Names to explore
Irish names that travel easily
Established choices that are uncommon in the U.S. but relatively easy to carry into everyday use.
Cian
A compact Irish name with a clean, modern sound despite its long history.
2025 U.S.: 148 births · #1,310Peak: 2007 · 181 births
Cillian
An established Irish name that is now more familiar in the U.S. while still sitting well outside the most-used choices.
2025 U.S.: 595 births · #507Peak: 2024 · 668 births
Cormac
A sturdy Irish name with a crisp ending and a long history in Irish tradition.
2025 U.S.: 150 births · #1,298Peak: 2014 · 196 births
Eamon
An Irish form with an easy rhythm and a softer sound than many current boys’ names.
2025 U.S.: 102 births · #1,646Peak: 2016 · 182 births
Eoghan
A traditional Irish spelling that feels highly distinctive in U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: 19 births · #5,087Peak: 2015 · 29 births
Fintan
An old Irish name with a bright, concise sound and very low current U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 12 births · #6,925Peak: 2010 · 27 births
Lorcan
A traditional Irish choice with a strong sound and only a small published U.S. count.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #8,656Peak: 2018 · 17 births
Traditional spellings
Names that keep a strong connection to Irish-language spelling and heritage.
Niall
A classic Irish name that is recognizable without being common in the United States.
2025 U.S.: 96 births · #1,706Peak: 2024 · 110 births
Oisin
A well-known Irish-language name with a distinctive spelling and low U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 22 births · #4,660Peak: 2020 · 31 births
Ruairi
An Irish spelling with real heritage appeal and very limited U.S. usage.
2025 U.S.: 17 births · #5,570Peak: 2022 · 21 births
Senan
An Irish saint’s name with a gentle sound and a very small current U.S. count.
2025 U.S.: 12 births · #7,118Peak: 2018 · 12 births
Tadhg
A deeply Irish choice whose spelling and pronunciation are closely tied to the language.
2025 U.S.: 30 births · #3,742Peak: 2023 · 46 births
Tiernan
An Irish surname and given-name tradition with a strong, uncommon sound.
2025 U.S.: 29 births · #3,840Peak: 2007 · 86 births
Odhran
A traditional Irish name that sits close to the SSA publication floor in current U.S. data.
2025 U.S.: 5 births · #13,366Peak: 2022 · 7 births
Very uncommon choices
Distinctive options with especially small published U.S. counts.
Darragh
An Irish name used for boys and sometimes girls, with very low U.S. use in this spelling.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #8,405Peak: 2021 · 16 births
Conall
An old Irish name with a straightforward sound once you know the pronunciation.
2025 U.S.: 19 births · #5,074Peak: 2016 · 41 births
Ciaran
An established Irish name whose original spelling remains uncommon in the U.S.
2025 U.S.: 105 births · #1,609Peak: 2025 · 105 births
Seamus
Seamus is a familiar Irish form with a strong heritage connection and modest current U.S. use.
2025 U.S.: 154 births · #1,280Peak: 2008 · 298 births
Malachy
An Irish form with a vintage, literary feel and only a small U.S. count.
2025 U.S.: 9 births · #8,665Peak: 2002 · 35 births
Shay
A short Irish-rooted option that feels accessible while remaining outside the mainstream.
2025 U.S.: 77 births · #1,989Peak: 1991 · 154 births
The data line uses the exact spelling shown. “No published 2025 count” can mean the spelling had zero births or fewer than five, because SSA does not publish counts below five.
Start with the Irish spelling you actually love
If heritage matters, do not choose an anglicized spelling only because it looks easier. Say the original form aloud, learn the pronunciation and decide whether it feels right for your family.
U.S. rarity is not Irish rarity
A name that is unusual in American data may be familiar in Ireland. This page uses U.S. births only to show how often each exact spelling appears here.
Pronunciation deserves a little homework
Irish orthography follows rules that English speakers may not know. Before choosing a name, listen to native or reliable pronunciation sources rather than guessing from the letters alone.
Roscoe's pick
Cormac
Cormac is established, unmistakably Irish and still uncommon enough in current U.S. data to feel distinctive.
More names to explore
Questions parents ask
Are all of these names rare in the United States?
They are selected for uncommon U.S. use or for a distinctive heritage style. Each card shows the exact-spelling 2025 U.S. count when Social Security published one, so you can see the current context for yourself.
Does a missing 2025 count mean the name was unused?
No. The national public file does not publish a spelling when fewer than five boys received it that year, so a missing count can mean zero or one to four births.
Can the same name belong to more than one naming tradition?
Yes. Names travel between languages and cultures, and spellings can have more than one history. These guides group names by the tradition most relevant to the page rather than claiming every name has only one possible background.
Should U.S. popularity decide which name I choose?
No. The numbers are context. Family connection, pronunciation, cultural fit and how the name sounds with your surname usually matter more.