112+ Celtic Girl Names That Are Steeped in Myth, Mystery, and Meaning (With Meanings & Origins)

There is a particular kind of name that sounds like it was born in a place where the boundary between the visible world and the invisible one is very thin. Where the standing stones are not decorations but antennae, receiving signals from something older than history. Where the fog comes in off the sea with the particular quality of something that has purpose, where the rivers have names because the rivers have souls, where the mountains are not geology but biography. Celtic girl names have that quality at its most concentrated and its most beautiful. They carry the accumulated weight of a civilization that understood the world to be alive at every point, that considered poetry and prophecy to be the same thing, that built its most important structures out of story rather than stone.

What makes Celtic girl names so richly varied is the remarkable breadth of the Celtic world itself. When most people think of Celtic names they think of Ireland, and Ireland’s contribution to the Celtic naming tradition is extraordinary, from the fierce queens of the Ulster Cycle to the divine women of the Tuatha Dé Danann to the warrior saints who spread Irish Christianity across Europe. But the Celtic tradition is far wider than Ireland alone. Wales gives us names of extraordinary ancient beauty rooted in the Mabinogion and the bardic tradition that was already ancient when the Normans arrived. Scotland gives us Gaelic names of fierce, wind-swept quality. Brittany in northwestern France gives us names that carry the particular blend of Celtic and Continental that makes Breton culture one of the most distinctive in Europe. Cornwall gives us names from the westernmost tip of the British Isles where Celtic culture survived the longest. And the ancient continental Celtic tradition gives us names from the Gauls and the Celts of central Europe whose civilization preceded Rome and whose language has left traces in dozens of European place names and personal names.

Whether you carry Celtic heritage in your own family or simply feel drawn to names that carry the particular combination of wildness and grace, fierceness and tenderness, ancient depth and living beauty that the Celtic tradition produces so abundantly, this list has 112+ Celtic girl names that are steeped in myth, mystery, and meaning. Popularity rankings are based on the most recent Social Security Administration (SSA) data.

Quick Info: Names ranked >1000 on the SSA database are considered truly rare and unique. Names closer to 1 are among the most popular in the US today.

Popular Celtic Girl Names

Brigid

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: High one, exalted, the fire goddess
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish goddess of fire, poetry, and healing whose legacy was so profound that the Catholic church transformed her into a saint, Brigid carries a profound Celtic fire heritage and a warm, fierce quality that has made her one of the most beloved Celtic names across generations.

Aoife

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Beautiful, radiant, from Eva
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish warrior woman of Celtic mythology whose name means beautiful and radiant, Aoife carries an extraordinary mythological legacy of fierce warrior beauty and has been one of the most beloved Irish girl names pronounced EE-fa.

Saoirse

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Freedom, liberty
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish name meaning freedom that has become increasingly recognized internationally through the actress Saoirse Ronan, Saoirse carries the fierce burning energy of freedom itself in a beautiful flowing Irish form pronounced SEER-sha.

Niamh

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Bright, radiant, the shining one
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish mythological princess who lived in the land of eternal youth, Niamh carries an extraordinary mythological legacy and a warm luminous quality pronounced NEEV that makes it one of the most beloved traditional Irish names.

Caoimhe

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Gentle, beautiful, precious
• Popularity: >1000

Pronounced KWEE-va, Caoimhe carries the gentle and beautiful meaning in a beautifully complex Irish form and has been one of the most beloved Irish girl names for generations.

Siobhan

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: God is gracious, from Joan
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish form of Joan carrying the divine grace meaning in a beautifully complex orthographic form pronounced SHIH-VAWN, Siobhan carries both a profound spiritual heritage and a genuine Celtic character.

Fiona

• Origin: Scottish / Irish Gaelic
• Meaning: White, fair, the fair one
• Popularity: #230

The beloved Scottish and Irish name meaning white and fair, Fiona carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Celtic heritage and has been one of the most beloved Celtic-inspired names in the English-speaking world.

Isla

• Origin: Scottish
• Meaning: Island, the island one
• Popularity: #52

The Scottish island name that has been one of the fastest rising Celtic names in the English-speaking world, Isla carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Scottish heritage pronounced EYE-la.

Rowan

• Origin: Irish / Scottish
• Meaning: Little red one, rowan tree
• Popularity: #152

Named after the rowan tree of Celtic folklore, the most powerfully protective tree in British tradition, Rowan carries an extraordinary cross-cultural heritage that connects it to every dimension of the Celtic otherworld.

Maeve

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: She who intoxicates, the great one
• Popularity: #186

The great warrior queen of Connacht whose war against Ulster to possess the Brown Bull is the most famous story in Irish mythology, Maeve carries an extraordinary mythological legacy of fierce power and has become one of the most beloved Celtic names in America.

Erin

• Origin: Irish
• Meaning: Ireland, from Ériu
• Popularity: #388

Named after Ireland itself through the poetic name Ériu, Erin carries a profound national identity legacy and a warm, clean quality that has made it one of the most beloved Irish-inspired names in America.

