Illustration: MomJunction Design Team
Celtic baby names reflect the rich history and culture of the ancient Celts. The Celts were ancient people who lived in different parts of Europe from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, between 700 BC and 400 BC. Though the Celts never lived in a unified state, they had a common language. Even today, the language is spoken in Ireland and parts of Britain (1). You will find names of every meaning in the Celtic tongue, from mythology and legends to history and place names. Celtic names display the charm of the Isles they are derived from – Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and even Italy. Additionally, it can be deduced that the Celts followed polytheism, as many of these Celtic names are found in Irish and Welsh mythologies. These languages, along with Scottish Gaelic and Breton, have the most substantial ties to the original Celtic language (2). A formal Celtic name consists of a given name, a middle name, and a surname, which is patronymic in etymology (3). Such surnames begin with Mac or Mc, meaning ‘son of,’ or O, meaning ‘grandson of.’ While many families have started to prefer Gaelic versions of Celtic names to better honor their roots, some parents prefer anglicized versions for easy pronunciation. For instance, the Celtic name Eoin is pronounced eo-in. So, its anglicized version would be Owen. An interesting fact about Celtic names is that they are dithematic. In other words, they are derived from two elements, usually by joining a prefix or suffix. As such, they are similar to Germanic names, also considered dithematic. Take a look at the delightful Celtic baby names in the list below. Note – Traditional Celtic names can be a bit tricky to pronounce due to Celtic vowels. So, you must know and understand the proper pronunciation of your shortlisted names.
| Name | Gender | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
 Donat |  |  Boy | They are the ones who are like gifts and are strangers |
| Donel | | Boy | One who is the ruler of the world |
| Doran | | Boy | Stranger; One who has a wandering spirit and is in exile |
| Dornard | | Boy | They are the ones who rule the world |
| Draegan | |  Unisex | Beloved |
| Duane | | Boy | Dark; Swarthy |
| Duer | | Boy | Hero; Very mature and confident |
| Duna | |  Girl | Little dark one; one who is tall and confident like a hill |
| Duncan | | Boy | Dark-skinned warrior |
| Dunley | | Boy | One who is from the hill meadow |
| Dwayne | | Boy | Dark; Black |
| Dwyn | | Boy | The God of peace and love |
| Dylynn | | Girl | The one who immerged from the Sea |
| Ea | | Boy | Fire; A person on whom others can rely on |
| Eirin | | Girl | Irish woman; one who is dynamic and restless |
| Eislyn | | Girl | Dream; A beautiful and pretty rose |
| Eliseo | | Boy | God is salvation |
| Eljin | | Boy | Freedom provider; one who is noble and white colored |
| Ellion | | Unisex | Strong; Noble; Virtuous |
| Elowin | | Unisex | Elm tree; A variant of Elowen |
| Elowyn | | Unisex | Elm tree |
| Emerine | | Girl | Industrious leader |
| Endellion | | Girl | Fire; Soul |
| Enid | | Girl | Spirit |
| Enide | | Girl | Fair; Spirit |
| Enyd | | Girl | Spirit; Soul; Life |
| Eoin | | Boy | God's gift |
| Eonan | | Boy | Oath; Little seal |
| Ereni | | Girl | A peaceful woman |
| Erian | | Girl | Someone from Ireland |
| Erie | | Girl | Somebody who belongs to Ireland |
| Erna | | Girl | Eagle |
| Ernaline | | Girl | Capable; Serious; Battle to the death |
| Errigal | | Boy | The name of an Irish mountain |
| Esca | | Boy | Someone who feels strongly for nature |
| Escarans | | Boy | An angel fish; Someone strongly attracted towards nature |
| Ethylene | | Girl | Noble |
| Ethyll | | Girl | Noble |
| Eula | | Girl | Good speaking; Wealthy; Gem of the sea; Sacred red |
| Eulah | | Girl | Somebody who is very sweet spoken; One who is like a gem of the sea |
| Euna | | Girl | Lamb; Hunger |
| Evan | | Boy | God is gracious; Youth |
| Evanam | | Boy | My prayer has been heard |
| Faelyn | | Unisex | Fairy or magical strength |
| Faeryn | | Unisex | Fair; Light |
| Farrel | | Boy | Brave man |
| Farrell | | Boy | Man of courage |
| Fergus | | Boy | Man of strength |
| Ferguson | | Boy | The son of the rock |
| Fiacre | | Boy | He who is like an eagle |
| Fiona | | Boy | White; Fair |
| Flemmyng | | Boy | A man from Flanders |
| Flemyng | | Boy | A citizen; Descendant of Flanders |
| Floyd | | Boy | Gray-haired |
| Fynbar | | Boy | One with pale or grey-colored hair |
