15 Irish names that are technically for boys, but perfect for girls

We can’t blame people for assuming these Irish names for boys are girl names; to those unfamiliar with Irish pronunciations, they could very well sound like girl names!

So, while they are still absolutely perfect names for boys, we think some would be so charming on a baby girl.

In a world where girls are happily called Shane, James, and Blake, and where names like Charlie, Bobby, and Alex are perfectly acceptable for any gender, we think these Irish names traditionally given to boys would suit girls, too.

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Ailbhe

This gorgeous-sounding name is pronounced al-va and can alternatively be spelt Alva (Anglicised version). It means ‘light’ or ‘white’ or ‘rock,' from the Irish word ail.

Blain 

A Gaelic name that’s popular in Scotland, Blain means ‘slender.' We think it’s a cool alternative to the popular unisex name, Blake.

Dáire

Pronounced da-ra, this name can also be spelt Daire, without the fada, Dara or Daragh. It means ‘oak tree’ (from the Irish word for oak, doire) or ‘fertile.'

Éanna

This name is pronounced either ay-na or enna. It means bird-like and comes from the Irish word for bird, éan. A lovely Irish slant on the name Anna, perhaps?

Éimhín

Pronounced ev-inn, this name can also be spelt without the fadas. It means ‘swift’ and we think it’s a very cool name for a girl or boy.

Finn

Pronounced fin, Finn is a hugely popular name for boys in and outside Ireland. It means ‘fair’. Finn on its own is a cool name for a girl, but it could be a shorted version of the Irish girl name Fionnuala (fin-oola).

Read more

• The rare Irish unisex name rapidly rising in popularity amongst parents in Ireland

Iarlaith

The Irish version of the boy name Jarlath, Iarlaith (or Iarla), is pronounced Ear-la and means ‘ruler’.

Laoghaire

People who live in Ireland will probably be familiar with the place name Dún Laoghaire, which means fort of Laoghaire. Laoghaire was a High King of Ireland; his name is pronounced leary.

Lochlainn

Alternative spellings for this name that means ‘land of the Vikings’ could be Loughlin or Lachlan, to reflect its pronunciation, lock-lin.

Naoise

Naoise, pronounced nee-sha, was an ancient Irish warrior.

Nollaig

Nollaig is the Irish word for Christmas, from the name Noel. It’s pronounced null-ig.

Rian

Rian (the most popular boy name in Ireland) is the original Irish version of the surname Ryan. Ryan is now, of course, a very popular boy name all around the world, with many girl Ryans in the mix too. Rian is pronounced reen. It derives from the Irish word for ‘King’, which is rí.

Rory

Rory is the anglicised spelling of the Irish name Ruari, which comes from the Irish word for red (ruadh). Rory is already a popular derivative of the feminine name Aurora, and it would be a lovely nudge to an Irish connection.

Suibhne

Pronounced suv-na, this name is the original Irish for the surname Sweeney. It means ‘pleasant.'

Sláine

This name is pronounced slaw-nyuh, meaning ‘health.'

*This article was originally published on RollerCoaster.ie.