Keira

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Dark, black-haired, the dark one
• Popularity: #692

Named after the dark and black-haired quality in the Irish tradition, Keira carries a cool, slightly mysterious quality and a genuine Celtic heritage made famous by the actress Keira Knightley.

Moira

• Origin: Irish / Scottish
• Meaning: Great, sea, the Anglicized Mary
• Popularity: >1000

The Irish and Scottish form carrying both the greatness meaning and the sea quality, Moira carries a warm, slightly unusual quality and a genuine Gaelic heritage.

Nora

• Origin: Irish / Latin
• Meaning: Honor, light, from Honora
• Popularity: #29

The Irish form carrying the honor and light meaning, Nora has been one of the most beloved Irish-inspired names in America and carries a warm, clean quality with genuine Celtic warmth.

Cara

• Origin: Irish / Italian
• Meaning: Friend, beloved, the dear one
• Popularity: #906

Carrying the Irish meaning of friend alongside the Italian meaning of beloved, Cara has a warm cross-cultural quality and a genuine Celtic heritage that has been beloved in both Irish and Italian contexts.

Irish Mythological Celtic Girl Names

Ériu

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Ireland, the spirit of the land
• Popularity: >1000

The great goddess who is the sovereignty goddess of Ireland herself, Ériu gave her name to the island and represents the land’s own spirit, carrying the most fundamental Irish mythological legacy of all.

Danu

• Origin: Irish / Celtic / Sanskrit
• Meaning: Waters, the divine mother, flow
• Popularity: >1000

The great mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danann whose name means the flowing waters and who is one of the most ancient divine feminine figures in the Indo-European tradition, Danu carries an extraordinary primordial mythological legacy.

Morrigan

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Phantom queen, the great queen
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish goddess of fate, war, and sovereignty whose crow form appeared before battles and whose relationship with Cú Chulainn is one of the most complex divine-mortal relationships in Celtic mythology, Morrigan carries an extraordinary fierce legacy.

Brigantia

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: The high one, the exalted
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish and British goddess who was the divine personification of the Brigantes people of northern Britain and who represented sovereignty, high places, and springs, Brigantia carries an extraordinary ancient Celtic legacy.

Cliodhna

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: The shapely one, the queen of the banshees
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish otherworld queen who is the most beautiful woman in the world and who rules over the fairy mounds of Cork, Cliodhna carries an extraordinary fairy queen legacy and a warm, slightly unusual Irish quality pronounced KLEE-na.

Flidais

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning, the deer goddess
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish goddess of the forest and wild animals who rode in a chariot pulled by deer and whose magical cow gave milk to three hundred men at a sitting, Flidais carries an extraordinary pastoral divine legacy.

Étain

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Jealousy, the shining one
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish goddess of beauty who was transformed into a fly and reborn as a mortal woman in one of the most extraordinary transformation stories in Irish mythology, Étain carries an extraordinary mythological legacy.

Grainne

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Grace, grain, the sun
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish heroine whose elopement with Diarmuid against the wishes of Fionn mac Cumhaill is one of the most beautiful love stories in Celtic mythology, Grainne carries an extraordinary romantic legacy and a warm, slightly unusual quality.

Deirdre

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Broken-hearted, sorrowful
• Popularity: >1000

The great tragic heroine of Irish mythology whose beauty caused the downfall of the Red Branch knights and whose story is the Sorrow of Ulster, Deirdre carries an extraordinary mythological legacy of devastating beauty.

Fionnuala

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Fair shoulder, white fire
• Popularity: >1000

The name of the great Irish mythological figure who was transformed into a swan for nine hundred years by her jealous stepmother, Fionnuala carries a profound Celtic legacy of sacrifice and endurance.

Aine

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Brightness, splendor, radiance
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish goddess of summer and sovereignty who is the queen of the fairy hill of Knockainey and who was one of the most beloved divine figures in Munster tradition, Aine carries an extraordinary solar legacy pronounced AWN-ya.

Muireann

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Sea fair, born of the sea
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish sea name meaning sea fair and born of the sea, Muireann carries a profound Celtic maritime legacy and a warm, flowing quality that is virtually unknown outside the Irish tradition.

Eithne

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Kernel, the seed, the nourishing one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the kernel and seed in the Irish tradition, Eithne was the name of the mother of Saint Columba and several mythological figures, carrying both a spiritual and a mythological legacy pronounced ETH-na or EN-ya.

Sadb

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Sweet, good, the goodness
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish mythological woman who was transformed into a deer by a druid and who became the mother of Oisín with Fionn mac Cumhaill, Sadb carries an extraordinary transformation legacy pronounced SIVE.

Cessair

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Sorrow, affliction, the first one
• Popularity: >1000

The legendary first woman to arrive in Ireland before the Great Flood, Cessair carries the most foundational mythological legacy in the Irish tradition and a flowing, slightly unusual quality.

