I have studied many old Irish genealogical manscripts and nearly all have a section on first names. While first names do not carry the same weight as surnames, nevertheless they are fun and always interesting. So if want to choose an old Irish girls name, there are plenty here listed for you.
Ancient Irish Female Names and There Changes
The Irish names of women have been much metamorphosed, and many of the most curious entirely long rejected.
The following is a list of the most ancient Irish Girls first names, these are compiled and merged from the the following two books.
1.) Rev. Patrick Woulfe, Sloinnte Gaedheal is Gall: Irish names and surnames (1923) pages 52-54
2.) The Topographical poems of John O’Dubhagain and Giolla Naomh O’Huidhrin (1862) pages 59-62 this list is also based on the First names listed in the Ban-Seanchas or “History of Remarkable Women” – Ancient Yellow Book of Lecan Folio 193.
Popular Irish names circa 1930
1. Aine – Hannah
2. Brigid – Bridie no longer popular
3. Finola – Nuala
4. Grainne – Grace
5. Lassarina now obsolete
6. Meadhbh – Meave
7. More now Obsolete
8. Sidhbh – Sive
9. Sorcha – Sorca
10. Una no longer popular
Popular Irish Names Presently not in any particular order:
Ciarra, Aoibhe, Aoife, Tara, Niamh, Mollie, Orla, Sorca, Aine, Nessa, Megan, Brona
List of Ancient Irish Girls First Names: Irish – English
A
Abigail, Abaigeal, Abaigh, Gobnait – Abbie, Abbey, Abby
Afric, Africa – Aifric, Aphria
Agatha – Agata
Aghna – Ina
Aignéis – Agnes also Úna and Mór
Aibhlín, Eibhlín – Aileen, Eveleen, Evelyn
Albhin – Alvin – Alphin.
Alastriona – Alastriona, Alexandra
Ailis, Ailís, Eilís, Eilíse – Alice
Ailidh, Alaidh – Alley
Áine, Ánna, Anna – Anna, Anne, Hannah
Aingeal – Angela, Angel
Ailse – Elsha
Allsún – Allison
Ailbhe, Ollbhe – Alvy, Elva
Allma
Aimilíona – Amelina
Aisling, Aislinn – Esther
Annscás, Stéise – Anastasia
Annábla, Náible, Iribéal, Sibéal – Annabel
Annabella – Arabella, Bella
Aoibheann, Aoibhne – Eavan, Aevin, Ameona
Aoife, Eva
Aobhnait – Ena, Enat, Eny
Athracht – Attracta
Aithche – Atty
B
Baibín, Báb, Bairbre, Báirbre – Bab, Babe, Barbara, Barbary
Bríghid, Bríghide, Bríghdín – Breeda, Bride, Bridget, Brigid, Beesy. Biddy, Bidina, Bidelia, Birdie, Dillie, Delia, Dina
Bardubh – Black Haired
Bebhail, Bevill – woman of prosperity.
Bébhinn – Vivian, Benvin
Bean Mhumhan, Bean Mhidhe – Benvon, Benvy
Bláthnaid – Florence
Bláth – Fionnghuala – Flora
Blinne, Bluinse – Blanche
Brigh, Brí – Bree
C
Cacht – Cat
Cáit – Kate
Caitlín – Kathleen
Caitríona, Cathraoine, Caitrín – Catherine, Kitty
Cáitín, Tríona, Traoine – Katie
Caiti – Katty, Kitty
Caoimhe – Keavy
Caoilfhionn – Keelin
Ceanngorm – Fair haired
Cearra – Ciarra - Kiara.
Ciannait – Keena, Keenat, Kinnat
Cochrand – Corrand – Corra
Cobhfhaila – Covla – Victory.
Coca.
Corcar, Red
Creidh – Crea
Cristíona – Christina
D
Dabhnait, Damhnait – Devnet, latinized Dymphna, Downat, Downa
Dearbhail – Derval
Derbhforgaill – Derforla, the true oath, latinized Dervilia.
Dianimh and Dinimh.
Dechter
Deirdre, alarm.
Doireann – Dorothy, Dolly, Dorren
Dubhchobhlaith, Duv-Covla, black victory.
