So, you want something special for your baby girl, and you don't want to hear another trendy option. Luckily for you, that's where Celtic names can be a real life saver!
These names have this magic to them—they sound like poetry and come with incredible stories. So, if you want to avoid months of research (and driving your partner crazy with the sentence "what about the name..."), here are a wide variety Celtic girl names that might just steal your heart.
Popular Celtic Girl Names: Unique and Beautiful
To begin with, let's go through some of the most familiar and beloved Celtic names for girls, from nature-inspired to mystical origins.
- Aeron (EYE-ron) - Berry, earthy
- Ailsa (AIL-sa) - Elf victory
- Aisling (ASH-ling) - Dream, vision
- Aoibhinn (EE-van) - Pleasant or radiant beauty
- Briana (BREE-an-a) - Strong, noble
- Cian (KEE-an) - Ancient
- Eithne (EN-ya) - Kernel, grain
- Eluned (EL-in-ed) - Idol or image
- Erica (ER-ih-ka) - Heather
- Erin (EH-rin) - From Ireland
- Gwyneth (GWIN-eth) - Happy and blessed
- Iantha (EE-an-tha) - Gift
- Iva (EE-va) - Yew tree
- Islay (EYE-lah) - Island; reminiscent of the scenic Isle of Islay
- Keira (KEER-ah) - Little dark one
- Layla (LAY-la) - Night (Arabic origin, later adopted in Celtic regions)
- Morrigan (MOR-ree-gan) - Phantom queen; a Celtic goddess of war
- Myrtle (MUR-tul) - After the flowering plant, meaning evergreen shrub
- Neala (NEE-la) - Cloud
- Neysa (NAY-sa) - Pure or miraculous
- Nuala (NOO-la) - Shoulders of wisdom
- Rhiannon (HREE-an-on) - Divine queen
- Riona (ree-OH-na) - Queenly
- Rowan (ROW-an) - Red-haired or rowan tree
- Sadb (SAYV) - Sweet or goodness
- Sage (sayj) - Herb symbolizing wisdom
- Sorcha (SOR-ka) - Radiant and bright
- Tirion (TEER-ee-on) - Gentle, kind, serene
- Ula (OO-la) - Gem of the sea
- Una (OO-na) - Lamb or unity
- Violet (VYE-oh-let) - Purple flower
- Willow (WIL-oh) - Graceful tree
- Wynne (WIN) - White or blessed
Irish Celtic Girl Names: Classics with a Twist
Why not start with the emerald isle itself? Irish names have such an incredible way of sounding like they're straight out of a fairy tale—which, honestly, many of them are!
- Ailbhe (AL-va) - White, bright
- Aine (AWN-ya) - Brightness, splendor
- Aoife (EE-fa) - Beautiful, radiant
- Brigid (BREE-id) - Exalted one; associated with Saint Brigid, one of Ireland's patron saints
- Caoimhe (KEE-va) - Gentle, beautiful
- Clodagh (KLOH-da) - Named after an Irish river
- Deirdre (DEER-dra) - Sorrowful
- Emer (EE-mer) - Swift
- Fiona (fee-OH-na) - White, fair
- Grainne (GRAWN-ya) - Grain, grain of corn
- Isla (EYE-la) - Island
- Maeve (MAYV) - She who intoxicates
- Niamh (NEEV) - Bright, radiant
- Orla (OR-la) - Golden princess
- Roisin (ro-SHEEN) - Little rose
- Saoirse (SEER-sha) - Freedom, liberty
- Siobhan (shih-VAUGHN) - God is gracious
- Sinead (shi-NAYD) - God is gracious
- Treasa (TRAY-sa) - Strength; the Irish form of Teresa
Scottish Celtic Girl Names: Highland Beauties
Scottish names hit different. Maybe it's all those Highland movies, but these names make me picture strong women in flowing dresses. Very dramatic, very beautiful.
- Aileas (AH-lesh) - Noble
- Catriona (ka-TREE-na) - Pure
- Fenella (fen-EL-la) - White shoulder
- Fionnuala (fin-OO-la) - White shoulder
- Iona (eye-OH-na) - Peaceful, spiritual
- Ishbel (ISH-bel) - Pledged to God
- Kenna (KEN-na) - Born of fire
- Kira (KEE-ra) - Dark-haired
- Lesley (LEZ-lee) - Garden of holly
- Mairead (mah-RAYD) - Pearl
- Mhairi (VAH-ree) - Bitter, from the sea; Scottish Gaelic form of Mary
- Morag (MORE-ag) - Great one
- Morven (MORE-ven) - Big mountain peak
- Nairne (NAIRN) - Alder tree river
- Paisley (PAYZ-lee) - Scottish town, paisley pattern
- Rhona (ROW-na) - Rough island
- Sheena (SHEE-na) - God is gracious
- Shona (SHAW-na) - Gracious, merciful
- Skye (sky) - Isle of Skye
- Tara (TAR-a) - Hill; also has Irish connections
Welsh Celtic Girl Names From the Land of Song
Wales doesn't mess around when it comes to gorgeous names. Fair warning though – some of these pronunciations will have you practicing in the car before playdates.
