the church", in honor of the 6th century Saint Colm Cille (Columba), who was one of the most highly regarded saints in Irish history. Saint Colm Cille was born into the royal Uí Neill clan in Donegal. But after he allegedly copied a manuscript without the owner's permission, he was banished to Scotland. He is credited with converting the pagan Scottish kings to Christianity and founded the great monastery of Iona. His feast day is celebrated June 9.
Conaire	KAW-ni-ree		Derived from the Old Irish cú (con), meaning 'wolf, hound' + aire, meaning 'landowner'. This Irish baby boy name is primarily associated with the hero of the story, The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel, High King Conaire Mór (Big Conaire). According to legend, he was the # son of a princess and a bird-man, and was forbidden to hunt birds.
Conall	KAWN-all		From the Old Irish cú (con), meaning 'wolf, hound'.
Cormac	KAWR-mac		Cormac was the name of several bishops, saints, and kings, including the ancestor of the O'Neill family, legendary High King of Ireland, Cormac Mac Art.
Diarmuid	DEER-mit	Dermot	According to Irish folklore, Diarmaid was one of Finn mac Cumaill's warriors. Legend has it that he was blessed with a mark on his face which caused maidens to immediately fall head over heels in love with them as soon as they saw him.
Dillon	DILL-un	Dylan	From dealan "a flash of lightning" or it may come from an Irish word for "faithful, loyal." A common surname it is the Irish form of the Welsh name "Dylan."
Domnall	DOH-nal	Donald	From the Old Irish domun, meaning 'world' + gal, meaning 'ardor and valor'.Five High Kings of Ireland shared this name, including Domnall Ilchelgach (Dónal of the Many treacheries), who was the ancestor of the MacLoughlin and the O'Neill families.
Donnchadh	DOH-nuh-xa	Donagh	From the Old Irish donn, meaning 'brown, or chief' + cath, meaning 'battle'. The legendary hero Brian Boru's son was King Donnchad Donn, who died in 1064. It is also a traditional Irish baby boy name in the O'Brien family.
Dubhlainn	DOVE-lin	Doolin	From dubh "black" and lan "blade, sword" means "black sword." Dubhlainn loved the fairy queen and legendary harpist Aoibhell who gave him her cloak of invisibility to wear in battle.
Éamon	AY-mon	Edmond	Is the Irish form of Old English ead "rich" + mund "guardian", and implies "guardian of the riches." In more recent times the name has been given to honor Eamon De Valera who was President of Ireland for 14 years, the maximum allowed, from 1959 to 1973.
Eoghán	OHN		From the Old Irish éo, meaning 'yew' + gein, meaning 'birth'. This Irish baby boy name was shared by several early saints and kings. One of the most celebrated Ulster heroes was named Eoghán mac Damthacht. On August 23, the Irish celebrate the feast day of Saint Eoghán, who was a 6th century bishop of Tyrone.

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