Symbolic Celtic Names for Expectant Parents and Fiction Writers (Part 1: Girls)
- Christine Dorman
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Names are important. They are a part of our identity. We learn who we are (at least in part) from people calling us by name. Names are also who we are to other people. While names don’t define who we are, they are an undeniably integral part of self-identity.
Names are symbolic as well. Throughout history, in many civilizations, people changed their names at significant moments in their lives, such as puberty or marriage. Sometimes, their names changed because of an achievement or a change of status. This still happens in modern times.
In 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, a Mr. and Mrs. Prevost had a baby boy. They named him Robert Francis. On May 8, 2025, Roman Catholic cardinals chose him to be the new Pope, but he didn’t become Pope Robert. He chose a new name and is known now as Pope Leo XIV. This represents not just an elevated position but the change of identity that comes with it. He is no longer just Robert. Now, he is responsible (from a theological view) for the souls of more than 1.4 billion Roman Catholics in the world. The name he chose also hints at what he wants his papacy to be about. According to https://liveinitalymag.com/what-the-pope-leo-name-reveals-about-the-churchs-future/ the name indicates the new pope wants to be a bridge between tradition and reform and wants to focus on social justice and the rights of the working class.
Most of us didn’t get to choose our names. Even so, our names have meaning. Perhaps there is a personal significance. For example, you may have been named Isabella after your maternal grandmother. Most names also have a symbolic meaning associated with their language of origin. My name, for instance, means “anointed,” which means to be set apart for a special purpose. I’ve always loved that!
So, parents have an awesome responsibility when naming their new child. That adorable infant will grow into a conscious being who will carry that name, its sound, and its symbolism for their entire lives. Calling a child Ronald McDonald (It has been done!) likely will not appreciate the whimsy. And if you name your daughter Moondrop, she probably won’t thank you when she starts school.
Fiction writers don’t have to worry about destroying a human being’s life when they name characters. Nevertheless, a character’s name is important. Naming your heroine Baigart Grimwire will cause your reader subconscious dissonance unless the character is ironically sweet and cheerful, and you let your readers experience the irony through showing how people misjudge her because of her name. Of course, you can’t name your protagonist Jane Smith either because it’s too common and, well, too plain Jane.
Whether you’re a writer needing names for a slew of characters, an expectant parent wanting to give your new child a beautiful, meaningful, and not-so-common name, or just someone who loves learning things, especially Celtic stuff, here is a collection of Celtic language-based names for girls, along with their meanings and pronunciation. The boys' names will be coming in the next post.
In compiling these lists from the Irish, Scots Gaelic, and Welsh languages, I took into account a) the sound of the name, b) the symbolism, and c) the degree of difficulty in spelling and pronouncing each name. Be aware, especially if you’re a parent, that there are some names in the lists that might cause issues with correct pronunciation. For example, the Irish name Niamh. It means “radiant girl” and is an important name in Irish mythology. But it might cause your daughter the constant headache of telling people, “It’s pronounced ‘Neeve.” Nevertheless, some names made the list because they were pretty, symbolically beautiful, or powerful, and in some cases, culturally significant.
Note: Since Welsh things always end up last alphabetically, and since the choice of names is entirely focused on ones from the Celtic language, I’ve classified the lists with the name of the Celtic language. That means that Cymraeg (Welsh) gets to be first for a change!
One final note: Not all of the names listed are originally Celtic. Some are the Celtic language version of a name from another language / country / culture. For example, Mary and Elizabeth are popular (and really common) girls’ names. They come from Hebrew, but many cultures have come up with a native language version of them, such as Maria or Isabella. I have included the Irish, Scots Gaelic, and / or Welsh versions of some common English language names.
CYMRAEG (Welsh)
On the pronunciation of these Welsh names: the accent is on the first syllable unless otherwise indicated by italicized syllables.)
Anwen (an-wen) "white” or “holy.” Lord of the Rings fans will be interested to know that a variant name is Arwen.