- Anwen (AN-wen) - Very beautiful, very blessed
- Arwen (AR-wen) - Noble maiden
- Bethan (BETH-an) - God is my oath; a diminutive of Elizabeth
- Bronwen (BRON-wen) - White breast, fair breast
- Carys (KAR-iss) - To love
- Catrin (KAT-rin) - Clean, pute; the Welsh form of Catherine
- Cerys (KER-iss) - Love
- Dilys (DIL-iss) - Genuine, true
- Eirwen (EYRE-wen) - Snow white, blessed snow
- Elen (EL-en) - Light
- Ffion (FEE-on) - Foxglove
- Gwen (gwen) - White, blessed
- Gwenllian (gwen-THEE-an) - White flood, blessed flood
- Lowri (LOW-ree) - Laurel
- Mair (MIRE) - Star of the sea, wished-for; the Welsh form of Mary
- Megan (MEG-an) - Pearl
- Menna (MEN-na) - Mind, maiden
- Nerys (NER-iss) - Lady
- Olwen (OL-wen) - White footprint
- Rhian (REE-an) - Maiden, great queen
- Seren (SER-en) - Star
- Tegwen (TEG-wen) - Beautiful, blessed
Cornish Celtic Girl Names: Ancient Gems
Cornwall is tiny but their names are incredible. Think seaside cottage vibes but make it sophisticated. Plus, these Cornish names for girls are having a major moment right now!
- Jenna (JEN-na) - Fair one; Cornish form of Jennifer
- Kerensa (ker-EN-sa) - Love or affection
- Lowenna (low-EN-na) - Joy or bliss
- Merryn (MER-in) - Joyful
- Morwenna (mor-WEN-na) - Waves of the sea
- Nessa (NES-sa) - Headland or promontory
- Rosenwyn (ROSE-en-win) - White rose
- Senara (sen-AH-ra) - Illumination; after Saint Senara, patron saint of Cornwall
- Tamsin (TAM-sin) - Cornish form of Thomasina; twin
- Tegen (TEG-en) - Little thing or toy
Breton Celtic Girl Names: From Brittany
Brittany gives us these amazing French-Celtic hybrids that nobody else has heard of yet. Perfect if you want something unique that still sounds familiar.
- Annaig (AN-nayk) - Grace, favor; Breton form of Anna
- Aziliz (ah-ZEE-liz) - Blind; Breton form of Cecilia
- Enora (en-OR-a) - Honor
- Gwenaelle (gwen-EL) - White angel
- Katell (ka-TEL) - Pure; Breton form of Catherine
- Klervi (KLER-vee) - All flesh
- Maiwenn (MY-wen) - Mary; white or blessed
- Nolwenn (NOL-wen) - Holy and white, blessed
- Soizic (SOY-zik) - Little Frenchwoman; Breton form of Françoise
- Sterenn (STER-en) - Star; Breton version of Seren
Girl Names From Celtic Mythology and Legend
These come with built-in badass backstories. Your daughter gets a goddess or warrior princess name? Yes please. Just be prepared for some very confident energy.
- Blodeuwedd (bloh-DIE-weth) - Flower face; someone created from flowers in Welsh mythology
- Branwen (BRAN-wen) - White raven; a tragic heroine from Welsh legend
- Brigantia (bri-GAN-tee-a) - High one or exalted one; a powerful Celtic goddess
- Cordelia (cor-DEE-lee-a) - Heart; possibly meaning heart or daughter of the sea
- Epona (eh-POH-na) - Celtic goddess of horses and fertility
- Guinevere (GWIN-eh-veer) - White phantom or white wave; King Arthur's queen
- Isolde (ih-SOLD) - Ice ruler; a tragic heroine of Arthurian legend
- Morrigan (MORE-ih-gan) - Phantom queen; a Celtic goddess of war and fate
- Nimue (NIM-oo-eh) - The Lady of the Lake in Arthurian legend
- Rhiannon (ree-AN-non) - Great queen or divine queen; a goddess in Welsh mythology
- Viviane (viv-ee-AHN) - Alive; another name for the Lady of the Lake
Tips for Choosing Your Celtic Name
After going through hundreds of names, here are some practical tips I wish someone had shared with me:
- Consider Pronunciation: Some Celtic names have pronunciations that might not be immediately obvious to others. Are you okay with correcting people frequently?
- Think About Nicknames: Many Celtic names have natural nicknames that might appeal to you. Siobhan could become Shiv, Caoimhe might transition into Keeva, and so on.
- Research the Meaning: Celtic names often have deep meanings rooted in mythology or nature, so make sure its meaning fits into your family's overall vibe.
- Say It Out Loud: How does it sound with your last name? Do you keep tripping over the syllables? Is it something you can imagine calling at the park or playground?
The Magic of Celtic Names for Your Daughter
Choosing your daughter's name is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. Celtic names give you beauty, meaning, and just enough uniqueness to stand out without being weird. And don't worry if people need help with pronunciation at first because the best names are definitely worth it. Because, whatever name you select, your daughter will be perfect. But a Celtic name definitely adds some extra magic!
For more information check out these popular topics:
- 255 Names Inspired by Mythology That Stand the Test of Time
- 150 Arthurian Names for Boys and Girls
- 75 Demon Names Inspired by Religion and Mythology
Do you have any parenting questions for our parenting coach and expert, Dr. Ana Aznar? Ask for free today!