Turlough: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Turlough is an Irish boy's name meaning “one who aids.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- One who aids
- Gender
- Boy
- English forms
- Terence, Terry
- Popularity in Ireland
- No. 829 for boys (2025)
How do you pronounce Turlough?
Turlough is pronounced TUR-la. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first. Other spellings: Turlach.
What does Turlough mean?
From an Irish name meaning “one who aids or assists.” It is usually translated as Terence and Terry, two names that have become strongly associated with Ireland. Turlough O’Carolan was a 17th century blind harpist and composer who wrote one of the most haunting pieces of Irish music, “O’Carolan’s Concerto.”
How popular is Turlough in Ireland?
In 2025, 3 baby boys in Ireland were named Turlough, which made it No. 829 that year. It was most popular in 1969, when 8 baby boys were named Turlough, No. 206 that year. The most babies got the name in 2010: 11. It first appears in the records in 1965, with 4 baby boys.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | No. 829 |
| 2024 | 5 | No. 582 |
| 2023 | 5 | No. 584 |
| 2022 | 5 | No. 572 |
| 2020 | 3 | No. 741 |
| 2019 | 6 | No. 506 |
| 2018 | 5 | No. 572 |
| 2017 | 6 | No. 495 |
| 2016 | 4 | No. 601 |
| 2013 | 4 | No. 605 |
| 2011 | 6 | No. 490 |
| 2010 | 11 | No. 354 |
| 2009 | 4 | No. 604 |
| 2008 | 7 | No. 444 |
| 2007 | 9 | No. 342 |
| 2006 | 3 | No. 596 |
| 2005 | 6 | No. 370 |
| 2004 | 5 | No. 390 |
| 2003 | 3 | No. 500 |
| 2002 | 4 | No. 393 |
| 2001 | 3 | No. 409 |
| 2000 | 3 | No. 390 |
| 1999 | 4 | No. 330 |
| 1997 | 3 | No. 382 |
| 1995 | 3 | No. 334 |
| 1994 | 3 | No. 342 |
| 1991 | 4 | No. 288 |
| 1990 | 4 | No. 286 |
| 1989 | 3 | No. 307 |
| 1983 | 4 | No. 282 |
| 1982 | 3 | No. 330 |
| 1981 | 5 | No. 260 |
| 1979 | 5 | No. 269 |
| 1977 | 5 | No. 273 |
| 1976 | 5 | No. 258 |
| 1975 | 5 | No. 265 |
| 1974 | 5 | No. 272 |
| 1973 | 6 | No. 254 |
| 1972 | 8 | No. 219 |
| 1971 | 7 | No. 233 |
| 1970 | 5 | No. 251 |
| 1969 | 8 | No. 206 |
| 1966 | 4 | No. 229 |
| 1965 | 4 | No. 222 |
Turlough 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 Turlough, letter by letter.
- TTinne, holly
- UÚr, heather
- RRuis, elder
- LLuis, rowan
- OOnn, gorse
- UÚr, heather
- GGort, ivy
- HUath, hawthorn
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Turlough
Questions about Turlough
- How do you pronounce Turlough?
- Turlough is pronounced TUR-la. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- What does Turlough mean?
- Turlough means “one who aids.”
- Is Turlough a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Turlough is a boy's name.
- What is Turlough in English?
- The English forms of Turlough are Terence and Terry.
- How popular is Turlough in Ireland?
- In 2025, Turlough was No. 829 for boys in Ireland, with 3 babies, according to the Central Statistics Office. It was most popular in 1969, at No. 206.