Picking out a name for your baby isn’t always an easy decision for new parents. But when your child’s due date falls on or near a holiday, finding a name that fits can be inspired by the day itself. And if your baby is born near March 17, then you might be expecting a little leprechaun. So take some inspiration from the Emerald Isle itself as you look to St. Patrick’s Day baby names that are sweeter than a shamrock.
Of course, any St. Patrick’s Day baby name is bound to have its origins in Ireland. St. Patrick, after all, is the patron saint for the country, and is responsible for bringing Christianity to many parts of Ireland. That’s why any name that honors this holiday will have deep roots to Irish history and culture, which is great if you wanted to bestow an Irish name upon your baby, anyway.
These St. Patrick’s Day baby names will have you whistling, “Danny Boy” and craving some corned beef and cabbage in no time.
Patrick
If you’re thinking about naming your baby after this much-beloved holiday, then you should start with Patrick at the top of your baby-naming list. The name means, “noble” and “son of Patrick.” It’s the Anglicized version of the Celtic name Padraig and is an Irish name as they come.
Cullen
Listen, no one has to tell you that your baby is beautiful. Consider Cullen, then, for his St. Patrick’s Day baby name. The name means “handsome” as well as “son of the holy one”, thanks to its ties to the Ancient Gaelic name “Cuileannain.
Erin
Apart from naming your baby Ireland (which is cool, too!), you can’t get more Irish than Erin. The name means, “Ireland.” It’s a very common Irish name for baby girls, and can also be spelled Airin, Earin, Eirin, and Arin, if you want to switch up the spelling.
Reagan
Sure, it might be the name of a former U.S. President, but Reagan is also a gender-neutral name of Irish origin. It means “little king” and is the anglicized version of Ó Riagáin.
Goldie
It’s said that leprechauns hide their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And that’s what makes Goldie a solid gold name for your Irish baby. Although Goldie is a girl’s name of British origin (it actually originates from the Yiddish name Golde or Golda), it can be a sweet name for your newborn.
Riley
Riley is a great natural name for your newborn. It means “rye clearing” or “courageous.” It’s a gender-neutral name and has a ton of spelling variations, like Reilley, Reilly, Ryeleigh, Rylee, Rylie, Ryley, and so on.
Clover
Meaning “meadow flower”, Clover is a girl’s name of British origin. But this nature-inspired name works for a St. Patrick’s Day baby name, since clovers are commonly associated with the holiday. In fact, St. Patrick reportedly explained the Holy Trinity to the Irish using a three-leaf clover.
Norah
Old-fashioned and Irish in origin, Norah is a name that’s meant to be loved. It comes from the Irish name Nóirín, which is a diminutive of the name Honora. The name means “honor” or “respect” and can be spelled with or without the extra “h.”
Maewyn
Here’s a fun fact: Patrick wasn’t St. Patrick’s real name. His actual name is thought to be Maewyn, which means “she who descends from a high tower.” The name, once a boy’s name, is now gender-neutral, and a lovely way to honor the patron saint himself.
Quinn
A gender-neutral name, Quinn means “descendant of Conn.” If that doesn’t mean much to you, its other meanings of “wise,” “sense,” and “reason” should resonate. The name Quinn comes from the Irish surname O’Cuinn as well as the Old Irish words Ceann or Conn, which means “head” or “chief.”
Emerald
You’ve got to expect some green-hued names when you’re thinking about naming your baby after the Emerald Isle. So start off with, well, Emerald. A gemstone name, it means exactly what you might imagine — “green gemstone.” And with a cute nickname like Emme, it’s an easy name to fall in love with.
Aidan
At one time, Aidan was the Irish baby name to bestow upon a baby boy. The name means “little fire” and is gender-neutral now. It’s a diminutive of the name Aodh, who was the Celtic god of fire and sun — perfect for your own little spitfire.