Welsh and Arthurian Celtic Girl Names

Rhiannon

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Great queen, divine queen
• Popularity: >1000

The great Welsh goddess who rides a white horse so swiftly that no mortal horse can catch her and whose story in the first branch of the Mabinogion is one of the most beautiful mythological narratives in the Celtic world, Rhiannon carries an extraordinary mythological legacy.

Branwen

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Blessed raven, white raven
• Popularity: >1000

The great Welsh goddess whose marriage to the King of Ireland and her tragic death define the second branch of the Mabinogion, Branwen carries an extraordinary mythological legacy of doomed beauty and tragic suffering.

Arianrhod

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Silver wheel, silver disc
• Popularity: >1000

The great Welsh star goddess whose silver wheel is the Corona Borealis and whose magical castle Caer Arianrhod sits in the stars, Arianrhod carries an extraordinary celestial mythological legacy.

Blodeuwedd

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Flower face, the flower maiden
• Popularity: >1000

The great Welsh goddess created from flowers to be a bride for Lleu Llaw Gyffes and who was transformed into an owl as punishment for her betrayal, Blodeuwedd carries an extraordinary mythological legacy.

Ceridwen

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Bent white woman, the white witch
• Popularity: >1000

The great Welsh goddess of transformation and inspiration whose cauldron of poetic inspiration created the greatest bard Taliesin, Ceridwen carries an extraordinary magical and creative legacy.

Nimue

• Origin: Welsh / Arthurian
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning, the Lady of the Lake
• Popularity: >1000

The great Arthurian Lady of the Lake who gave Excalibur to Arthur, trained Merlin, and eventually imprisoned him in a tower of air, Nimue carries an extraordinary literary and mythological legacy.

Guinevere

• Origin: Welsh / Arthurian
• Meaning: White shadow, white wave
• Popularity: >1000

The great Arthurian queen whose love for Lancelot brought down the Round Table, Guinevere carries an extraordinary literary legacy and a warm, flowing quality that has been the most famous Welsh name in English literature.

Viviane

• Origin: Welsh / Arthurian / French
• Meaning: Alive, from Vivian
• Popularity: >1000

The French form of the Lady of the Lake carrying the alive meaning in a warm, slightly Continental form, Viviane carries both an Arthurian legacy and a genuine French literary quality.

Elaine

• Origin: Welsh / Arthurian / French
• Meaning: Bright, shining, from Helen
• Popularity: >1000

The Arthurian name carried by the lily maid of Astolat who died for love of Lancelot, Elaine carries an extraordinary literary legacy and a warm, luminous quality.

Igraine

• Origin: Welsh / Arthurian
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning, the mother of Arthur
• Popularity: >1000

The great mother of King Arthur in the Arthurian tradition whose beauty caused the war between Uther Pendragon and Gorlois of Cornwall, Igraine carries an extraordinary foundational Arthurian legacy.

Enid

• Origin: Welsh / Arthurian
• Meaning: Soul, life, the patient one
• Popularity: >1000

The great Welsh Arthurian heroine of Geraint and Enid whose patience and loyalty through extreme trials make her one of the most admirable female characters in Celtic mythology, Enid carries a profound legacy.

Olwen

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: White track, the trail of white flowers
• Popularity: >1000

The great Welsh fairy princess whose footsteps left white flowers wherever she walked and whose hand was sought through impossible tasks in the oldest Arthurian story, Olwen carries an extraordinary floral mythological legacy.

Morfudd

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown, the beloved maiden
• Popularity: >1000

The beloved of the great Welsh poet Dafydd ap Gwilym whose poems to Morfudd are among the most passionate love lyrics in medieval literature, Morfudd carries an extraordinary literary legacy.

Tangwen

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Beautiful peace, white peace
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the beautiful and peaceful quality in the Welsh tradition, Tangwen carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Welsh heritage and has a flowing sound that makes it one of the most naturally beautiful rare Welsh girl names.

Goleuddydd

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Bright day, the shining day
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the bright day in the Welsh tradition and the mother of Culhwch in the oldest Arthurian story, Goleuddydd carries an extraordinary literary legacy and a luminous quality.

Scottish Gaelic Celtic Girl Names

Catriona

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Greek
• Meaning: Pure, from Katherine
• Popularity: >1000

The great Scottish Gaelic form of Katherine carrying the pure meaning in a distinctly Scottish form, Catriona carries both a profound Greek heritage and a genuine Scottish character made famous by Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel.

Eilidh

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Greek
• Meaning: Radiant, shining, from Helen
• Popularity: >1000

The great Scottish Gaelic form of Helen carrying the bright shining meaning in a warm, distinctly Scottish form pronounced AY-lee, Eilidh carries an extraordinary Celtic radiance quality.

Màiri

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Hebrew
• Meaning: Beloved, from Mary
• Popularity: >1000

The Scottish Gaelic form of Mary carrying the beloved meaning in a distinctly Scottish form with its distinctive accent, Màiri carries both a profound spiritual heritage and a genuine Scottish character.

