Rare Irish names modern American parents should consider

Unknown and rare Irish names are plentiful, so it's a shame that not more American parents know about them . Irish names have always been popular in the US, but there are some that American parents who are looking fo baby names have never heard of.

It was recently revealed that an Irish name for boys was the most popular for parents welcoming newborns in the US in 2023. Liam topped the list with other names of Irish origin appearing such as Owen and Aiden.

Meanwhile, a clear trend appeared when it came to Irish names for girls in the US. Names that come from Irish surnames, such as Kennedy and Riley, proved popular.

• Popular baby name for girls you probably didn't realize is Irish

However, we want to introduce you to some Irish names you have never heard before. Here are some unknown and rare Irish names that we think American parents should consider for their soon-to-be son or daughter.

Fionan

Pronunciation: fee-yun-on

Fionan is a super rare Irish name for boys. It shares its meaning and origin with the name Finn, which is a much more popular name for boys in the US and around the world.

Fionan comes from the Old Irish Fionn, which is inspired by the mighty warrior from Irish folklore Fionn Mac Cumbhal (Finn McCool). Finn McCool is associated with the mythology attached to iconic Irish places like the Giant's Causeway .

Laoise

Pronunciation: leesha

Laoise is perhaps one of the most difficult-to-pronounce Irish names for people who don't understand the Irish language. Laoise is a beautiful Irish name for girls that means 'light'.

Faolán

Pronunciation: fway-lon

Another rare and largely unknown Irish name for boys is Faolán. This name is one of the Irish names inspired by animals and wildlife as it means 'little wolf'.

Aoibhínn

Pronunciation: ee-veen

Aoibhínn is a name you would hear in Ireland but never in the US . It is an Irish name for girls that means 'beauty', similar to more popular names like Aoife.

Páraic

Pronunciation: paw-rick

Páraic is a name you might actually be more familiar with than you realize. Páraic is one of the Irish variations of the name Patrick.

It is similar to names like Pádraig, Paddy, and Páidí. It means 'one who is of the patrician class'.

Sadhbh

Pronunciation: sive

Sadhbh will boggle the mind of someone who doesn't know the rules of the Irish language. Sadhbh means 'sweet' and 'lovely'. It can also be spelled Saibh.

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