659 Charismatic Celtic Baby Names With Meanings

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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
Hashna	Girl	Happiness; Savior
Hedrek	Boy	Derived from the Celtic word hedr; Bold
Heremon	Boy	A variation of Herman and Irving
Hines	Boy	Descendant of Eidhin; A derivative of Hynes
Hyden	Unisex	From the hidden valley
Imogen	Girl	Maiden
Ireland	Unisex	Land of the Irish
Iseult	Boy	Passionate, Enchanting, Legendary
Isolt	Unisex	She who is gazed upon
Jannon	Boy	One with fair hair

Jareth	Boy	A gentle one
Jena	Girl	Lady of the people; Tribal Woman; Little Bird; Virgin
Jenavieve	Girl	Women's running competition
Jeneva	Girl	Woman in running competition
Jenevieve	Girl	A woman runner or competitor
Jenna	Girl	Little bird
Jynx	Unisex	Mysterious; Enigmatic; Unpredictable
Kaasi	Girl	From the Holy City
Kaca	Unisex	Descendant of the vigilant one
Kace	Unisex	The descendant of the vigilant

Kacee	Girl	Descendant of Cathasaigh; Descendant of the vigilant one; One who is alert and vigilant; A spelling variant of Casey
Kacey	Boy	Descendant of Cathasach
Kaelan	Boy	Slender
Kaelen	Boy	Slender
Kaelin	Boy	Rejoicer
Kail	Boy	Mighty one
Kaileigh	Girl	Dance; Gathering
Kailen	Unisex	Slender; Fair
Kaillie	Girl	Church, monastary
Kaily	Girl	Social celebration

Kaleigh	Girl	Pure; Keeper of the keys; Slender; Rare beauty
Kandra	Girl	Greatest Chamion; Moonshine in Sanskrit
Kane	Boy	Son of Cathán; Warrior
Kanin	Boy	Little ancient one
Karling	Boy	Little champion
Karryghan	Boy	The admired one
Karsen	Boy	A follower of Christ
Karstyn	Girl	Mossy place
Karsyn	Girl	From the marsh
Katell	Girl	Pure

Kayci	Girl	Descendant of Cathasaigh; Descendant of the vigilant one; One who is alert and vigilant; A spelling variant of Casey
Kaydin	Unisex	Modern variant of Caden; A companion
Kaylan	Unisex	Slender
Kaylene	Girl	The place of a prayer
Kayse	Girl	Alert; Watchful
Keanan	Boy	Little ancient one; Man; Manly; Brave; Virility; A variant is Keandre
Keandre	Boy	Little ancient one; Man; Manly; Brave; Virility
Keary	Boy	Dark
Keelen	Boy	He is a slender one
Keir	Girl	Dark; Thicket

Keira	Girl	Little dark-haired one
Keiran	Girl	Dark-haired
Keirnan	Boy	Little; Black-haired
Keirra	Girl	Dark-haired; Dark
Keiryn	Boy	Black
Keitha	Girl	The woman is a warrior
Keithan	Boy	Wind
Kel	Unisex	Armor; Protector
Kelby	Boy	Dweller at a farm near a stream or well
Kelce	Unisex	From ship island

Kelcey	Girl	Victory ship
Kelci	Girl	A ship of victory
Kelia	Girl	Wood
Kellen	Boy	Strong; Bright-headed; Great warrior
Kellene	Girl	Church; Monastery
Keller	Boy	Little champion
Kellesha	Girl	Woman warrior
Kelley	Boy	Warrior; Bright-headed; Born on a farm
Kelli	Girl	Lively
Kellie	Girl	From the wood

Kelly	Boy	Warrior; Wood; Born on a farm
Kelsea	unisex	Island of ships
Kelseigh	Girl	Victorious ship
Keltonn	Boy	Town of the Celts
Kelvan	Boy	River man
Kelven	Boy	Man from the river
Kelvin	Boy	From the narrow river
Kelvyn	Boy	Man from the narrow river
Kelwin	Boy	From the small river
Kelwyn	Boy	From the slender river

Kely	Boy	Brave warrior
Kemble	Boy	From beside the water pipe
Kenadie	Boy	Helmeted chief
Kenai	Girl	Flat meadow; Black bear; Clean water
Kendria	Girl	High summit; Greatest champion; Blend of Ken and Sandra or Andrea
Kendrik	Boy	High Summit; Greatest champion; Royal ruler; Son of Harry; Royal chieftain
Keneth	Boy	Good-looking and a handsome man
Kennadie	Girl	Head with an armor
Kennady	Girl	Ugly; Armored head
Kenneally	Boy	Head of wolf

Kennedale	Girl	She comes from the valley
Kennedi	Girl	Helmet on the head
Kennera	Girl	Woman leader
Kennith	Boy	Fair and fiery; A handsome man
Kenric	Boy	High Summit; Greatest champion; Royal ruler; Son of Harry; Royal chieftain
Kenrich	Boy	Royal ruler, A great champion
Kenrick	Boy	The ruler of royal blood
Kenricks	Boy	Royal ruler
Kenricus	Boy	Brave ruler
Kenriek	Boy	The royal one who rules

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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.

captivating celtic baby names with meanings for your little one (infographic)

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

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