How to pronounce Irish names
Irish names aren't hard to say - they're hard to guess. English spelling rules simply don't apply. Learn five small rules and the whole landscape opens up; or skip the rules and find your name below, said plainly.
the five rules that unlock almost everything
1 bh and mh say "v" Niamh = NEEV, Caoimhe = KWEE-va
2 the fada (á é í ó ú) lengthens the vowel Seán = SHAWN, Rían = REE-an
3 ao says "ee" (or "ay") Aoife = EE-fa, Saoirse = SEER-sha
4 s before e or i says "sh" Oisín = USH-een, Sinéad = shin-AYD
5 dh and gh often fall silent Tadhg = TYGE, Sadhbh = SIVE
the gaelic spellings, said plainly
girls
Áine "AWN-ya" radiance Aisling "ASH-ling" dream, vision Aislinn "ASH-lin" dream, vision Aoibh "EEV" beauty, radiance Aoibhín "EE-veen" fair beauty Aoife "EE-fa" beautiful Bláithín "BLAW-heen" little flower Bríd "BREEJ" exalted one Brónagh "BROH-na" sorrow Cadhla "KY-la" beautiful Cáireann "KAW-ren" little dark one Caoimhe "KWEE-va (KEE-va in Ulster)" gentle, beautiful Ciara "KEE-ra" dark-haired Clíodhna "KLEE-na" shapely one Clodagh "KLOH-da" river name Croía "KREE-a" little heart Deirdre "DEER-dra" sorrowful, broken-hearted Deirbhile "DERV-la" daughter of the poet Éabha "AY-va" life, breath Eibhlín "eye-LEEN" bright, shining Eilís "EYE-leesh" pledged to God Eimear "EE-mer" swift Eithne "ETH-na (EN-ya in Donegal)" kernel, grain Fiadh "FEE-a" wild deer Fidelma "fi-DEL-ma" constant beauty Fionnuala "fin-NOO-la" fair shoulder Gobnait "GOB-nit" little smith Gráinne "GRAWN-ya" grain or grace Iseult "ih-SOOLT" fair one Íde "EE-ta" thirst for goodness Caoilfhionn "KEE-lin" slender and fair Laoise "LEE-sha" radiant girl Líadan "LEE-a-dan" grey lady Máire "MAW-ra (MOY-ra in the north)" beloved Mairéad "ma-RAYD" pearl Muireann "MWIR-in" sea fair Muirenn "MWIR-in" sea fair Neasa "NASS-a" not gentle Niamh "NEEV" bright Nuala "NOO-la" fair shoulder Oonagh "OO-na" lamb Órla "OR-la" golden princess Peig "PEG" pearl Ríona "REE-uh-na" queenly Róisín "ro-SHEEN" little rose Sadhbh "SIVE (rhymes with five)" sweet and goodly Saoirse "SEER-sha (or SUR-sha)" freedom Sibéal "shi-BALE" God is my oath Síle "SHEE-la" youthful Sinéad "shin-AYD" God is gracious Siobhán "shiv-AWN" God is gracious Siobhán "shiv-AWN" God is gracious Sorcha "SUR-kha (or SUR-ra)" bright and radiant Treasa "TRASS-a" strength Úlla "OO-la" gem of the sea Doireann "DUR-in (or DOR-en)" sullen, tempestuous Gormlaith "GORM-la" splendid sovereignty Étaín "AY-teen (or eh-TAWN)" radiant, shining Bláthnaid "BLAW-nid" little blossom Damhnait "DEV-nit (or DOW-nit)" little fawn Aoibheann "AY-veen (or EE-van)" radiant beauty Caitríona "kaw-TREE-na" pure Réaltín "RAYL-teen" little star
boys & unisex
Ailbhe "AL-va" white, bright Ardal "AR-dal" high valor Cathal "KA-hal" battle ruler Cian "KEE-an" ancient Ciarán "KEER-awn" little dark one Cillian "KILL-ee-an" bright-headed; little church Colm "KUL-um" dove Conall "KUN-al" strong as a wolf Cormac "KOR-mak" charioteer Daire "DAR-a" fruitful, fertile Darragh "DAR-a" oak tree Donncha "DUN-uh-kha" brown warrior Fionn "FYUN (or FIN)" fair haired Lorcán "LOR-kawn" little fierce one Naoise "NEE-sha" warrior of legend Niall "NYE-al (or NEEL)" champion Oisín "USH-een (or o-SHEEN)" little deer Rían "REE-an" little king Seán "SHAWN" God is gracious Tadhg "TYGE (rhymes with tiger, minus the -er)" poet Diarmuid "DEER-mid (or DEER-mwid)" without envy Aonghus "AYN-gus (or ANG-gus)" one strength Aodh "AY (or EE)" fire Lugh "LOO" shining light Breandán "BREN-dan" prince Eoghan "OH-un (or OH-an)" born of the yew Eoin "OH-in" God is gracious Fearghus "FUR-gus" man of strength Fiontán "FIN-tan" white fire Odhrán "OH-rawn (or OR-awn)" little pale-green one Pádraig "PAW-drig (or PAW-rik)" noble Éanna "AY-na" bird-like Fearghal "FUR-gal" man of valour Fionnbharr "FIN-bar" fair-headed Setanta "she-TAN-ta" the boy-hero of legend Toirdhealbhach "TUR-lokh (or TUR-la)" instigator Tighearnán "TEER-nan" little lord Dáithí "DAW-hee" swiftness Colmán "KUL-mawn (or COAL-mawn)" little dove Ultán "UL-tawn" man of Ulster Séamus "SHAY-mus" supplanter Peadar "PAD-ar (or PYAD-ar)" rock Tiarnán "TEER-nawn" little lord Feidhlim "FAY-lim (or FEL-im)" ever good
already easy - the names that need no help
Fully Irish in root and story, already spelled the way English speakers expect. See the full set on the easy abroad page.
AlanAlanaAlaniAlaynaBlaineBradenBradyBraelynnBraydenBreckenBrennanBrianBriannaBrídBryanCadenCallahanCallanCaseCaseyCassidyCodyColinCollinsConnorConorCoreyCullenDarcyDeaglánDelaneyDesmondDevinDonovanÉirinnFallonFenellaFinleyFinnFinneganFlynnGannonGarrettGradyImogenIrelandCaitlínKaneKayleighKeeganKellanKellyKennedyCaoimhínKiaraKillianKinleyLanaLarkinLennonLiamMéabhMakennaMccoyMurphyNolanOscarQuinlanQuinnRaeganRaffertyReaganRileyRónánRuairíRowanRylanRyleighShaneShawnShaySheaSloaneSullivanTeaganTroyDermot
Every print in the shop carries the pronunciation under the name - so the nursery wall teaches visitors before they can get it wrong.