Irish Dog Names

Male name from Irish mythology makes stylish-sounding choice for girls.

Dacey is a delicate and lacy Irish name with real possibilities.

Anglicized form of the Irish name Aoibheann, which is also in use in Ireland itself. Eavie/Evie would make an adorable short form.

Uncommon choice too reminiscent of "bidet". Try Bridie instead.

A dandy, bouncy family name with tap shoes, high hat, and cane. There are several theories of its derivation, including as a nickname from the word 'ganty,' for a person who commonly wore gloves, or from 'gamen,' for someone good at games.

We'd be leery of this one.

Transformation of the stolid Gilbert into an animated surname name.

If you like the Irish surname feel, there are loads of more congenial options.

Despite its virtuous meaning, Fergall - along with the more standard spellings Fergal, Ferghal and Fearghal - has never made it across the ocean. In the States, Fergall is a rare yet pronounceable name with strong ties to Ireland. In its native land, it's been worn for over a thousand years by everyone from chieftains to poets to sportsmen, and still appears steadily in birth records.

Associated with the poet and novelist Galway Kinnell, this name of an Irish city, county, and bay would make an evocative choice. For further literary cred, writers Liam O'Flaherty and Frank Harris both hail from Galway.

This Irish surname-name certainly feels brighter and fresher than the English equivalent, Clark.

Too close to baloney.

Infrequently used relic of the Maureen-Colleen-Kathleen era, though it does seem to have a bit more energy than the others.

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.

The use of O-prefixes could create the next wave of Irish inflected names, offering an innovative way of honoring a relative with a behind the times moniker.

Buoyant but lightweight.

Friendly-sounding name with big "Sweeney Todd" downside.