Perplexed by how your ancestor could have so many aliases? Our unique index to those elusive old girls' Irish names is particularly useful where an individual does not appear on record as expected.
Many native, old Irish (pre-Norman) origin given names were still popular first names for baby girls in 19th-century Ireland. Discover how these names were disguised by Latin and English "translations" to break down that Irish Genealogy brick wall.
When Christianity was introduced to Ireland, some old Gaelic names became more popular because they sounded similar to saints' names e.g. Treasa > Teresa | Máiréad > Margaret | Áine > Anna.
In the early 20th century, confidence in the official use of one's authentic Irish (Gaelic) personal name grew. So, in the Census of Ireland for example, a given name may have been recorded in English in 1901, but in Irish (or alternative spelling) in 1911.
In addition, your ancestor may have been recorded under a nickname (or childhood pet name e.g. Ellie, Nellie) in one census and by their formal name (e.g. Ellen, Helen, Eleanor) in another. The following index will prove invaluable if you are struggling to find an ancestor on record. Few nicknames were exclusive to one Irish name, so keep note of any nickname that can be shared by multiple given names.
To facilitate your Irish ancestry research, we will continue to update this index with as many known spelling variations as possible. To contribute to this resource, click HERE.
READ Insights: Old Irish First Names & aliases
Format: Original Gaelic Irish name > how it was recorded in Latin (italics) > all known variations in English (to include nicknames).
Links to the 1901 Census have been included for the most popular spelling variant.
County of origin has been included as a hint where the association is significant.
Please note:
Some letters in the English alphabet do not occur in Gaelic Irish.
Old Gaelic Irish names were often batched together and disguised by one shared Anglicisation.
To flag this, some Gaelic Irish names (from entirely different roots) have been combined in the same box.
Gaelic Irish names were Latinized as the priest saw fit. So an individual may appear in the same parish register under as many variants as there were priests.
Use of the Latin form of a Gaelic Irish name was not exclusive to church records e.g. Bidelia
Some of these varied forms became popular Irish American girls' names.
The key takeaway is, of course, that a Gaelic name could have been recorded under a variety of "translations" (one individual could have multiple aliases) depending on the transcriber.
To add to this index, please click HERE.
To search for a particular Irish name or nickname (without having to scroll) use the FIND function on a desktop PC. The following keyboard shortcut will open a search/ find window:
Hold down the CTRL key [Mac = command].
Press F.
Type in the name (or part of) and press RETURN.
No results? Re-try using a partial spelling of the name.
To submit a query or a suggestion, click here.
A
Latinized: Albea
Anglicized: Alvy, Elva, Olive, Olivia
Nicknames: Bea
Notes: also a boys' name
Latinized: Affrica, Africa
Anglicized: Aphria
Latinized: Anna, Annae, Annam
Anglicized: Anne, Ann, Hannah
Nicknames: Nan, Nannie, Nanny, Nancy, Nansí, Neansí, Nance, Nanno, Nano, Honny, Nancy, Nan, Nanny, Naney, Nannie.
Notes: see also: Ancestors-named-Anne-or-Nan
Latinized: Ester
Anglicized: Esther, Ashling, Hester
Nicknames: Ash, Essie, Essy
Latinized: Atia, Acia
Anglicized: Atty, Alicia
Latinized: Aibfinnia
Anglicized: Eavan, Yvonne
Nicknames: Evan, Evey, Evie, Evelyn, Eveline, Evelina
Latinized: Eva
Nicknames: Aifa, Aife, Evie, Evey, Evy,
Latinized: Attracta
Anglicized: Attracta
B
Anglicized: Benvon
Nicknames: Benna, Benie, Bency
Anglicized: Benvy
Nicknames: Benna, Benie, Bency, Benery, Benry
Anglicized: Bevin, Vivian Vivienne
Nicknames: Bevan, Babeen, Babbie, Baby, Babe, Bab, Baveen
Latinized: Moninna
Anglicized: Blanche, Blanch
Latinized: Flora
Anglicized: Flora
Nicknames: Flo, Flossie, Flors
Latinized: Florentia
Anglicized: Florence
Nicknames: Flo, Flossie, Flors
Latinized: Bidelia, Brigida, Phidelia
Anglicized: Bridget, Brigid, Delia, Breeda
Nicknames: Biddy, Breege, Bride, Bridie, Bessie, Dina, Delia, Dilly, Dillie, Beesy, Dina, Bedina, Cordelia
Notes: see also Ancestors-named-Brigid
C
Latinized: Coelfinnia
Anglicized: Keelin
Nicknames: Keelie, Keely, Keeleen
Latinized: Pulcheria
Anglicized: Keavy , Keavah
