These Baby Names Inspired By Irish Mythology Are So Good We Want Them ALL

Irish mythology is a rich source for beautiful and unusual baby names. We trawled the cycles of ancient stories from the Tuath Dé Danann – the ancient tribe of gods and goddesses – to the Fenian Cycle – featuring stories of the Fianna warriors – to find some of our country's forgotten gems. There are many variations in the spelling of Irish names so I apologise in advance for any inaccuracies, as any Sadhbh or Sive or Saibh or Sadbh will tell you: it's not always easy to settle on the definitive spelling for our unique names! For the girls: 1. Banba – patron goddess of Ireland. 2. Deirdre – tragic heroine of the Ulster Cycle; when she was born it was prophesied that she would be beautiful, but that kings and lords would go to war over her. 3. Aoibheall – the guardian spirit of the Ó Bríen clan. 4. Étaín – Heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne or the Wooing of Étaín. 5. Danu – the mother goddess of the Tuath Dé Danann. 6. Macha – a goddess associated with war, horses and sovereignty. 7. Bébhinn – a goddess quite appropriately associated with birth and meaning 'melodious woman'. 8. Sadhbh – Lover of Fionn mac Cumhaill, she spent three years transformed into a doe for refusing the love of a dark druid. 9. Lí Ban – meaning beautiful woman, in one story she appears in the form of a sea bird while in another, she turns into a mermaid. 10. Ériu – another patron goddess of Ireland. For the boys: 1. Naoise – Doomed lover of Deirdre. 2. Fraoch – Warrior of Connacht. 3. Aengus – a god associated with love and poetry. 4. Lir – a god of the sea. 5. Dáire – owner of the Donn Cuailnge, the Brown Bull of Cooley. 6. Fionn – Fionn Mac Cumhaill was the legendary hunter-warrior and leader of the Fianna. 7. Felim – Felim mac Daill was father of Deirdre and a celebrated bard. 8. Caoilte – a member of the Fianna, who could run incredibly fast and communicate with animals. 9. Conán – another member of the Fianna, a comedic figure in many stories. 10. Cumhall – father of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and leader of the Fianna. Where did you find inspiration for your babies' names? Let us know in the comments...