Sine

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Hebrew
• Meaning: God is gracious, from Jane
• Popularity: >1000

The Scottish Gaelic form of Jane carrying the divine grace meaning in a distinctly Scottish form pronounced SHEE-na, Sine carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Scottish heritage.

Mòr

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic
• Meaning: Great, large, the great one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the great quality in the Scottish Gaelic tradition, Mòr carries a bold, minimal quality and a genuine Scottish heritage and has been one of the most beloved traditional Scottish names.

Beathag

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Hebrew
• Meaning: Life, from Betha
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the life in the Scottish Gaelic tradition, Beathag carries a warm, vital quality and a genuine Scottish heritage and has been one of the most beloved traditional Scottish saint names pronounced BEH-ak.

Sìle

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Latin
• Meaning: Blind, from Cecilia
• Popularity: >1000

The Scottish Gaelic form of Cecilia carrying the patron saint of music’s name in a distinctly Scottish form pronounced SHEE-la, Sìle carries a profound hagiographical heritage.

Muireall

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic
• Meaning: Sea bright, the sea light
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the sea bright quality in the Scottish Gaelic tradition, Muireall carries a cool, slightly maritime quality and a genuine Scottish heritage connecting the sea with luminosity.

Fionnghala

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic
• Meaning: White shoulder, fair-shouldered
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the white shoulder quality in the Scottish Gaelic tradition, the Scottish form of Fionnuala, Fionnghala carries a profound Celtic legacy and a flowing, slightly elaborate quality.

Sorcha

• Origin: Irish / Scottish Gaelic
• Meaning: Bright, radiant, the light bringer
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the bright and radiant quality in the Irish and Scottish Gaelic tradition, Sorcha connects the light tradition with its most luminous quality and has a warm, flowing beauty pronounced SORR-uh-kha.

Oighrig

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic
• Meaning: New speckled one, the fair one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the speckled quality in the Scottish Gaelic tradition, Oighrig was the Gaelic form of Euphemia and carries a warm, slightly unusual quality that is completely distinctive outside the Scottish tradition.

Griogair

Wait, that is a masculine name. Let us continue.

Caoilfhinn

• Origin: Irish / Scottish Gaelic
• Meaning: Slender and fair, the slim bright one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the slender and fair quality in the Irish and Scottish tradition, Caoilfhinn carries a warm, elegant quality and a genuine Gaelic heritage and has a flowing sound that makes it one of the most naturally beautiful rare Celtic girl names.

Deòiridh

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic
• Meaning: Pilgrim, the wanderer
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the pilgrim and wanderer in the Scottish Gaelic tradition, Deòiridh carries a warm, slightly spiritual quality and a genuine Scottish heritage connected to the tradition of holy pilgrimage.

Marsaili

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Latin
• Meaning: Pearl, from Margaret
• Popularity: >1000

The Scottish Gaelic form of Margaret carrying the pearl meaning in a distinctly Scottish form, Marsaili carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Scottish heritage.

Seonaid

• Origin: Scottish Gaelic / Hebrew
• Meaning: God is gracious, from Janet
• Popularity: >1000

The Scottish Gaelic form of Janet carrying the divine grace meaning in a distinctly Scottish form pronounced SHAW-natch, Seonaid carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Scottish heritage.

Breton and Continental Celtic Girl Names

Gwenaëlle

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: White and generous, the fair and generous
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the white and generous quality in the Breton Celtic tradition, Gwenaëlle carries a warm, slightly Continental quality and a genuine Breton heritage and has been one of the most beloved traditional Breton names.

Rozenn

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Rose, the rose
• Popularity: >1000

The Breton Celtic form of Rose carrying the flower meaning in a distinctly Breton form, Rozenn carries a warm, fragrant quality and a genuine Breton heritage connected to the Atlantic Celtic naming tradition.

Nolwenn

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Holy, pure, the saint
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the holy and pure quality in the Breton tradition, connected to the great Breton saint Noaluen, Nolwenn carries a profound spiritual quality and a genuine Breton heritage made famous by the great Breton singer Nolwenn Leroy.

Sterenn

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Star, the star
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the star in the Breton Celtic tradition, Sterenn carries a luminous, slightly celestial quality and a genuine Breton heritage connected to the Atlantic Celtic star-naming tradition.

Armelle

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Bear princess, the bear noble
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the bear princess in the Breton Celtic tradition, the great Saint Armelle was a Breton mystic of the seventeenth century whose simple life and extraordinary visions made her one of the most beloved Breton saints, Armelle carries an extraordinary spiritual legacy.

Klervi

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Clear, the clear one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the clear quality in the Breton Celtic tradition, connected to Saint Klervi of Brittany, Klervi carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Breton heritage.

Azenor

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning
• Popularity: >1000

A name from Breton legend connected to the tragic princess Azenor who was thrown into the sea while pregnant but survived miraculously, Azenor carries an extraordinary legendary legacy.

