Here’s a list of the top baby names predicted for Irish babies in 2016 compiled by IrishCentral going by the growing popularity of the last quarter of 2015.
Nessa
Originally a Viking name it became popular in Ireland in the 14th century. In Irish history Nessa was the mother of Conor Mac Nessa, king of Ulster. A powerful and beautiful woman, ambitious for her son, she tricked her second husband, Fergus, into giving up his kingdom to his stepson.
Colm
(pronounced: C-uh-lum)
Colm means dove in the Irish language. The name may also be an abbreviation of the name Malcolm or Columba.
Siobhan
(pronounced: Shev-aun)
It is derived from the French name Jeanne, which was introduced into Ireland by the Anglo-Normans in the Middle Ages. Siobhan is the Irish version of the English name Joan, which means “’God is gracious.”
The Greek name is a feminine form of the Greek Iōannēs, which is in turn a shortened form of the Hebrew Johanan, which is where the meaning “God is gracious” comes from.
Sinead
(pronounced: Shin-aid)
Sinead is the Irish version of the name Jane or Jennifer, derived from the French name Jeanette and the Scottish name Jean. Again this name has its origins in the Hebrew name Johanan and also means “God is gracious.”
Bradan
(pronounced: Bray-dawn)
This names comes from the word bradán, meaning salmon. The name is derived from the legend of Bradán Feasa (The Salmon of Knowledge), a tale of the Irish hero Fionn MacCool.
Bartley
This is the Irish form of the Hebrew name Bartholomew, meaning the Son of Tamai. It is also derived from the name Parthalon, the leaders of the first people believed to have occupied Ireland after the biblical flood of 2800BC. Legend says that he brought agriculture to the land.
Strictly this isn’t an Irish name but has gained popularity lately in the west of Ireland.
Finn
Derived from the legendary hero Fionn Mac Cool, a central character in Irish folklore and myth, the name means fair-headed. Fionn was incredibly strong, brave, handsome, generous and wise, a wisdom he acquired by touching the Salmon of Knowledge and then sucking his thumb.
Tierney
(pronounced: Teer-nee)
The name means lord or chief and implies that the child lord of the household.
It comes from the 6th century saint Tierney of Clones. He had the privilege of being baptized by St. Conleth of Kildare with St. Brigid as his godmother. As a young man he was captured by pirates and taken to the English king who placed him in the monastery of Rosnat in England. He later returned to Ireland and became Bishop of Clogher, in County Down.
Aisling
Meaning dream or vision, Aisling has its origins in the 17th and 18th centuries, in Irish poetry.
Cliona
(pronounced: klee-na)
The name comes from the Irish clodhna, meaning shapely. In Irish mythology, Clíodhna is a Queen of the Banshees (fairies) of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Cleena of Carrigcleena is the potent banshee that rules as queen over the sidheog (fairy women of the hills) of South Munster.
In some Irish myths Clíodhna is a goddess of love and beauty. She is said to have three brightly colored birds who eat apples from an otherworldly tree and whose sweet song heals the sick. She leaves the otherworldly island of Tir Tairngire (“the land of promise”) to be with her mortal lover, Ciabhán, but is taken by a wave as she sleeps due to the music played by a minstrel of Manannan mac Lir in Glan