Top Celtic Baby Names

The languages spoken then survive today in several forms and Celtic names are popular not only in those areas but in the United States as well.

Modern-day Celtic languages are Irish, Welsh, Breton, Scottish Gaelic, Cornish and Manx. These languages are quite unlike English and have unique pronunciations that don't come easily to non-native speakers. This has led to the Anglicization of many names of Celtic origins -- you  may be familiar with the name Aiden, but you might not know that it can trace its linguistic roots to the ancient Gaelic name Aed, whose modern form is Aodh!

We've chosen original Celtic names for you to peruse that are easy to pronounce while at the same time unique and a little different from what you may be familiar with. We've provided pronunciations when necessary as well as the meaning of each name, some of which are straight from legend and lore.

Enjoy!

Celtic baby names for boys

Aengus: This is the Irish Gaelic form of the name Angus and means "one choice."

Aodh: (pronounced "ee"): This means "fire" and is the name of the Celtic sun god.

Blain: Of Gaelic origin, this was the name of a Celtic saint from the 6th century.

Caradoc: (pronounced "ka rad ok"): Meaning "love," this is a new spelling of an ancient Celtic name Caradog.

Cathal: (pronounced "ko hal"): This name means "battle rule."

Donaghy: This Celtic boy's name means "strong fighter."

Ennis: Another version of the name Angus, this also means "one choice."

Eoghan: (pronounced "yew en"): This means "youth, born of yew." Anglicized form of this name is Owen.

Gildas: Meaning "serves God," this name has Celtic roots.

Kimball: This Celtic name means "war leader."

Lenus: This was the name of the Celtic god of healing.

Moore: Meaning "dark skinned," this name has French, Celtic and Middle English roots.

Murrow: This Celtic baby boy name means "sea warrior."

Niall: The source of the name Neil, this means "champion" and was the name of a famous Celtic king of Ireland.

Pembroke: This boy's name means "bluff, headland."

Rankin: A common surname in both Scotland and Ireland, this means "little shield."

Tremain: This Celtic baby boy's name means "town built with stone."

Celtic baby names for girls

Aeron: A Welsh name, this was the Celtic goddess of battle.

Aine: Meaning "happiness, brillant," this name is of Gaelic and Celtic origin.

Betha: This Celtic name means "life."

Cymbeline: The title of a Shakespeare play, this means "sun lord."

Deirdre: Meaning "broken hearted," this name comes from Celtic legend.

Enid: This name means "soul, life" and is of Welsh origin.

Epona: This was the name of of the Celtic horse goddess.

Innogen: Meaning "maiden," this name is the source of the Irish name Imogen.

Maeve: This Celtic name means "tall, fair, carrying an iron sword."

Melvina: Meaning "slender, delicate," this name is a Celtic variation of the names Malva and Melva.

Orla: This name is of Irish, Gaelic and Celtic origins and means "golden queen."

Pandra: This Celtic name means "chief dragon."

Sabrina: This was the name of a Celtic girl from Welsh mythology.

Sirona: This was the name of a Celtic goddess of healing.

Ula: This name means "wealthy, gem of the sea."

More From SheKnows Explorer

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed