Aengus: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Aengus is an Irish boy's name meaning “excellent strength.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Excellent strength
- Gender
- Boy
- Also spelled
- Aonghus, Oengus
How do you pronounce Aengus?
Aengus is pronounced ENG-iss. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Aonghus and Oengus.
What does Aengus mean?
From aon “excellent” and gus “strength, vigor.” Aengus was the god of love and of youth. His words were as sweet as honey, attracting bees and birds. He fell deeply in love with a beautiful girl he saw in a dream and passed through many trials, including turning himself into a swan, to win her love. The poet William Butler Yeats immortalised his search in “The Song of Wandering Aengus:” I went out to the hazel wood, Because a fire was in my head, And cut and peeled a hazel wand, And hooked a berry to a thread; And when white moths were on the wing, And moth-like stars were flickering out, I dropped the berry in a stream, And caught a little silver trout.
How popular is Aengus in Ireland?
Aengus wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2013, when 3 baby boys got the name. It was most popular in 1973, when 11 baby boys were named Aengus, No. 200 that year. The records go back to 1964, when 5 baby boys were given the name.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 | No. 711 |
| 2010 | 3 | No. 720 |
| 2008 | 3 | No. 698 |
| 2005 | 3 | No. 518 |
| 1997 | 5 | No. 303 |
| 1996 | 5 | No. 295 |
| 1994 | 3 | No. 342 |
| 1993 | 3 | No. 339 |
| 1990 | 4 | No. 286 |
| 1987 | 4 | No. 272 |
| 1986 | 4 | No. 283 |
| 1985 | 5 | No. 250 |
| 1984 | 5 | No. 250 |
| 1983 | 4 | No. 282 |
| 1982 | 5 | No. 268 |
| 1981 | 3 | No. 322 |
| 1980 | 8 | No. 232 |
| 1979 | 5 | No. 269 |
| 1977 | 3 | No. 333 |
| 1976 | 8 | No. 222 |
| 1975 | 6 | No. 251 |
| 1974 | 7 | No. 240 |
| 1973 | 11 | No. 200 |
| 1972 | 9 | No. 207 |
| 1971 | 7 | No. 233 |
| 1970 | 4 | No. 278 |
| 1968 | 6 | No. 207 |
| 1967 | 5 | No. 222 |
| 1965 | 3 | No. 250 |
| 1964 | 5 | No. 204 |
Aengus in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Aengus, letter by letter.
- AAilm, pine
- EEadhadh, aspen
- NNion, ash
- GGort, ivy
- UÚr, heather
- SSail, willow
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Aengus
Questions about Aengus
- How do you pronounce Aengus?
- Aengus is pronounced ENG-iss. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- What does Aengus mean?
- Aengus means “excellent strength.”
- Is Aengus a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Aengus is a boy's name.