Anwyl (an-wil) "beloved."
Arianell (ah-ree-on-ehl) "silver."
Aurddolen (air-tho-len) “gold ring.” I think this is a beautiful name, but if you give it to your daughter, she’s always going to have to tell people the correct pronunciation.
Awena or Arwenna (ah-weh-na) "muse."
Blodwedd (blod-weth) "flowers."
Branwen (bran-wen) “blessed raven.”
Briallen (bree-ahl-en) "primrose."
Cadi (cah-dee) “pure.” A diminutive form of Catrin.
Calan (cal-an) "New Year's Day."
Cerys (car-is) “love.” From the Welsh word caru.
Ceinwen (kyne-wen) "beautiful" plus "holy, “white” or “pure."
Ceridwen (ker-ee-dwen) The name is possibly derived from the words caru "love" and gwyn "white; pure.” Ceridwen was a major goddess in Welsh mythology. A diminutive is Ceri (Ker-ee, like curry, not Cary).
Crisiant (kryees-yant) "crystal, bright."
Ebrill (eb-rill) "April."
Efanna (ay-van-na) “life.” From the name Efa, a Welsh form of Eve.
Eilir (ay-lir) "butterfly."
Eirianna (ay-ree-an-na) "bright."
Eirlys (air-lees) "snowdrop."
Ethni (eth-nee) "kernel." Variant of the Irish name Eithne (en-ya).
Fioled (vee-ol-ed) "violet."
Glenys (glin-is) "clean, pure, holy," Derived from the Welsh word glan.
Glesni (gles-nee) "freshness."
Gwenydd (gwen-ith) "morning star."
Iseult (ee-saylt) or Isolde (ee-sol-da) "beautiful to look at.” A tragic heroine of Arthurian legend.
Lowri (low-ree) “laurel.” Welsh form of Laura.
Mairwen (mire-wen) “bitterness” or “longed for child.” Welsh form of Mary.
Morwen (mor-wen) "blessed or pure sea."
Nesta (nest-ah) “innocence” or “lamb.” The Welsh form of Agnes.
Nia (nee-ah) “radiance.” From Niamh, a faerie in Irish mythology.
Rhiannon (ree-an-non) "maiden." Possibly derived from rhiain. In Welsh mythology, Rhiannon was an enchantress and a queen. She is associated with the Celtic horse goddess, Epona.
Seirian (say-ree-an) "sparkling."
Seren (sey-ren) "star."
Siani (shan-ee): Diminutive of Siân (Jane), a feminine form of John. Alternate: Sioned, (sho-ned).
Sidan (shee-dan) "silk"
Taryn (tar-in) "thunder." This meaning may be a negative for some people, but I love thunder—and this name.
Tegan (teg-an) "beautiful." Variants: Tegau (teg-ay) and Tegwen (teg-wen).
Telyn (tel-in) "harp."
Tesni (tes-nee) "warmth."
Tirion (tih r'yon) "gentle" or "happy."
GAEILGE (Irish)
Aine (awn-ye) “radiance,” “brilliance.” The name of the Irish goddess of love.
Aisling (ash-ling) “dream” or “vision.”
Aoibhe (ey-va) “beauty.”
Aoibhinn / Aoibheann (ee-van or ay-veen) “radiant beauty.”
Aoife (ee-fa) “beautiful or radiant.”
Blathnaid (blaw-nid) “flower” or “blossom.”
Caoimhe (kwee-va or kee-va) “precious.”
Cadhla (ky-lah) “graceful.” A phonetic version is Kyla.
Ciara (kee-ra) “dark” (as in having dark hair or eyes. The feminine form of Ciaran. A phonetic version is Keira.
Cliodhna (clee-na) “shapely.” Cliodhna was a queen of the North Munster banshees.
Eithne (en-ya): “kernel of a nut or seed.” The name is associated with the male name Aidan, which means “little fire.”
Fiona: (Fee-o-na) “fair and beautiful.” Alternates are Fionnuala (fi-noola) and Nuala (Noo-la).
