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.”

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby girls a year get the name.

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

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2022.

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.

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby girls a year get 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.

No. 885 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 3 baby girls.

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

No. 50 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 95 baby girls.

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.”

No. 718 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 4 baby girls.

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

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2023.

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

No. 91 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 53 baby girls.

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.

No. 103 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 46 baby girls.

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

No. 26 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 143 baby girls.

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

No. 443 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 8 baby girls.

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

No. 180 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 26 baby girls.

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

No. 62 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 82 baby girls.

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

No. 34 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 121 baby girls.

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.

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2021.

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

No. 26 for girls in Ireland in 2025, with 143 baby girls.

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

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2024.

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

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2013.

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

No. 82 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 72 baby boys.

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

No. 149 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 35 baby boys.

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

No. 676 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 4 baby boys.

Ailill, also spelled Ailell or Oilioll, is an Old Irish man’s name that appears often in early Irish history and legend. Behind the Name gives its meaning as “elf.”

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby boys a year get the name.

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

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2024.

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

Rare in Ireland: fewer than three baby boys a year get the name.

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.

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2016.

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.”

No. 329 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 12 baby boys.

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

No. 57 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 95 baby boys.