Irish Names Starting with A

Aednat, spelled Áednat in early medieval Irish and Aodhnait later, is a feminine diminutive of Áed (modern Aodh), an old name meaning “fire.”

Aibhlinn is a spelling of Aibhilín, the Irish form of the Norman name Aveline, which in English became Evelyn and Eveleen.

Aibreann comes from the Irish for April. The month is spelled Aibreán in standard Irish, while Aibreann and Aibrean are the spellings used for the name.

Formed like Aidan from aed “fire.” Aideen loved her husband Oscar, a grandson of Fionn Mac Cool, so much that when he fell in battle she died of a broken heart.

Ailbhe comes from the Old Irish name Ailbe, whose origin is uncertain. It may come from a Celtic root meaning “white” or “bright.”

Aileen is a variant of Eileen and an English form of the Irish Eibhlín, also spelled Aibhilín. It is not, as sometimes claimed, an ancient Gaelic name from a word meaning “noble.”

Ailis, or Ailís with a fada, is the Irish form of Alice, a name the Anglo-Normans brought to Ireland.

Ancient Irish name from the noun aine that means “splendor, radiance, brilliance.” Aine is connected with fruitfulness and prosperity.

Adding a to leanbh, the word for “child” in Irish, brings a sense of warmth – “O child” or “darling child.” A favored name in Ireland with all three spellings.

Anna in Irish is Aine, pronounced AWN-ye, meaning “splendor, radiance, brilliance.”

Anya in Irish is Aine, pronounced AWN-ye, meaning “splendor, radiance, brilliance.”

Aoibheann comes from the Old Irish Aíbinn or Oébfinn, from oíb “beauty, form” and finn “white, fair,” so “fair form” or “radiant beauty.”

Aoibhín is a pet form of Aoibhe, made with the Irish diminutive ending -ín, “little.”

Meaning “beautiful, radiant, joyful.” Known as the greatest woman warrior in the world, Aoife was the mother of Cuchulainn’s only son, Connlach.

From aislinge which means “a vision” or “a dream,” Aisling is the name given to a popular poetic genre from the 17th and 18th centuries in which Ireland is personified as a beautiful woman in peril.

Ava in Irish is Aoife, pronounced EE-fa, meaning “beautiful, radiant, joyful.”

A diminutive form of the name Aed meaning “fire” and would imply “born of fire.”

From aon “excellent” and gus “strength, vigor.” Aengus was the god of love and of youth.

Aidan in Irish is Aedan, pronounced AID-an, meaning “born of fire.”

Aiden in Irish is Aedan, pronounced AID-an, meaning “born of fire.”

From an old Irish word meaning “white,” the 6th century St. Ailbe was associated with the monastery at Emly in County Tipperary.

From the Irish ailleacht “beauty.” Ailill was the young husband of Queen Maebh, chosen by her because he was “a man without meanness, fear or jealousy, a match for my own greatness.”

Alby in Irish is Ailbe, pronounced ALL-bay, meaning “white.”

Alroy is linked with the Irish rua (older ruadh), “red, red-haired,” through Irish surnames.

From ardanach meaning “high aspiration.” Ardan was one of the sons of Usna who helped Deirdre escape to Scotland so that she would not be forced to marry King Conchobhar MacNessa.

In Ireland a separate name from Arthur it comes from an ancient word for “a bear,” used in the sense of “outstanding warrior” or “champion.”

Arthur in Irish is Art, pronounced ART, meaning “champion.”