Irish and Celtic Girls Names
Áine ('ain + yeh')
Áine is a form of Anne as associated with St.Anne, the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. The name means 'brightness' and there was also a fertility goddess named Aine who was later viewed as a fairy queen. Gaelic also has a noun Aine which means 'delight, agility or melody'.
Aibhlínn (pronounced 'I've + lean')
Aibhlinn is an Irish version of the Norman name Avilene which means 'longed for child'. Variations include Eveleen, Eveline, Evelyn and Evelyne.
Aibreán ('ab + rawn')
Aibreán is Gaelic for the month of April and is sometimes used as a girls name. The Welsh eqwivalent is Ebrill
Aideen ('aid + een')
A feminine form of Aed, Aideen was the wife of the legendary warrior Oscar, grandson of Fionn Mac Cool. Like most Celtic woman she could love only one man and when Oscar was slain in battle she died of a broken heart
Aingeal ('ang + ell')
Gaelic for 'Angel' and derived from the Greek 'angelos' meaning 'divine messenger'. The English equivalent is Angela.
Aislin, Aislinn, Aisling, Ashling
From the Gaelic word 'aisling' meaning 'dream vision'. Keats poem La Belle Dame Sans Merci was thought to have been influenced by an Aisling story. A dreamer sees a beautiful woman who belongs to the spirit world and when he wakes up he can never again be contented
Alana, Alanna
From the Gaelic 'a leanbh' meaning 'o child'. The name has many variants such as Alanis as popularised by the singer Alanis Morissette
Alma, Almha
Comes from the Latin 'alma' meaning 'kind and nourishing'. Alma was an Irish goddess known for her strength and healing abilities.
Aoibhín ('eve + een')
A name borne by many Irish princesses and means 'shining one' or 'little Eve'. It is derived from the Gaelic aoibhinn, meaning 'of radiant beauty'.
Aoife ('eef + a')
meaning 'radiant beauty' the name has been borne by many women in Irish history. Aoife was also the name of a Scottish warrior queen who bore a son to the Irish warrior Cuchulainn. Years later the son was accidentally slain by Cuchulainn
