225+ Irish Boy Names (with Meanings)

  1. Carlin
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "little champion"
    • Description:

      While the lin ending is more commonly found in girls' names, Carlin is an authentic Irish male choice and was used just about evenly for both sexes in the US last year.
  2. Daley
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "assembly, gathering"
    • Description:

      Much stronger than Dale for a boy.
  3. Euston
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "heart"
    • Description:

      Euston is best known as a London railway station, which got its name from a stately home and village in the English county of Suffolk. Ultimately it is thought to mean "settlement of a person called Efe". Unlike its Top 1000 soundalike Houston (as in Texas), Euston has never been recording on the charts.
  4. Cagney
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "tribute"
    • Description:

      Cagney is one of the spunkiest Irish surnames around, and could make a lively and fresher successor to the tired Casey.
  5. Carroll
    • Origin:

      Anglicized variation of Irish Cearbhall
    • Meaning:

      "hacking with a weapon"
    • Description:

      This name was consistently in the boys' Top 200 until WW2. It's a name with so many dimensions to it: the hyper-masculine meaning, the surname-as-firstname trendiness, and the softer sound and connotation since homophone Carol was favoured in the 1940s and '50s for daughters. We think it's time for a resurgence of Carrolls amongst the boys.
  6. Dolan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "black-haired"
    • Description:

      Fresh choice that could pick up where Dylan and Logan left off.
  7. Mannix
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "a little monk"
    • Description:

      An X-ending surname less common than the Jolie-Pitt-inspired Maddox. Grandparents might still associate it with the old TV crime show.
  8. Breckin
    • Origin:

      Spelling variation of Breccan, Irish
    • Meaning:

      "freckled, speckled"
    • Description:

      Breccan may be the original saints' name, but in the modern U.S., the spelling Brecken is the most popular form, followed by Breckin. A winner by any spelling.
  9. Seanan
    • Origin:

      Diminutive of Sean or Irish
    • Meaning:

      "wise, old"
    • Description:

      Seanan and its more-popular variation Senan are connected to the Latin word "senator" and are ancient saints' names, but may also be thought of as diminutives of Sean, the Irish form of John, given that the suffix "an" is an Irish diminutive meaning "little". Virtually unknown in the US, it might appeal as an update for the no-longer-stylish Sean.
  10. Beacan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "tiny one"
    • Description:

      An attractive ancient Irish saint's name that conjures up a beacon of light, this Irish name for boys is well-used in Ireland but rarely heard in the US.
  11. Carbry
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "charioteer"
    • Description:

      A name scattered throughout Irish mythology with an intriguing sound, Carbry is one of the rare Irish names for boys virtually unknown in the US. Bry is the obvious, but lovely nickname option.
  12. Harmon
    • Origin:

      Irish variation of Herman
    • Description:

      Has a harmonic feel.
  13. Roone
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "red-haired"
    • Description:

      Roone is a lively, attractive and unusual redhead entry brought into the mix by the late TV sports and news executive Roone Arledge, who seemed to own it as a one-person name when he was alive.
  14. Duane
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "swarthy"
    • Description:

      An old Irish surname that was big in the 1960s, but would be an unexpected choice for a child now.
  15. Ultan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "man from Ulster"
    • Description:

      This name of eighteen Irish saints of the past is relatively popular in Ireland, though little known outside it.
  16. Garvan
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "rough little one"
    • Description:

      Irish surname derived from the name Gairbhín, a diminutive of garbh, "rough". It's barely been used as a first name, but could be a similar-yet-different alternative to names like Nolan and Sullivan.
  17. Piran
    • Origin:

      Cornish
    • Meaning:

      "little dark one"
    • Description:

      It may be a longshot – especially since it was given to less than 5 boys in the US in 2021 – but Piran could conceivably be a future Kieran, which is shaping up to being the next Kevin. Piran is the patron saint of miners and of Cornwall.
  18. Dublin
    • Origin:

      Irish place-name
    • Description:

      With Galway and Ireland in play as names (not to mention Shannon and Kerry), there's no reason this one can't work, too.
  19. Scully
    • Origin:

      Irish
    • Meaning:

      "herald or town crier"
    • Description:

      Relaxed, with an appealing touch of swagger.
  20. Uilliam
    • Origin:

      Irish variation of William
    • Description:

      A spelling that would definitely attract a lot of attention -- and a certain amount of confusion as well.