Dubhessa – Duvessa
Duinsech – Dunsha
Dunfhlaith – Dunlah
E
Éadaoin – Edwina
Earnait – Ernet
Eibhlín – Eileen, Ellen, Helen, Ellie, Lena
Eilíonóir, Eileanóra, Léan – Eleanor, Eleanora
Eithne – Inny, Enya, Ethna, Etney
Elbrigh – Elvery
Eimher, Emer – Emerina
Eilís, Eilíse, Iseabal, Isebéal, Sibéal – Elizibeth, Eliza, Bessie, Betsy, Betty
Eimíle – Emily
Eri – Erry
Eistir – Esther
Essa
Euginia
Eva – Aoife
F
Fainche, Proinnséar – Fanny, Frances
Fiabhnait – Feena, Fina, Feenat
Faoiltigheanna – Whiltierna
Fionnghuala, Bláth – Flora, Finola
Fedilmi – the ever good
Finbil – White blossom
Findelbh – Fair blossom
Finnabhor – of the fair lids
Flanna – the red cheeked
G
Gelges
Gemlorg
Gnathat – gnat
Gormfhlaith – Gormley
Gráinne – Grace, Gertrude, Gertie
Gobnait – Abina, Abaigh, Debby, Deborah, Gobinet, Gobnet, Gubby, Webby, Webbie
H
Hilde – Hilda, Hildy
I
íde – Ida, Ita
Ireabal, Iribéal
L
Labaoire – Louisa, Lucy
Lann – Lanny – Sword
Lassair – Flame
Lasairfhíona – Lassarinna
Lerthan
Líle, Lil – Lelia, Lilly, Lily
Lithan
Ligach – Pearl
Luanmhaisi – Luannessa – Beautiful Moon child
Luighreach – Lucy
M
Máda, Meadhbh – Maud
Máible – Mabel/Meave
Máighdlín, Madailéin – Madeline, Mandy
Mairsil, Mairsele – Marcella
Máirghréad, Muirghéad, Maighréad – Margaret, Maggie
Máille, Máirín, Mallandh, Máilti, Máilse – Molly
Máiréad, Máraodh, Muiréad, Muráid – Margaret
Máire, Muire*, Mór – Mary, Maria, More, Moira
Marta, Mór – Martha, More
Maitilde – Matilda
Maiti – Matty
Meadhbh, Merdhbhín, Máda, Nábla, Máille, Máible – Meave, Mabel, Margery, Madge, Maud, Mabbina
Maolmaiden – morning child
Mída – Meeda
Mona, Muadhnait – Mona
Mongfinn – Mongfinn
Moncha – Monica – Moya
Móre – More, Martha
Móirín, Máirín – Moreen, Maureen, May
Murgheal – Murel, Murgella
Muireann, Muirainn, Muirrinn – Marion, Morrin, Muirenn
N
Nábla, Náible – Nabla, Mable/Maeve
Neans, Nainseadh – Nancy, Nan, Nance
Neasa – Nessa
Neill, Neilli, Eibhlín – Nell, Nellie
Nest – Nes
Niamh – effulgence – bright and holy spirit
Nóra, Onóra, Nora, Norah, Nanno,
Nóirín, Siobhán – Nonie
Nuala, Fionnghuala – Nuala, Nabby, Penny, Penolope
O
Oilbhe – Olive
Orfhlaith – Orla – Golden One
Ornat, Odharnait – Orna
P
Pal, Pailr, Paili – Poll, Polly
Peig, Peigí – Peggy, Peg
Proinnséar, Fainche – Fanny, Francis
R
Rathnait – Renny
Reailta – Realta
Ríoghnach – Regina
Richeal – Rachael
Róis, Róise, Róisín – Rose, Rosheen
Ronath – Rona
S
Sadhbh, Saidhbhín – Sabia, Sabina, Sophy, Sophia
Sadhbh – Sive, Sally
Saraidh – Sarah, Sally
Selbhlaith – Selvala
Séarlait – Charlotte
Seósaimhthín, Siobáin – Josephine
Siún, Siobhán, Siubhbán, Sósandh, Sósanna – Susan, Susanna, Joan, Joanna,
Síle – Sheila, Sheela, Selia, Sorcha, Sibby, Jude, Judy, Judith, Julia, July
Sisile – Cecelia, Cecily, Celia
Sinéad, Sineaid, Sine – Jane, Jannet, Jenny, Sheana
Sláine – Slany
Sorcha – Sarah
Sibéal – Sybil
T
Temhaira – Tara
Talilath – Tallia
Tilde – Tilda
Tindi – Tinndy – shy
Treasa, Treise, Toiréasa – Teresa, Tessie, Tracy
Traoine, Triona – Trina
Tuathfhlaith – Tuala
U
Uailsi – Ullcee – Proud/Gentl
Ulladh – Ulla
Uchdelbha – Ucdevla
Unchí – Uncy
Uná – Una, Unity, Uny, Winny, Winnie, Winifred
Ursula – Ursula