Laoise (lee-sha) “radiant girl.”
Meabh (mave) “intoxicating.” Meabh (aka Maeve) was a legendary Queen of Connacht and a major character in Irish mythology.
Niamh (neev or nee-iv) “radiance.” In Irish folklore, she is a famous faerie princess.
Orlaith (orla) “golden princess.” Orla is used as an alternate spelling.
Riona (ree-ona) “queenly.”
Roisin (ro-sheen) “little rose.”
Sadhbh (sive, sigh-v) “sweet, lovely, wise.”
Siobhan (ssh-vahn) God is gracious.” The feminine version of Sean (John). The Irish version of Joan. An alternate version is Sinead (shin-ade).
Sorcha (sur-ka) “brightness” or “radiance.” Irish version of Sarah.
GÁIDHLIG (Scots Gaelic)
Beathag (bia-hak): “life.” Taken from the Scots Gaelic word beatha. Actually, I think Beatha (Bea-ha) itself would make a pretty name.
Cairistìona (k-ay-rih-s-chee-n-aa) “anointed.” All right. I admit the pronunciation of this one takes a little practice, but I had to include it. It’s the Scots Gaelic version of the Greek name Christina. And this is pretty close to how my Scottish grandmother said my name (except without the aa at the end since I’m Christine).
Ealasaid (el-said). “God is my oath.” Scots Gaelic version of the Hebrew name Elisabeth.
Èilbhlin (a-velin) “life.” Scots Gaelic version of the French name Aveline (Evelyn), which is q diminutive of the name Ava. Ava, of course, has its origin in the Hebrew name Eve.
Iseabail (Ish-a-bail) “pledged to God.” The Scottish version of the Spanish name Isabel. Isabel or Isabella are versions of the Hebrew name Elizabeth.
Lilias: (lil-e-is) “lily." The ghost of Lady Lilias Drummond, whose husband, it is said, starved her to death, haunts Fyvie Castle in Aberdeen, Scotland. Read her story here.
Liùsaid (lu-say) “light.” Scottish form of Lucia.
Mairead (mar-reth) "pearl." Scots Gaelic form of Margaret.
Màiri (mar-ri) “bitterness” or “wished for child.” Irish / Scottish version of Mary. Derived from the Hebrew Miriam (bitterness), it is usually given in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Moire (moy-ra). A version of Maria. Although one source (https://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/scottish-gaelic) says this name is used exclusively to refer to the Virgin Mary, I have known a few Moiras, one of whom was a cousin—from Scotland.
Mòrag: (mor-ag) “princess.” A diminutive of Mòr (“great”), which is used for Sarah. Sarah is derived from Hebrew. Mòrag is also the name of a loch monster who inhabits Loch Morar in the Lochobar region of the Scottish Highlands. She is Nessie of Loch Ness' biggest rival.
Nessa (Ness-a) “Pure, innocent” or “lamb.” A diminutive of the Latin / Old Greek name Agnes.
Seònaid (Shon-et) "God is gracious" or "gift from God.” Scottish version of the French Jeanette, a fem. variant of Jean (John). "God is gracious" or "gift from God.” A variant is Sìne (Jane or Jean) (Shee-na).
Sìleas (Shee-las) Derived from Latin, the name Cecilia, meaning "blind.” Now, though, the name is associated with music as St. Cecilia, an early Christian martyr, is the patron saint of music and musicians. Sheila is a variant.
Slàine (sla-na) "health," "safety"
Sorcha (sore-sha) "radiant, bright.” An Irish / Scottish version of Sarah.
Teasag (tae-sak) “God is gracious.” A form of Jessie.
Ùna (Oo-na) “lamb.” Believed to be derived from Old Irish úan (lamb).
Senga “Pure, innocent” or “lamb.” A made-up name that simply is “Agnes” spelled backwards.
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All artwork for this post (except for the Ukranian flag and the GIF) by Christine Dorman via Bing Image Creator.
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