Irish Baby Boy Names: Early, Meaningful Expressions of the Young Man's Irish Side!

Whether you are an expecting parent looking for Irish baby boy names for your child, or simply curious to know the meanings of common Irish names for boys, you have come to the right place!

Irish baby boy names. Blue-eyed red-haired baby with bubbles.

We look forward to sharing some of our favorites with you, and providing links to many more. If you're like us, this discussion 'could' cause you to want to know more about Irish heritage and customs. If so, please pay a visit to our main section on Irish trivia and traditions here...

Meanwhile, please enjoy our favorite selection of Irish baby names!

Irish Baby Boy Names: Breandan

Breandan, often changed to Brendan, Brandon or Brandan in English, has a long history in Ireland.

Many Irish saints bore the name in history, although St. Breandan the Navigator is one of the most well-known.

According to tradition, St. Breandan the Navigator, born in County Kerry, sailed off in the 6th century with several monks.

Legend tells that the group visited an island, full of birdmen, went on to ride a whale and then ended up in the Americas, becoming the first Europeans to arrive.

St. Breandan continues to be the patron saint of travelers and seafarers in Ireland.

Cormac

Also spelled Cormick or Cormack, this Irish baby boy name was very popular in early Ireland and continues to be popular today.

The name comes from the old Irish word, “corbmac,” which means “the son of the charioteer.”

One of the most famous ancient Irish kings was Cormac Mac Airt, who was known for his wise and true judgments.

Deaglan

Deaglan, pronounced “deck+lan” is often changed to Declan in English. It comes from two old Irish words; the word dag, which means “good” and the world lan, which means “full.”

Put the two words together and the literal meaning is “full of goodness.”

St. Declan founded a monastery in County Waterford and it is thought that he may have preached to the Irish before St. Patrick ever arrived.

Dillon

Often changed to Dylan in English, this Irish baby boy name is thought to come from either the word dealan, meaning a “flash of lightning,” or another Irish word meaning “loyal" or "faithful."

Often used as a surname, it has become a popular first name as well.

Finn

Finn, often spelled Fionn, means “fair of head.”

Irish folklore has made the name popular, with the character Fionn Mac Cool. He was known to be wise, handsome, brave and very generous.

Supposedly, he acquired his wisdom when he touched the “Salmon of Knowledge” and then sucked on his thumb.

Hugh

The Irish baby boy name Hugh comes from a translation of a very old name, “Aodh,” which means “fire.”

Red Hugh O’Donnell and Hugh O’Neill were famous for leading a rebellion together, winning several battles against the English during the time of Queen Elizabeth 1st.

Kevin

Kevin, sometimes spelled as Kevan, means “well born” or “gentle child.”

A notable man in Irish history with this name was St. Kevin, who founded a monastery in County Wicklow at Glendalough.

While he was known to be uncomfortable with humans, he very much enjoyed being around animals.

One story tells that he once dropped a psalter in a lake, which was retrieved for him by an otter.

Quinn

This Irish baby boy name is a variation from the name “Ceann,” which means “intelligent.”

Quinn happens to be a common surname, especially in Northern Ireland. However, it has become quite popular as a given name as well.

Through history, the families with the last name Quinn were quartermasters to the kings of Ulster, the O’Neills.

Riley

The name Riley means “valiant and courageous.” It is very popular both as a given name and as a surname (family name.)

Want More Irish Traditions?

It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish traditions! Expressing ourselves through Irish-themed activities gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!

Over the years, we have created many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, and much, much more.

Want them right now? Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."

Interesting! What's Next?

At Irish Expressions, our our goal is simple: to provide you with a unique Irish experience, on demand, wherever you are in the world.

If you have enjoyed our section on fun Irish trivia and customs, you have probably been exposed to many of the most exciting traditions that Ireland has to offer!

Will that entice you to visit Ireland - or to return if you have already been?

We hope so!

But even if that is not possible, you can still enjoy the magic of Ireland in these pages. Check out the links at the top of the page for simple instructions on how to explore Irish landmarks, sing Irish songs, enjoy Irish food, and much more!

More Fun With Irish Expressions

Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side." You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now. What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"

Well never fear! Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use. We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.

Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations! But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long.

Oh, want one more reason to order right away? If you buy YOUR copy of the Playbook now, you will be allowed to upgrade to any new future edition for FREE.