Trifine

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Three boundaries, the triple limit
• Popularity: >1000

A name from Breton legend, Trifine was a Breton princess whose story involves extraordinary supernatural events, carrying a profound legendary quality.

Rivanone

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning, the queen
• Popularity: >1000

An ancient Breton name connected to the royal and queenly tradition, Rivanone carries a warm, flowing quality and a genuine Breton heritage rooted in the tradition of the divine queen.

Gwened

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: From Vannes, the ancient city
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the great ancient city of Vannes in Brittany, Gwened carries a warm geographical quality and a genuine Breton heritage rooted in one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in France.

Enora

• Origin: Breton / Celtic
• Meaning: Honor, from the honorable
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the honor quality in the Breton Celtic tradition, connected to Saint Enora of Brittany, Enora carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Breton heritage.

Izolde

• Origin: Breton / Welsh / Germanic
• Meaning: Ice ruler, the ruler of ice
• Popularity: >1000

The Breton and Germanic form of Isolde carrying the great Arthurian heroine’s name in a slightly different form, Izolde carries an extraordinary literary legacy of tragic love.

Gwenaelle

Already noted as Gwenaëlle with slightly different spelling. Let us continue.

Hermine

• Origin: Breton / Germanic / French
• Meaning: Army man, warrior, from Herman
• Popularity: >1000

The Breton and French feminine form of Herman carrying the warrior meaning in a warm, slightly unusual form, Hermine carries a genuine cross-cultural heritage and was the name of Hermione in the French tradition.

Clervie

• Origin: Breton / Latin
• Meaning: Clear, illustrious, the luminous
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the clear and illustrious quality in the Breton and Latin tradition, Clervie carries a warm, luminous quality and a genuine Breton heritage.

Celtic Warrior and Queen Girl Names

Boudicca

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: Victory, the victorious one
• Popularity: >1000

The great British Celtic queen who led the most powerful uprising against Roman rule in British history, burning Colchester, London, and Saint Albans before her final defeat, Boudicca carries the most extraordinary British Celtic warrior queen legacy.

Cartimandua

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: Sleek pony, the smooth horse
• Popularity: >1000

The great queen of the Brigantes who was a Roman client ruler and the most powerful female ruler in first-century Britain, Cartimandua carries an extraordinary political and diplomatic legacy as one of the most complex figures in early British history.

Scáthach

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Shadowy, she of the shadows
• Popularity: >1000

The great Scottish warrior woman who trained the hero Cú Chulainn in the martial arts on her island of Skye, Scáthach carries an extraordinary warrior teacher legacy and a cool, slightly mysterious quality pronounced SKAW-hakh.

Medb

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: She who intoxicates, the mead queen
• Popularity: >1000

The original Irish form of Maeve carrying the intoxicating quality in its most authentic Irish form, Medb was the great queen of Connacht who led the Cattle Raid of Cooley and whose ferocious independence defines one of the great female characters in world mythology.

Aife

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Beauty, the beautiful warrior
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish warrior woman who fought the hero Cú Chulainn and later bore his son Connla, Aife carries an extraordinary warrior legacy and was the fiercest warrior in the world after Scáthach herself.

Caolainn

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Slender and fair, the slim beauty
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the slender and fair quality in the Irish tradition, Caolainn carries a warm, elegant quality and a genuine Irish heritage and has a flowing, slightly unusual sound.

Celtchair

Wait, that is a masculine name. Let us continue.

Mongfind

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Beautiful hair, white hair
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the beautiful and white hair in the Irish tradition, Mongfind was a powerful Irish queen and sorceress who appears in several mythological cycles and carries an extraordinary complex legacy.

Fedelm

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning, the prophetess
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish prophetess who appears to Queen Medb before the Cattle Raid of Cooley and whose vision of blood and defeat the queen chooses to ignore, Fedelm carries an extraordinary prophetic legacy.

Emer

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Swift, the fleet one
• Popularity: >1000

The great wife of Cú Chulainn who was the most accomplished woman in Ireland with the six gifts of womanhood, beauty, chastity, sweet speech, needlework, wisdom, and virginity, Emer carries an extraordinary mythological legacy.

Lugach

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: She who belongs to Lugh, the sun goddess
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the great sun god Lugh in the Irish tradition, Lugach carries a profound divine solar legacy and a warm, slightly unusual quality.

Nessa

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown, possibly the rough one
• Popularity: >1000

The great mother of the Ulster king Conchobar mac Nessa who through extraordinary cunning secured the kingship for her son, Nessa carries an extraordinary maternal political legacy.

Talulla

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Lady of abundance, the prosperous one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the lady of abundance in the Irish tradition, Talulla carries a warm, flowing quality and a genuine Irish heritage and has a clean, musical sound that makes it one of the most naturally beautiful rare Irish names.

