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Home > Cats > 100+ Irish & Celtic Cat Names: Exotic Options For Your Kitten (With Meanings)

100+ Irish & Celtic Cat Names: Exotic Options For Your Kitten (With Meanings)

Irish & Celtic Cat Names

Over 30 million Americans have Irish ancestors, according to the latest census data. If you are one of the 1 in 10 who can trace their family history all the way back to the Emerald Isle, you might decide to choose a name for your cat that honors that heritage.

Even if you don’t have Irish eyes on your family tree, you might love the land, culture, or even poetry of the country. Or maybe you just want some good luck to rub off on your family! Whatever your motivation, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, you’ll find over 100 names inspired by Ireland and Celtic culture, including meanings. Check them out plus our guide to picking the right name for your cat!

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How to Name Your Cat

There’s no one right way to pick a name for your cat, which can make the process seem overwhelming! Some points to consider include the breed, sex, and physical appearance of your cat.

You can also consider your own interests. Do you have a favorite famous citizen of Ireland? Are you a fan of specific Irish food or drink? Is there a city or tourist attraction in Ireland that you’ve visited on vacation?

Finally, take a minute to get to know your cat’s personality and pick a name that suits their temperament, be it playful, passive, or fiery. Whatever name you land on, make sure everyone in the house agrees before you end your search.

Female Irish Names for Your Cat

fat tabby cat standing outdoor
Image Credit: Li Lin, Unsplash

If you’re a fan of human monikers for your pets, Irish and Celtic traditional female names offer many beautiful possibilities. Some of these can be a bit tricky to pronounce, so keep that in mind as you decide.

  • Sinead (God forgave)
  • Shannon (wise river)
  • Brigid (power, strength)
  • Aoife (ee-fa, meaning beautiful or joyful)
  • Brianna (noble)
  • Kayleigh (slim and fair)
  • Maeve (bringer of joy)
  • Nessa (not gentle)
  • Orlagh (gold)
  • Roisin (ro-sheen, little rose)
  • Cara (a friend)
  • Fiona (fair)
  • Imogen (imma-jen, daughter)
  • Cadhla (ky-lah, beautiful or graceful)
  • Riona (queenly)
  • Dara (symbol of strength)
  • Kira (black)
  • Erin (Ireland, land of abundance)
  • Rosalyn (beautiful rose)
  • Eabha (ey-va, life)
  • Lia (bearer of good news)
  • Iona (purple jewel)
  • Muriel (sea, bright)
  • Ciara (dark-haired)
  • Sybil (fortune teller)
  • Meara (merry disposition)

divider-catMale Irish Names for Your Cat

close up of an old calico cat
Image Credit: Sonja-Kalee, Pixabay

For your male cat, the Irish and Celtic language presents plenty of name options as well. Many translate to expressions of strength and power, while others refer to physical appearance or animals.

  • Conan (little warrior)
  • Conor (lover of hounds)
  • Shay (hawk-like)
  • Ronan (little seal)
  • Lorcan (little fierce one)
  • Fergal (brave)
  • Donal (mighty chief)
  • Quinn (wisdom)
  • Dillon (flash of lightning)
  • Flannery (red-skinned)
  • Kieran (little dark one)
  • Finnegan (fair or white)
  • Aidan (little fire)
  • Donovan (little dark prince)
  • Finley (fair hero)
  • Kirby (from the church farm)
  • Rys (enthusiasm)
  • Cormac (son)
  • Darcy (dark)
  • Niall (champion)
  • Tierney (lord and master)
  • Rory (red king)
  • Eamon (guardian of the riches)
  • Liam (strong-willed warrior)
  • Carney (victorious)
  • Patrick (famous Irish saint)
  • Keegan (fiery)
  • Brendan (prince)
  • Tadhg (tige, poet or bard)

divider-catIrish Food and Drink Names for Your Cat

European Shorthair Cat in Sunset
Image Credit: utroja0, Pixabay

If you love to eat or enjoy a delicious adult beverage, why not look to the culinary world for name inspiration? Ireland is closely associated with a certain root vegetable and various alcoholic drinks but there are other options out there too!

  • Guinness (a beer that drinks like a meal)
  • Jameson (famous Irish whiskey)
  • Bailey (from Bailey’s Irish Cream liquor)
  • Smithwick (an Irish ale)
  • Cabbage
  • Spud
  • Coddle (a traditional Irish dish)
  • Champ (a mashed potato dish)
  • Prata (praw-ta, Irish word for potato)
  • Tayto (Irish potato chips)

divider-catIrish Place Names for Your Cat

Cornish Rex Cat in A Tree
Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock

Ireland is a famous tourist destination, with gorgeous natural scenery. Full of ancient towns and castles, the country offers plenty of landmarks to inspire the perfect name for your feline companion.

  • Dublin (Irish capital city)
  • Cork (Irish city)
  • Galway (Irish city)
  • Limerick (Irish city and a short, funny poem)
  • Belfast (capital of Northern Ireland)
  • Blarney (Irish town, home of the Blarney Stone)
  • Liffey (the river that flows through Dublin)
  • Moher (famous cliffs)
  • Killarney (a national park)
  • Kerry (Irish county)
  • Cashel (site of ancient buildings)
  • Dunmore (the westernmost point of Ireland)
  • Bunratty (famous Irish castle)

Names of Famous Irish People for Your Cat

nebelung cat lying on a brick wall
Image Credit: Amandad, Pixabay

These names run the gamut from famous historical figures, musicians, poets, actors, and even fictional characters! Whether your cat has a way with words (meows) or is a master of the dramatic when they feel you’ve waited too long to feed them dinner, there’s a name on this list that’s sure to be just right.

  • Enya (Irish musician)
  • Bono (from Irish band, U2)
  • The Edge (Ditto)
  • Saoirse (ser-sha, talented actor)
  • Beckett (last name of Samuel, author)
  • Darby (from the movie Darby O’Gill And The Little People)
  • Pangur (from an Irish poem about a cat)
  • Yeats (Irish poet)
  • Seamus (Heaney, Irish poet)
  • Oscar (Wilde, Irish playwright)
  • Cillian (Murphy, an actor)

General Irish Themed Names for Your Cat

American shorthair cat
Image Credit: Clement Morin, Shutterstock

These names are a catch-all of words associated with luck, Ireland, and St. Patrick’s Day. If you have a cat that doesn’t quite fit into any category, this batch of names might offer up a solution to your problem.

  • Clover
  • Leprechaun
  • Lucky
  • O’Reilly
  • Pusheen (from the Irish word for a kitten, puisin)
  • Rain (happens a lot in Ireland)
  • Celt
  • Gael
  • Paddy
  • Shamrock
  • Penny
  • Emerald
  • Tooley
  • Callahan
  • Feeny

divider-catConclusion

Welcoming a new cat into the family is an exciting time and choosing your new pet’s name is only one of many important decisions you’ll make. Remember, your cat’s name is for life, as is the commitment you are making to your new family member. Make sure you’re prepared to make your cat the luckiest feline this side of Ireland for their entire lifespan before you bring them home.

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Featured Image Credit: Alexas_fotos, Pixabay

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