10 rare Irish names for boys and girls you’ll want to use immediately

Choosing a name for your newborn baby can be quite the task. Any expectant parents will understand the feeling of trawling through baby name dictionaries in search of the perfect one for their bundle of joy.

In recent years, there has been a rise in parents opting for unique, classic and traditional names. Irish names have also been popular with the likes of Maeve, Orla, Rory and Aiden, making the top 100 list last year. The names typically have strong meanings and rich history, which can give them a timeless yet distinctive touch.

If you are looking to use an Irish name or want to be inspired, there are plenty to choose from. Plus, there are many that are still pretty rare, so they are perfect if you want your child’s name to stand out.

TikTok user Shania O’Donnell has rounded up rare Irish names you may not have heard of for both boys and girls. She said they are names she “absolutely loves” and plans to give her own children Irish names.

Shania said: “These are names that I don’t hear every day. I have maybe heard them once or twice, so these are really uncommon ones.”

Five rare Irish boy names

Rí

Pronounced “ree” the name means “king”. Shania explained that the name is similar to popular choice Rían, which means “little king”, but Rí is more unique.

Caoilte

Pronounced “KWEEL-teh”, this is an ancient Irish name that means “slender” or “swift”. In Irish mythology, Caoilte was a member of the renowned Fianna. This was a group of elite warrior-poets in ancient Ireland, with Caoilte having an exceptional running ability.

Cuán/Cúan

Pronounced “koo-an”, the traditional Irish name means “little wolf” or “little hound”. Shania said: “You don’t hear many Cuan’s about.” The name symbolises loyalty and strength. Cuan without the fada means “harbor” or “haven”.

Áthas

Pronounced “AW-hus”, this name means joy and happiness. Shania explained: “I absolutely love the name Áthas and it means happiness so I love that one. I think it is so, so cute.”

Séanna

Pronounced “SHAY-nA”, the rare name is said to mean “God is gracious” or “gift from God” and can be used for both boys and girls. Shania said: “I just love the name Séanna, I would definitely use that in the future.”

Five rare Irish girl names

Raidine

Pronounced “RAY-deen”, the unique name represents strength and elegance. It comes from the Old Irish name Ráidin, which means “little queen” or “noble”.

Béibhinn

Pronounced “BAY-vin” or “BAY-veen”, the rare Irish name means “melodious woman,” “fair lady,” or “beautiful woman”. The name has ties to Irish mythology as a goddess figure and makes a unique but traditional choice.

Réalta and Realtín

Réalta is pronounced “RAY-lta” while Realtín is pronounced “RAYL-teen”. They mean “star” and “little” star respectively. The names provide a celesital meaning that connects beauty and brightness.

Líadan

Pronounced “LEE-uh-dawn”, the name means “grey lady”. It is taken from the Irish words liath (grey) and damhn (lady/noblewoman). The name has a connection to wisdom, spirituality and poetic strength.

Mabhorgne

Pronounced “MA-vaun-va”, this name is very rare. Shania explained: “It is probably the most uncommon. I have only ever heard of one person called this name.”