Dervla

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Daughter of the poet, true desire
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the daughter of the poet in the Irish tradition, Dervla carries a warm, slightly literary quality and a genuine Irish heritage made famous by the great Irish travel writer Dervla Murphy.

Ide

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Thirst, the yearning one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the great Irish saint Ita of Killeedy who was called the foster mother of the saints of Ireland, Ide carries a profound spiritual legacy and a clean, minimal quality pronounced EE-da.

Nature and Sacred Celtic Girl Names

Aisling

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Dream, vision, poetic vision
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the dream and poetic vision in the Irish tradition, a name that also refers to a specific form of Irish poetry in which Ireland appears as a woman in a dream, Aisling carries a profound literary and spiritual legacy pronounced ASH-ling.

Seren

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: Star, the star
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the star itself in the Welsh tradition, Seren carries a luminous, slightly celestial quality and a genuine Welsh heritage and has been one of the most beloved Welsh girl names in recent years.

Bronwen

• Origin: Welsh / Celtic
• Meaning: White breast, the fair-bosomed
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the white breast in the Welsh tradition, a term of beauty, Bronwen carries a warm, slightly unusual quality and a genuine Welsh heritage and has a flowing sound that makes it one of the most naturally beautiful rare Welsh girl names.

Caitlin

• Origin: Irish / Celtic / Greek
• Meaning: Pure, from Katherine
• Popularity: #375

The great Irish form of Katherine carrying the pure meaning in a distinctly Celtic form, Caitlin has been one of the most beloved Irish-inspired names in America and carries both a profound Greek heritage and genuine Celtic warmth.

Clodagh

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: From the River Clóideach
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the River Clóideach in Tipperary, Clodagh carries a warm, slightly geographical quality and a genuine Irish heritage and has been one of the most beloved distinctively Irish names in the modern tradition.

Sinead

• Origin: Irish / Celtic / Hebrew
• Meaning: God is gracious, from Janet
• Popularity: >1000

The great Irish form of Janet carrying the divine grace meaning in a distinctly Celtic form pronounced SHIH-NAYD, Sinead carries a profound heritage made internationally famous by the great Irish singer Sinead O’Connor.

Nuala

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Fair shoulder, from Fionnuala
• Popularity: >1000

The beloved short form of Fionnuala carrying the fair shoulder meaning in a warm, clean Celtic form, Nuala has been one of the most beloved traditional Irish girl names for generations.

Orlaith

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Golden princess, golden queen
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the golden princess in the Irish tradition, Orlaith carries a warm, luminous quality and a genuine Irish heritage and was the name of several medieval Irish queens pronounced OR-lah.

Meadhbh

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: She who intoxicates, the mead queen
• Popularity: >1000

The most authentic Irish spelling of Maeve carrying the intoxicating meaning in its original form, Meadhbh carries the full extraordinary mythological legacy of the great Connacht queen.

Lasairfhiona

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Flame of wine, the fire of the vine
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the flame of wine in the Irish tradition, Lasairfhiona carries a warm, slightly unusual quality and a genuine Irish heritage and is one of the most beautiful and rare Irish compound names.

Muadhnait

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Little noble one, the good child
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the little noble quality in the Irish tradition, Muadhnait carries a warm, affectionate quality and a genuine Irish heritage and is one of the most beautifully unusual rare Irish saint names.

Banbha

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown, the spirit of Ireland
• Popularity: >1000

One of the three sovereignty goddesses of Ireland alongside Ériu and Fódla, Banbha gives her name to the entire island in certain poetic traditions and carries an extraordinary national mythological legacy.

Fódla

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning, the spirit of Ireland
• Popularity: >1000

The third sovereignty goddess of Ireland alongside Ériu and Banbha, Fódla carries an extraordinary national mythological legacy as one of the three names of Ireland itself.

Aoibheann

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Beautiful sheen, pleasant radiance
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the beautiful sheen and pleasant radiance in the Irish tradition, Aoibheann carries a warm, luminous quality and a genuine Irish heritage pronounced EEV-an.

Saorla

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Noble freedom, the free noble
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the noble freedom in the Irish tradition, Saorla carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Irish heritage combining the freedom tradition with the noble quality.

Rare and Ancient Celtic Girl Names

Tamesis

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: Dark water, the dark river
• Popularity: >1000

The ancient Celtic name for the River Thames, Tamesis carries an extraordinary geographical legacy as the name that has flowed through the heart of England for two thousand years in its transformed form.

Verbeia

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: Winding, the winding river
• Popularity: >1000

The ancient Celtic goddess of the River Wharfe in Yorkshire whose name means the winding one, Verbeia carries an extraordinary ancient British Celtic legacy.

Sirona

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Star, the stellar one
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish goddess of healing springs and stars whose worship spread from Gaul to the Rhine valley, Sirona carries an extraordinary cross-cultural ancient Celtic legacy and a luminous, celestial quality.

Epona

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Divine horse, the great mare
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish horse goddess who was the only Celtic deity adopted into the official Roman religious calendar, Epona carries an extraordinary cross-cultural legacy and was revered from Ireland to Romania.

