Celtic baby names and their meanings

Here is our list of the best Celtic baby names to help inspire you...

Celtic names for boys | Celtic names for girls | Old Celtic names | Unique and rare Celtic names

Celtic names for boys

Some of the UK's most popular baby boy names have Celtic roots so you'll find some very well-known options in this list such as Jack and Arthur. Some of the more unusual Celtic boy names are a little harder to pronounce or spell, especially those with Welsh or Irish roots, but once you've mastered them, they're extremely beautiful and enjoyable to say. Whichever name you choose for your baby boy from this list, you can be sure it'll be steeped in history and have a fabulous meaning to match.

1. Aidan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: small fire
• Also: Aiden, Edan

2. Alan

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: handsome or little rock
• Also: Allan, Allen, Alun, Alain

3. Arthur

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: bear

4. Baird

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: minstrel or poet

5. Bairrfhionn (bar-fyun)

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: marksman

6. Bram

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: raven

7. Brian

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: strong
• Also: Bryan, Brien and Brion

8. Bryce

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: speckled or freckled

9. Bryn

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: a hill

10. Caden

• Origin: Gaelic, Scottish, Irish
• Meaning: friend, companion

11. Cairbre (kar-bruh)

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: chariot driver

12. Carmichael

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: Michael’s fort

13. Chad

• Origin: British Celtic
• Meaning: after the African country

14. Denzel

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: stronghold
• Also: Denzil and Denzell

15. Desmond

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: one from South Munster

16. Duncan

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: brown

17. Dylan

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: son of the sea

18. Finlo

• Origin: Celtic, Manx
• Meaning: white, blessed champion

19. Finn

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: fair

20. Gavin

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: white hawk

21. Gordon

• Origin: Scottish
• Meaning: great hill

22. Graham

• Origin: Scottish
• Meaning: gray homestead

23. Hamish

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: supplanter; the Gaelic form of James

24. Ian

• Origin: Scottish
• Meaning: God is gracious
• Also: Iain

25. Jack

• Origin: English/ Celtic
• Meaning: healthy, strong

26. Jago

• Origin: Cornish
• Meaning: supplanter, beauty

27. Kane

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: warrior

28. Llŷr

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: the sea

29. Lowen

• Origin: Cornish
• Meaning: happy, joyful

30. Maddox

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: fortunate, good

31. Niall

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: champion
• Also: Nile

32. Owen

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: young warrior

33. Patrick/ Padraig

• Origin: Celtic/ Latin
• Meaning: a nobleman

34. Quinn

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: counsel

35. Reagan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: royal
• Also: Regan

36. Rhys

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: temper
• Also: Reece

37. Riordan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: royal poet

38. Rory

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: red king

39. Rowan

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: little redhead

40. Sean

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: god is gracious; Irish form of John
• Also: Seann

41. Tristan

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: bold or noise

Celtic names for girls

Celtic baby names are often beautiful and whimsical sounding so are a perfect choice if you want something pretty for your little girl. Many Celtic girl names have really gorgeous meanings too, such as 'daughter of the sea' and 'beautiful girl'. You'll recognise some of the names in this list as being used for baby girls for centuries, like Enid and Maeve, while others sound more modern even though they have ancient origins.

42. Avalon

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: island of apples

43. Brenda

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: blade of a sword

44. Brett

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: from Brittany

45. Brienne

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: high, exalted, strong

46. Brianna

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: noble, exalted

47. Caitlin

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: pure

48. Cordelia

• Girl name
• Origin: Latin/Celtic
• Meaning: heart, daughter of the sea

49. Devon

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: poet, fawn, defender or after the English county

50. Efa

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: alive

51. Eithne

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: kernel of a nut

52. Elowen

• Origin: Cornish
• Meaning: elm tree

53. Enid

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: spirit, life

54. Erin

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Ireland

55. Fenella

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: fair-shouldered
• Also: Fenna, Fen

56. Fiona

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: white, fair

57. Fionnula

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: white shoulder, fair

58. Gwyneth

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: happiness

59. Imogen

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: maiden
• Trend: moving down

