Targeted Compromise Needed for Authentic Irish Boy Names

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FINDING AUTHENTIC IRISH BOY NAMES THEY BOTH LOVE

CAM writes:

We need some help naming our third baby, coming in just about 2 months…

We have two older children, Tadhgán and Saoirse, and love that their names are different, rooted in history and cultural meaning. The difficulties of Irish spelling in an American context do not bother us and hasn’t been a logistical problem.  We are going to stick with Irish names again.  

For a girl, we’re pretty set on Aoife. Other names we considered include Imogen and Brèagha.

For a boy, we are struggling. 

• I’m pretty set on naming this baby Èamonn. I love the softness of the name, and it’s what I can just picture myself calling this child.
• My husband is very excited about the old names of Irish lore. OisÍn is his top choice. He also loves Fionn. I just can’t imagine naming this child these names. 

Names I could consider beyond Èamonn include:

• Ronán
• Lonán
• Ruardhí
• DaÍre (shares a meaning with my first name)
• Sèamus

My husband doesn’t love these, and I prefer Èamonn over these names, too.

We are at an impasse.

Do you have any thoughts on how to find compromise or suggestions for a new name that we can both agree upon?

Maybe something soft sounding but with loads of Irish lore behind it?

Would love any advice/suggestions you could provide!

Please read on for my response and leave your thoughtful suggestions in the comments.

CONSIDERING ALL THE OPTIONS

Abby replies:

Congratulations on your third!

This is actually two questions, isn’t it?

Question One: Are there more Irish names you haven’t considered or should re-evaluate for this child?

Question Two: How do you compromise when your strong preferences are at odds with your partner’s equally established ideas?

That second question seems like the sticking point. You both agree on authentic Irish boy names. Your lists are filled with favorites that combine history and pride in your roots. Because your older children’s names preserve Irish language spellings and pronunciations, of course you’re confident in making such choices for future children. It’s your family’s style and reflects deeply held values.

When it comes to compromise on names when there’s already broad agreement, I think the best approach is this:

• Imagine you cannot use either of your favorite names. Maybe this is your fourth son, and his brothers are already called Èamonn and OisÍn. Or your closest friends or loved ones have just used those names for their newborn boys and repetition isn’t an option.
• With a blank slate, choose the NEXT name you would consider. This is a little artificial, of course. But by accepting this as a thought experiment, we can move past the point of disagreement and consider alternatives with an open mind.

Right now, there’s really no incentive to look at your list of runner-ups or to consider new suggestions. After all, you both have a favorite – and feel like all of your problems would be resolved if only your partner would agree.

So let’s imagine that Èamonn and OisÍn cannot be this child’s name. What’s next on your list?

BUILDING ON YOUR CURRENT LIST

EOIN, EOGHAN

They’re two separate names, of course. Eoin, Eóin, and Eòin are forms of John. Eoghan, Eòghan, and other spellings are often Anglicized as Eugene, but comes from an older name, ultimately related to the yew tree. There’s not quite Èamonn or OisÍn, but they sound-wise they’re similar to both.

FINNÁN; FINTAN, FIONNÁN, FIONNTAN

Would a longer form of Fionn appeal? I’m familiar with Fintan as the only Irish person to survive the Great Flood. It’s said he carried all the knowledge of Irish history and culture with him across the ages, so that’s an appealing legend. I think the extra syllable in these names softens them slightly; but is it enough? Also, I acknowledge that Finnán/Finán isn’t the same name as Fintan and company, but the sounds are similar.

LORCÁN, LORCAN

Jumping off from Lonán, does Lorcán have any appeal? Or even Lorccán, though I think that’s a very old spelling? While we tend to associate it with Lawrence, it has a separate origin and means “little fierce one,” which has some real spark. I know the name belongs to two kings of Leinster, but whether that’s enough history to fit with your family is, of course, up to you.

RORAN, RIORDAN

The first is incredibly rare; the second, quite common as a surname. They’re both cousins to either Rory or possibly older names like Rígbarddán – a diminutive form of a name meaning “little poet.” That shared meaning could link it to your older son’s name, but it also borrows a common root from Rory. There’s also Rúadán, which I believe is closer to Rowan.

If none of these hit the mark, let’s try a few more authentic Irish boy names.

FRESH SUGGESTIONS

CATHAL

Cathal feels a little old school to me, and yet that might not be a bad thing.

CIARÁN, KIERAN

Maybe too familiar, but Ciar features in Irish legend and Ciarán remains steadily used in Ireland today, so it feels deeply authentic but also accessible.

CONALL

A rare name in American English, associated with wolves in Irish, as well as the legendary hero Conall Cernach.

DECLAN, DEAGLÁN

The first name that came to mind, Declan has appeared in the US Top 1000 since the late 1990s. It currently ranks in the Top 200. Nothing quite sounds like Declan, though, so it feels less common than the popularity ranking might suggest. The Irish spelling is far less familiar in North America. While there’s no specific Irish legend connected to Declan, there is the Fort of Dealga, also known as Dún Dealgan Motte, said to be the birthplace of Cú Chulainn. It’s not quite the same, but is it close enough?

ÉIBHEAR

I’ve heard this name Anglicized as both Harry and Ever. The pronunciation is somewhere in between. What I love about it: medieval stories make Éibhear an ancestor of the Irish people. And the spelling and sound are challenging, but only just enough. My hesitation, of course, is whether this is a story that will appeal to you both.

IARLA, IARLAITHE

I’ve always thought of Iarla as an Irish cousin to Earl; after all, they both come from the Danish title jarl. It tends to be Anglicized as Jarlath, which doesn’t seem to fit as well with authentic Irish boy names. But I wonder if Iarla hits the right mark?

NIALL

I’m sure you’ve considered it before, but I’ll add it here anyway. There’s something Niall’s meaning and energy that feels broadly appealing. I suspect it reads a little middle-aged in Ireland, but to an American ear, it’s fresh and different.

NAOISE

Another name that seems just right: Noíse or Naoise. He’s the Romeo to Deirdre’s Juliet in Irish legend. But while Deirdre of the Sorrows has become a popular name throughout the English-speaking world and beyond, Naoise remains rare outside of Ireland and Northern Ireland, where it’s recently entered their Top 100s. It’s the given name of Irish rapper Móglaí Bap of Kneecap, which probably explains the name’s rediscovery. It could be perfect … except Naoise and Saoirse seem so, so similar, don’t they? I’m leaving it on the list anyway.

Overall, I’m having a hard time finding any of the fresh suggestions the right fit. I’m most drawn to names like Lorcán or Finnán for something that picks up on sounds you both like, but shifts them slightly.

I do still love the idea of Deaglán, but I’m not sure if the place name is sufficient to tie this choice to the myth and legend that matters to you both.

Readers, are there other authentic Irish boy names to consider? What would you suggest?