10 traditional Irish baby names that are equally beautiful and uncommon
Choosing a name for your baby is a big and important decision. It's something they'll likely carry with them throughout their entire lives, which is why many expectant parents spend months ahead of the birth weighing up potential name options.One factor that many parents take into account is how popular the names they are considering are. They may wish to avoid a name that's too common to prevent their children from sharing names with classmates at school. As a result, some mums and dads are drawn to more unique choices. And what many parents might not realise is that you can achieve this even when looking for a traditional Irish name.In fact, expectant mother Shania O'Donnell has compiled a list of her top Irish names that have fallen out of common usage. Taking to TikTok, she said: "Here are some Irish names that I absolutely love as someone who speaks Irish."So would you consider any of these names for your little one? Make sure to browse through the list for inspiration for yourself or your loved ones.Five unique Irish boy namesThe opening name on her list was Rí. Whilst Rian is a popular name – meaning king or little king – Shania explained that she has never encountered someone called this variant of the name.Next up was Caoilte, also for a boy, which means "slender" or "swift runner". Also featured on her list is Cuan, which means "hound" or "little wolf/hound".If those don't appeal to you, Shania has additional suggestions that she considers "so, so cute". She continued: "Number four is Áthas. I absolutely love the name Áthas and it means happiness."Turning to a more gender-neutral option, Shania suggests Séanna, she she said: "I think it's beautiful for both a boy or a girl."Five unique Irish girl namesFor Irish girl names, the first suggestion is Raidine. This lovely name stems from the Old Irish Ráidin, meaning "little queen" or "noble". It also serves as a diminutive form of Máiréad.Shania went on: "Number two is Béibhinn.", which she said is a name she's encountered just once before. She then highlighted Réalta or Réaltín, which translate to 'star' and 'little star' respectively.The fourth entry on her list of Irish girl names is Líadan, which ranks among her personal favourites. She explained: "I absolutely love Líadan and I probably would call a child Líadan in the future."Lastly, she proposed the option of Mabhorgne. This may well be one of the rarest names on her list, but it's certainly charming!
