Gaelic Baby Names

Gaelic names come from the Celtic languages of Ireland and Scotland, and many of them reached English as surnames before they were used as first names. The prefix mac means son of, which explains Macarthur, Mccall and Mekenzie, a spelling variant of a well-known Scottish clan name. Curran and Dolan come from old Irish family names, and Blain from a Scottish one.

Other names here are rooted in the landscape. Glenna comes from the Gaelic word for a valley, the same word behind glen in English. Cyle and Kiel are spellings linked to a Gaelic word for a narrow strait of water. Elgin is the name of a Scottish town, and Keir has Scottish roots as well. Oran comes from an early Irish saint's name.

Spelling is the main thing to watch. Gaelic names were written down in English in many ways, so you will find variants such as Kennith and Keneth alongside the more familiar form, and feminine forms like Kylene. Choose a spelling that fits how you want the name said, and think about how often you will be asked to spell it out. Short choices like Keir and Oran stay simple, while longer surname names give you room for a nickname.