Irish Boy Names Starting with P

Padraig means “nobly born.”

No. 185 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 26 baby boys.

Páidí is a pet form of Pádraig, the Irish form of Patrick, which comes from the Latin Patricius, “nobly born” or “of the patrician class.” Rev. Patrick Woulfe’s Irish Names and Surnames (1923) gives Paddy as its English equivalent, and it is also anglicized as Paudie.

No. 12 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 239 baby boys.

Patrick in Irish is Padraig, meaning “nobly born.” Say it PAW-drig.

No. 25 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 183 baby boys.

Peadar is the Irish form of Peter, used in both Irish and Scottish Gaelic. Peter comes from the Greek Petros, “stone” or “rock,” a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon. As the name of the leading apostle, it spread throughout the Christian world.

No. 232 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 20 baby boys.

Pearse comes from the Norman French name Piers and honours Patrick Pearse, a leader of the 1916 Easter Rising.

No. 509 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 6 baby boys.

Peter in Irish is Peadar, meaning “the rock.” Say it PAD-ar.

No. 152 for boys in Ireland in 2025, with 34 baby boys.

Phelan in Irish is Faolan, meaning “little wolf.” Say it FWAIL-awn.

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

Phelim is an English spelling of Feidhlim, meaning “ever good.” Feidhlim is said FAIL-im.

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 2015.

Proinsias is the Irish form of Francis, from the Late Latin Franciscus, “Frenchman.” Franciscus was the name given in his youth to St Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan friars, whose baptismal name was John, because he learned to speak French readily.

Not in Ireland's 2025 tables (fewer than three babies); last recorded in 1982.