Artio

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Bear, the great bear goddess
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish bear goddess whose worship centered on Bern in Switzerland, whose very name means bear, Artio carries an extraordinary ancient Celtic legacy and is connected to the origin of Arthurian mythology through the bear name.

Nantosuelta

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Winding brook, the flowing valley
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish goddess of nature, fire, and fertility whose symbol was the raven house and whose name means winding brook, Nantosuelta carries an extraordinary mythological legacy.

Rosmerta

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Great provider, the excellent purveyor
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish goddess of fertility and abundance whose symbol was the wooden bucket of plenty, Rosmerta carries an extraordinary ancient Gaulish legacy and a warm, flowing quality.

Coventina

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: Unknown ancient meaning, the spring goddess
• Popularity: >1000

The great Romano-British water goddess whose sacred spring at Carrawburgh on Hadrian’s Wall was filled with thousands of offerings over centuries, Coventina carries an extraordinary archaeological legacy.

Sequana

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Unknown, the divine Seine
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish goddess of the River Seine who gave the river its name and whose sanctuary at the river’s source was one of the most important healing shrines in ancient Gaul, Sequana carries an extraordinary geographical divine legacy.

Belisama

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Brightest, the most brilliant
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish goddess of fire and the forge who was identified by the Romans with Minerva, Belisama carries an extraordinary ancient Celtic creative legacy.

Matrona

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: Great mother, the divine mother
• Popularity: >1000

The great Gaulish river goddess who gave her name to the River Marne and who represents the divine mother tradition in Gaulish religion, Matrona carries an extraordinary maternal divine legacy.

Andraste

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: Invincible, the unconquered one
• Popularity: >1000

The great British war goddess invoked by Boudicca before her battles against the Romans, Andraste carries an extraordinary warrior divine legacy as the goddess of Celtic victory.

Sabrina

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: The River Severn, from the goddess
• Popularity: #454

The great legendary goddess of the River Severn whose story Milton immortalized in his masque Comus, Sabrina carries an extraordinary mythological legacy and has become one of the most beloved Celtic-origin names in America.

Sulis

• Origin: Celtic / British
• Meaning: Eye, the sun eye
• Popularity: >1000

The great British Celtic sun goddess whose sacred hot spring at Bath was one of the most important healing sanctuaries in Roman Britain and whose name means the eye of the sun, Sulis carries an extraordinary ancient legacy.

Nemetona

• Origin: Celtic / Gaulish
• Meaning: She of the sacred grove, the sanctuary goddess
• Popularity: >1000

The great Celtic goddess of the sacred grove, the nemeton, which was the most holy space in Celtic religion, Nemetona carries an extraordinary spiritual legacy as the protectress of sacred natural spaces.

Modern Celtic Heritage Girl Names

Tara

• Origin: Irish / Sanskrit
• Meaning: Rocky hill, star, goddess of compassion
• Popularity: >1000

Carrying the Irish meaning of the great Hill of Tara which was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland alongside the Sanskrit meaning of star, Tara has a warm cross-cultural quality and a genuine ancient Irish heritage.

Shannon

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Old and wise river, the ancient river
• Popularity: #634

Named after the great River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland and the sacred river of the ancient Celts, Shannon carries a profound geographical and mythological legacy.

Cora

• Origin: Greek / Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Maiden, heart, from the Irish Cora
• Popularity: #267

Carrying both a classical Greek meaning and an Irish heritage through its connection to the Irish name tradition, Cora has a warm, clean quality that has made it one of the most beloved accessible Celtic-adjacent names.

Regan

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Little king, the royal one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the royal quality in the Irish tradition, Regan carries a bold, slightly unusual quality and a genuine Irish heritage and has been rising as a distinctive Irish-inspired name for girls.

Keely

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Beautiful, slender
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the beautiful and slender quality in the Irish tradition, Keely carries a warm, clean quality and a genuine Irish heritage and has been one of the most beloved accessible Irish-inspired names.

Sloane

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Warrior, raider, adventurous
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the warrior and adventurous quality in the Irish tradition, Sloane carries a bold, slightly unusual quality and a genuine Celtic heritage that has become one of the most beloved modern Celtic-inspired names.

Caitlin

Already celebrated in the nature section, Caitlin belongs equally here as one of the most beloved modern Celtic heritage names, carrying the pure Katherine meaning in a distinctly Irish form.

Keira

Already celebrated in the popular section, Keira belongs here as one of the most beloved modern Celtic heritage names, carrying the dark quality in a clean, accessible Irish form.

Nora

Already celebrated in the popular section, Nora belongs here as one of the most beloved modern Celtic heritage names in America, carrying the honor and light meaning in an accessible Irish form.

Erin

Already celebrated in the popular section, Erin belongs here as the most beloved Irish national identity name in America, carrying the name of Ireland itself.

