400+ Irish Last Names (With Meanings and Popularity)

A long shot, but it could join the crop of dashing Irish surname names.

Perfect as an updated namesake for Great-Uncle Neal (or Neil).

Fogarty has the Old Fogey problem.

Fogarty has the Old Fogey problem.

Fresh choice in the vein of Carly and Harley.

McCarthy is one of the most common Irish surnames, all fair game as first names for American babies, especially baby girls!

McCarthy is one of a wave of new Irish surname-names, one of the most popular last names of Irish origin now translated to a first name. Mac is an attractive nickname.

Donovan is on the rise, so why not this sequel?

The famous Battle of the Boyne, in Ireland, vanquished the Catholic king.

This kind of authentic Irish surname makes a memorable first name for either sex, following in the path of all the Mac and Mc names recently popular.

Runyon is an Irish surname with considerable flair; some will connect it with Guys and Dolls writer Damon Runyon.

The fashion for using surnames as firsts has extended beyond the familiar Morgan and Parker to choices such as Cohen and O'Brien to -- why not? -- this quintessentially Irish name with the friendly o ending.

If you love the venerable Southwestern painter but feel Georgia's gotten too overheated, you might want to go all the way to this Irish surname in the fashionable O' family.

Keating is familiar as a surname but unexpected as a first. It boasts the always energetic -ing ending.

Fallon has gone feminine, but this puts it back in the boys' camp.

Beyoncé's surname could be considered for a less-obvious honorific.

Despite its appearance, McGill is not related to any of the Gil- names, including Gilbert, Gilford, and Gilson. The "gill" piece is derived from the Gaelic word gall, meaning "foreigner." Yet, it could still be used to honor a Gil in your life.