Nolan
You want to set your child up for success right from the start. So giving your little one the name Nolan (which means “champion” or “famous”) is a step in the right direction. It comes from the Irish surname O’Nullian.
Forest
It’s hard not to think of rolling green hills or the Cliffs of Moher when you’re thinking about Ireland. That’s why Forest is a fitting name for your Irish lad. It means exactly that: a forest. But if you want to make the spelling less nature-inspired, you can always spell it as Foarest, Phorest, Phorest, Forestt, or just like Forrest Gump, with an extra “r.”
Aine
Pronounced “Awn-ya,” Aine is a girl’s name of Irish origin. It means “brightness” and “splendor.” The name is as Irish as it gets, since Aine is purported to be the queen of the Munster fairies and is often seen in Irish folklore.
Declan
Declan is an adorable baby name that means “full of goodness.” Of Irish origin, the name is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic name Deaglan which breaks down into two parts: “Deagh” means “good” and “worthy”, while “lan” means “full”. Put together, it’s full of goodness, just like your delicious baby.
Bennett
You feel so blessed to be having your wee one coming soon. That’s what makes Bennett such a beautiful choice. It means “little blessed one” and is often seen as an Irish surname. Today it’s a more popular first name for baby boys.
Padraic
Padraic is a boy’s name that is the Irish version of the Latin name Patrick. It means “patrician” or “noble” and is a great way to honor St. Patrick himself.
Ireland
Location baby names are definitely popular, but they’re often relegated to cities and states. But that doesn’t mean you should count out the country, though. If you want to show off some serious Irish pride, you can name your baby after Ireland itself.
Siobhan
Siobhan is a girl’s name of Irish origin. It means “God is gracious” and is the Irish Gaelic version of the name Joan. It’s pronounced “sheh-VAHN”, so don’t worry about “b” in the middle of the name.
Molly
She’s the star of your life, which is why Molly must be on your St. Patrick’s Day baby names list. It means “star of the sea” and is a quintessential Irish name. And if you’re looking for a name that has religious connotations, the name Molly is the diminutive of the name Mary.
Aoife
With roots in Scottish, Gaelic, and Irish history, Aoife is a gorgeous Irish baby girl’s name. And with good reason, since the name means “beautiful” and “radiant”. If you’re unsure of the pronunciation, it’s spoken as “Ee-fah.”
Sean
If you’re looking for the quintessential Irish baby name, it’s Sean. Full stop. Once a boy’s name of Irish origin (it means “God is gracious”), the name is gender-neutral. It’s the Irish variant of the Hebrew name John.
Finnegan
Of course, you want to love your child’s full birth name. But if you’re focused on finding a name that has a fun nickname, look no further than Finnegan. Originating from the Irish surname Ó Fionnagáin, Finnegan is the Anglicized version. It means “fair” and with the nickname Finn or Finny, it’s a perfectly fine name for your sweet baby.
Kelly
The color green is synonymous with all things Irish, but it’s not just any green. (Go away, chartreuse.) When you think of those deep green hills, it’s actually the color Kelly that you’re thinking of. So add Kelly to your list, since it’s a gender-neutral name of Irish origin and means “descendant of Ceallach” as well as “bright-headed.”
Eiereann
When you love the name Erin but want something a little more exciting, you’ll love Eiereann. It means “belonging to the Erainn” and is of Gaelic origin. Erainn were the second Celtic groups to come to Ireland, and the name is an alternative spelling of Erin, which means Ireland.
Trinity
It’s said that St. Patrick used the leaves of the clover to explain the concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to the people in Ireland. Taking inspiration from the Holy Trinity, then, you can add Trinity to the top of your list. The name means “triad” but specifically refers to the Holy Trinity, making it religious and Irish all at the same time.
When you’re thinking of St. Patrick’s Day baby names for your wee one, you can add any one of the ones above to your list. They each have special significance in their own way, honor Irish history, and are absolutely beautiful — just like your lovely little leprechaun.