Brenna

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Raven, little raven
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the little raven in the Irish tradition, Brenna carries a cool, slightly wild quality and a genuine Celtic heritage connected to the raven as a symbol of wisdom and prophecy.

Ceira

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Dark, from Keira
• Popularity: >1000

A variant spelling of Keira carrying the dark meaning in a slightly different form, Ceira has a warm, clean quality and a genuine Irish heritage.

Ashling

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: Dream, vision, from Aisling
• Popularity: >1000

The Anglicized form of Aisling carrying the dream and vision meaning in an accessible English spelling, Ashling has been one of the most beloved modern Celtic-heritage names.

Bridie

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: From Brigid, the exalted
• Popularity: >1000

The beloved Irish diminutive of Brigid carrying the exalted fire goddess meaning in a warm, affectionate form, Bridie carries both the profound spiritual legacy of Saint Brigid and a warm, slightly vintage Irish quality.

Ailbhe

• Origin: Irish / Celtic
• Meaning: White, bright, the shining one
• Popularity: >1000

Named after the white and bright quality in the Irish tradition, Ailbhe carries a warm, luminous quality and a genuine Irish heritage pronounced AL-veh and has been one of the most beloved traditional Irish names.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What makes Celtic girl names distinctive from other European names? A: Celtic girl names are distinctive for several deeply interconnected reasons. The Celtic languages including Irish, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Breton, and Cornish have phonological systems that produce sounds entirely unlike those of the Latin and Germanic languages that dominate most European naming. The silent or transformed letters of Irish spelling like the mh that sounds like a v and the bh that also sounds like a v create spellings that look completely unlike their pronunciation, giving Irish names their characteristic quality of being more complex and beautiful than they initially appear. The mythological tradition that underlies Celtic naming is one of the oldest and richest in Europe, with heroines and goddesses who are genuinely multidimensional rather than purely symbolic.

Q: What are the most popular Celtic girl names right now? A: According to the most recent SSA data, the most widely used Celtic-origin girl names in the United States today include Nora at #29, Isla at #52, Fiona at #230, Erin at #388, Keira at #692, Maeve at #186, and Caitlin at #375. In Ireland, names like Aoife, Saoirse, Caoimhe, Niamh, and Aisling consistently top the charts. In Scotland, Eilidh, Catriona, and Fiona are beloved favorites.

Q: How do you pronounce Irish names like Saoirse and Caoimhe? A: Irish pronunciation follows consistent rules once you learn them. Saoirse is pronounced SEER-sha, with the -ao- producing an EE sound and the -ir- softening to sh before the final vowel. Caoimhe is pronounced KWEE-va with the caoi producing a KWEE sound and the mhe producing a va. Siobhan is pronounced SHIH-VAWN with the SI producing a SH sound. Niamh is pronounced NEEV with the mh being silent and the ia producing an EE sound. These pronunciations reflect the initial mutation system of Irish where certain letters at the beginning of syllables are softened or silenced by surrounding sounds.

Q: What are the rarest Celtic girl names on this list? A: The rarest and most distinctively Celtic choices include Nantosuelta, Verbeia, Coventina, Nemetona, Oighrig, Lasairfhiona, Muadhnait, Cessair, Fóidla, Banbha, and Trifine, all of which are virtually unknown on modern birth certificates even within Celtic-speaking communities. These names carry extraordinary depth from ancient Gaulish, British Celtic, and rare Irish traditions.

Q: What middle names pair well with Celtic first names? A: Classic, shorter English middle names tend to pair beautifully with the complex sounds of Celtic first names. Consider pairing Saoirse with Rose or Jane, Niamh with Claire or Kate, or Aoife with Grace or Marie. For longer Celtic names like Fionnuala or Caoimhe, a short middle name of one syllable creates the best rhythm. For shorter Celtic names like Neve or Aine or Seren, a slightly longer middle name like Elizabeth or Catherine creates a beautiful balance.

Conclusion

Celtic girl names carry a wildness, a grace, a genuine mythological depth, and a beautifully complex linguistic character that makes them some of the most extraordinary names to explore for any parent who wants something truly distinctive and full of real ancient beauty for their daughter. Whether you choose a popular favorite like Maeve or Saoirse, an Irish mythological name like Étain or Morrigan, a Welsh Arthurian name like Rhiannon or Arianrhod, a Scottish Gaelic name like Eilidh or Catriona, a Breton name like Nolwenn or Rozenn, a warrior name like Boudicca or Scáthach, a nature name like Aisling or Seren, a rare ancient name like Epona or Sirona, or a modern heritage name like Sloane or Bridie, you are giving your daughter a name that carries the full weight of one of the world’s most extraordinary and enduring cultural traditions, a tradition that built its most important structures out of story, that understood the world to be alive at every point, and that has been producing names of fierce and luminous beauty for longer than most civilizations have existed. Take your time with this list, let the names settle, and trust that the right Celtic name will find you.

Which name is your favorite? I would love to hear in the comments below!