| Gallagher | | Boy | The one who is very keen to support |
| Gallia | | Girl | Irritation; Wound |
| Galvin | | Boy | Tiny brownish European song bird |
| Gannicus | | Girl | Warrior or Champion |
| Garvey | | Boy | Painful destiny; Excruciating fortune |
| Garyth | | Boy | Honest, tender and caring person |
| Gaven | | Boy | Snowy aggressor |
| Gawaine | | Boy | A kind of bird hawk which is white in color |
| Gawan | | Boy | Bird which has typically short rounded wings, a long tail and is white in color |
| Gawanna | | Boy | One who is like a hawk |
| Gean | | Unisex | Strength, determination, independence |
| Genaine | | Girl | A tribal woman or a Queen |
| Genamarie | | Girl | A virgin tribal girl |
| Gilda | | Girl | Sacrifice; Tribute; Serves God |
| Gildas | | Boy | The servant of God |
| Gilderoy | | Boy | Son of the red head |
| Giliam | | Girl | Young; Youthful |
| Gilian | | Girl | Youthful |
| Gillien | | Girl | Young; Youthful |
| Gilligan | | Boy | Small boy |
| Gilmore | | Boy | Servant of Mary |
| Gilmour | | Boy | Servant of the Virgin Mary |
| Ginnette | | Girl | Lady of the people; Tribal woman; Yahweh is gracious |
| Glema | | Girl | Glen; Valley |
| Glen | | Boy | From the valley |
| Glencora | | Girl | Lady of the valley; Heart of the valley |
| Glenden | | Boy | From the dark glen, From the dark valley |
| Glendin | | Boy | From the dark valley |
| Glendon | | Boy | From the dark glen |
| Glendyn | | Boy | Valley |
| Glenn | | Girl | Valley |
| Glenna | | Girl | From the glen; From the valley |
| Glennie | | Girl | The one who is from the valley |
| Glennis | | Girl | Glen valley |
| Glenton | | Boy | The man from the valley |
| Glenwood | | Boy | Wood in the valley |
| Glyn | | Girl | Fair; Good; One from the valley |
| Glynn | | Girl | Fair |
| Glynnes | | Girl | Good |
| Goron | | Boy | Hero |
| Gusti | | Unisex | The staff of god; The person who is part of that group who serves God |
| Gustin | | Unisex | The staff of god; The person who is part of that group who serves God |
| Gusty | | Unisex | The staff of god; The person who is part of that group who serves God |
| Gwendolyn | | Girl | Fair Bow; Blessed Ring |
| Hallow | | Unisex | Sacred or holy |
Although the Celts were an ancient race, their influence on names has remained timeless. Celtic baby names encompass a variety of meanings and aspects, including gods, festivals, traits, natural elements, mythology, and other features. If you plan to give your baby a Celtic name, you must confirm its proper pronunciation. By providing your baby a Celtic name, you are giving them a robust and meaningful name and cementing their ties with an ancient yet evolving culture.
Infographic: Lovely Celtic Baby Names For Your Cuddly Cutie
Celtic baby names originate in various languages and cultures, including Irish, Scottish, and Welsh. They may also have the essence of Old French, Old English, Latin, and Germanic languages. From this rich mixture come out beautiful names that will captivate your senses and bestow attention upon the bearer. Your search for Celtic baby names ends here. Take a look at our infographic to get some charming names with meanings.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are some modern variations of traditional Celtic names?
Several modern adaptations of traditional Celtic names exist, such as Aidan (Aodhán), denoting ‘fire’ or ‘fiery one,’ Liam (William), signifying a ‘determined protector,’ and Aoife (Aífe), an Irish name meaning ‘beautiful,’ ‘radiant,’ or ‘joyful.’ These modified versions successfully retain the Celtic essence while embracing current naming conventions.
2. What are some common Celtic names, and what do they mean?
Some frequently encountered Celtic names are Fiona, which signifies 'blessed' or 'white,' Eoin, denoting 'God is gracious,' and Niamh, an Irish name meaning 'radiant' or 'bright.'
3. How do the pronunciation and meaning of Celtic names change when translated into other languages?
The pronunciation and meaning of Celtic names might vary when they are translated. Phonetics adjust pronunciation to the rules of the target language. Due to linguistic intricacies and cultural settings in other languages, original meanings may be lost or altered.
References
- Ancient Celts:
https://www.worldhistory.org/celt/ - Peter Forster and Alfred Toth;
Toward a phylogenetic chronology of ancient Gaulish - Irish Culture: Naming.
https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/irish-culture/irish-culture-naming