60. Iona

• Origin: Scottish
• Meaning: after the island in the Hebrides

61. Keely

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: beautiful girl

62. Kendall

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: exalted, high

63. Kiera

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: dark
• Also: Ciara

64. Kyla

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: narrow spit of land

65. Kylie

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: beautiful, graceful

66. Maeve

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: intoxicating, she who rules

67. Marged

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: pearl

68. Morgan

• Origin: Welsh/ Breton
• Meaning: White Sea dweller

69. Nerys

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: lady

70. Niamh (neev)

• Origin: Old Irish
• Meaning: bright, radiant

71. Olwen

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: white footprint

72. Rhiannon

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: great queen, goddess

73. Roisin

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little rose

74. Rowena

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: fame and happiness

75. Sabrina

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: river goddess, 'from the river Severn'

76. Sadhbh (sigh-ve)

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: sweet, lovely

77. Saoirse

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: freedom

78. Seren

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: star

79. Shannon

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: wise river

80. Siobhan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: God’s grace

81. Teagan

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: little poet, beautiful, creative
• Also: Teghan, Teghann, Teagen

82. Yuna

• Origin: Breton
• Meaning: desired

Old Celtic names

You have to go back a long way in history to find really old Celtic baby names and many are associated with famous historical events and myths and legends passed down through families. You'll find strong names in this list with brilliant stories that will stand out on any school register – Boudicca and Guinevere for example!

83. Aine

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: radiance
• Girl

84. Alastriona

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: defends mankind
• Girl

85. Angus

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: one choice
• Boy

86. Boudicca

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: victory
• Girl

87. Bronwen

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: white breast
• Girl

88. Cerridwen

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: fair; blessed poetry
• Girl

89. Cormac

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning charioteer
• Also: Cormack and Cormick
• Boy

90. Etain

• Origin: Old Irish
• Meaning passion
• Girl

91. Fergus

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: strong man
• Boy

92. Genevieve

• Origin: French/ Celtic
• Meaning: family woman
• Girl

93. Guinevere

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: white fairy
• Girl

94. Gwendolyn

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: white circle
• Girl

95. Isolde

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: fair lady
• Girl

96. Joyce

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: cheerful, merry
• Girl

97. Meredith

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: great ruler
• Girl

98. Mervin

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: great lord
• Boy

99. Morwenna

• Origin: Cornish
• Meaning: fair maiden
• Girl

100. Una

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: lamb
• Girl

Unique and rare Celtic baby names

The Celtic boy and girl names in this list are unique choices that you may never have heard before. However, with their Celtic language links, they have beautiful sounds and many have roots in fantasy stories, so have a magical and ethereal air to them. Choosing one of these names will help your little one stand out and give them a cool, one-of-a-kind name that they'll be very proud of as they grow up.

101. Athdara

• Origin: Scottish/Celtic
• Meaning: from the oak tree ford
• Girl

102. Binnie

• Origin: Scottish/Celtic
• Meaning: crib; wicker basket
• Girl

103. Blaine

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: bright, bubbly
• Girl

104. Braden

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: salmon
• Boy

105. Brieg

• Origin: Scottish/Celtic
• Meaning: esteem
• Boy

106. Caractacus

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: loved, dear friend; name of 1st-century British chieftain
• Boy

107. Enora

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: honour
• Girl

108. Ianto

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: gift of god
• Boy

109. Igraine

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: maiden
• Girl

110. Laisren

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: flame
• Boy

111. Liadain

• Origin: Old Irish
• Meaning: grey lady
• Girl

112. Merle

• Origin: Celtic
• Meaning: bright sea
• Girl

115. Neven

• Origin: Scottish/ Irish
• Meaning: little saint
• Girl

116. Nimue

• Origin: Welsh
• Meaning: lady of the lake
• Girl

117. Oighrig

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic/Celtic
• Meaning: well-spoken/speckled one
• Girl

118. Onóra

• Origin: Gaelic
• Meaning: honor
• Girl

119. Rosslyn

• Origin: Scottish/Celtic
• Meaning: promontory
• Girl

120. Ysella

• Origin: Cornish
• Meaning: modest
• Girl name

Pics: Getty

Read more:

• 100 fantasy baby names for boys and girls
• 100 baby names from Greek mythology
• 150 French baby boy names and their meanings