Nicknames: Keevie, Keevy
Latinized: Ciannata
Anglicized: Kinnat, Keenat
Latinized:
Anglicized: Cleena, Cliona, Cliodhna, Clionadh, Cliodna, Kleena
D
Anglicized: Darina, Darene, Dareen
Nicknames: Reena, Rina, Reeny, Darry, Darrie, Dereenie
Latinized: Dymphna
Anglicized: Devnet, Downet, Dymphna
Latinized: Dervilia
Anglicized: Derval, Dervilia
Nicknames: Derv, Dervy, Dervie
Anglicized: Deirdre, Derdra
Nicknames: Dee, Dedrie, Deerdry
Latinized: Dorinnia
Anglicized: Dorren, Dorothy, Darina
Nicknames: Dora, Doreen, Dolly, Dot, Dotty
E
Latinized: Edwina
Anglicized: Aideen, Edwina
Latinized: Ernata
Anglicized: Ernet
Latinized: Etania
Anglicized: Etaun
Nicknames: Etty
Latinized: Ethnea
Anglicized: Ethna, Eithne, Enya
Nicknames: Etney, Annie
F
Latinized: Fanchea
Anglicized: Fauncha
Nicknames: Fanny
Latinized: Failtigerna
Anglicized: Whiltierna
Latinized: Fiadnata
Anglicized: Feenat, Feena
Latinized: Finguala, Finola
Anglicized: Finola, Nuala, Penelope
Nicknames: Fionna, Flora, Nuala, Nappy, Nappa, Nell, Nelly, Penny
Notes: The Children of Lir
G
Latinized: Abigail, Gobnata
Anglicized: Abigail, Deborah, Gobinet, Gobnet
Nicknames: Abbi, Abbie, Abby, Abina, Bena, Bina, Debbie, Debby, Gail, Gubbie, Gubby, Libby, Nabbie, Nabby, Webbie, Webby
Notes: Saint Gobnait
Latinized: Gormlata
Anglicized: Gormlaith, Gormley, Barbara
Nicknames: Barbary, Babs, Babeen, Barb, Babbie, Baby, Babe, Bab
Latinized: Grania, Gratia
Anglicized: Grace, Gertrude
Nicknames: Gertie, Gerry, Jerry, Trudy, Trudie, Grissel, Grizel, Grizzel
Notes: The Pursuit of Diarmuid & Grainne
H
Latinized: Hilda
Anglicized: Hilda
Nicknames: Hildy, Hillie, Hilly
I
Latinized: Ita, Mita
Anglicized: Ita, Ida, Eda
Nicknames: Itie, Edie, Edy, Meeda, Meedy
L
Latinized: Lassarina
Anglicized: Lassarina
Nicknames: Feena, Fíona
Latinized: Lugsecha
Anglicized: Lucinda, Lucia
Nicknames: Lisa, Lucy, Lou, Louie, Luey
M
Latinized: Margarita
Anglicized: Margaret
Nicknames: Maggie, Molly, Minnie, Maighréad, Greta
Latinized: Bena
Anglicized: Meave
Nicknames: Maud, Bina, Mabel, Margery, Marjory, Madge, Méibhinn
Notes: The Cattle Raid of Cooley
Latinized: Mella
Anglicized: Mella
Nicknames: Mellie, Melly
Latinized: Monica
Anglicized: Monica
Nicknames: Mon, Monnie, Monny
Latinized: Mora
Anglicized: More, Mora
Nicknames: Martha, Marta, Martie, Marty, Martle, Martly, Mary, Agnes
Latinized: Muadnata
Anglicized: Monat, Mona
Nicknames: Mo
Latinized: Murinnia
Anglicized: Morinn, Marion
Nicknames: Madge, Mo
Latinized: Murgela
Anglicized: Murel, Muriel
Nicknames: Murie, Mury, Mel, Ella, Murial
N
Latinized: Nesia
Anglicized: Nessa, Nesa
Nicknames: Ness, Nessie, Neassa, Neas
Notes: The Ulster Cycle
Latinized: Nabitha
Anglicized: Neeve, Neve, Niav
Nicknames: Neevy, Ninnie, Ninny, Niney, Nevia, Niva, Neeves, Nives, Niveen, Neeveen, Nivin
Notes: The Legend of Tír na nÓg
O
Latinized: Odarnata
Anglicized: Ornat, Orna, Eorna
Nicknames: Ornie, Orney
Latinized: Orlata
Anglicized: Orla
R
Latinized: Ratnata
Anglicized: Renny
Nicknames: Rennie
Latinized: Regnacia
Anglicized: Regina, Riona
Nicknames: Reena, Reenie, Reeny, Reg, Ina
Notes: short for Catherine/ Caitriona
S
Latinized: Sabia
Anglicized: Sarah, Sive, Sabina, Sophia
Nicknames: Sally, Sal, Sophie, Sophy, Sarah, Sibby, Sibbie, Bee, Bina, Sadie
Notes: Saidhbhín
Latinized: Slania
Anglicized: Slany
Latinized: Sorcha
Anglicized: Clara, Sarah
Nicknames: Sorca, Sorsha, Sally, Sal, Sadie
T
Latinized: Teresia
Anglicized: Teresa, Theresa
Nicknames: Tess, Tessie, Tressa, Tressy, Toireasa, Treise, Treesy, Terry
U
Latinized: Una
Anglicized: Winifred, Agnes, Oonagh
Nicknames: Oona, Unity, Winny, Winnie, Aggie
Some popular Irish Gaelic girls' names won't appear on this "Old Irish" list if introduced later by the Normans e.g.
Siobhán (Jeanne > Siobhan, Shivaun, Shevaun, Johanna, Judy, Judith),
Síle (Caelia > Celia, Sheila, Shelagh, Sheelagh, Cecilia), and
Sinéad (Janette > Sinead, Jane, Jean, Jennifer).
Our index to Irish Christian names of Norman origin is coming soon. For notification, be sure to sign-up / join here.
Got any of these names in your family tree? We'd love if you added them to our Ancestors roll-call here:
To share your own discoveries or to add spelling variations to this searchable index, please share here.
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BACK TO Old Irish First Names & aliases
READ MORE Irish Naming & Baptism Traditions | Irish Surnames 101
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