Without a doubt, Ireland is a nation of dog lovers.
A 2016 study by iReach for Purina found that 72% of Irish people think having a dog "completes the family."
And nearly 36% of Irish homes have a dog while only 10% own a cat, according to a 2009 study by the University College Dublin.
That’s because more than 65% of Ireland is farmland. And most Irish citizens live in sprawling ranch-style houses instead of cramped studio apartments.
Even Manx cats — tailless felines that come from the Isle of Man, an island in the Irish sea between Northern Ireland and Great Britain — have canine characteristics.
Whether you bleed orange and green or are counting the seconds 'til St. Patrick's Day, here are 500+ possible Irish-inspired cat names.
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Male Irish Cat Names
A
Aaron — High mountain
Aengus — One strength; the Celtic god of love
Adair — A crossing or ford at the oak tree
Adamnan — Little Adam
Aed (ayd) — Fire
Ahern — Lord of the horses
Ailin (ay-LEEN) — Noble
Alan — Peaceful or handsome
Alastar (ah-lah-star) — Defender of the people
Alpin — Attractive
Amargein (aw-veer-een) — Birth of song
Amon (ay-mon) — Wealthy protector
Aodhan (eh-dawn or ay-dawn) — Fire
Aralt — Army ruler
Ardal (ahr-dawl) — Bear-like valor
Arlen — Hare land
Art — Bear
Arwan — The Celtic god of the dead, war, revenge, and terror
Augustine — Great, magnificent
Auliffe (ao-lahf) — Ancestor’s relic
B
Bainbridge — Fair bridge
Banning — Small, fair one
Bairre (baw-re) — Fair-haired
Bard — Singer-poet
Beacan (be-kawn or ba-kawn) — Tiny one
Bearach (ba-rak) — Pointed, sharp
Behan — Bee
Belenus (bel-en-us) — The sun god from Celtic mythology
Benen — Mild
Berkeley — Birch tree meadow
Blaine — Angular or slender
Blair — Field or plain
Blathmac (blaw-vak) — Flower son
Bogart — Bog or marshland
Bran (brawn) — Raven
Bray — Marsh
Brayden — Salmon
Breasal (bree-sal) — Land of the blessed
Brian — Noble
Brandon — Prince
Breck — Freckled
Brody — Ditch
Brogan — Small shoe
C
Calhoun — From the narrow forest
Callaghan — Lover of churches
Callum (kal-um) — Dove
Carney — Warlike
Carrick — Rock
Carlow — Four-part lake
Carroll — Hacking with a weapon
Cashel — Castle or fortress
Cathal (ka-hal) — Strong in battle
Cernunnos — The horned fertility and hunting god in Celtic mythology
Cian (kee-an) — Ancient or enduring
Cillian (kill-ee-an) — War strife or little church
Ciaran (kee-ran) — Little dark one
Clancy — Red warrior
Cluny — From the meadow
Collin — Cub or puppy
Comhghall (KOH-gahn or CO-en) — Fellow hostage
Conan — Wolf
Conor — Lover of hounds
Cormac — Charioteer
Conway — Hound of the plain
Craig — Rock
Criofan (KREE-fan) — Fox
Culley — Meadow
Cunningham — Village of the milk pail
D
Dagda (dag-duh) — The “good god”, the supreme deity and chief of the ancient Celtic pantheon
Dahy (day-hee) — Quick-footed
Daimine — Deer or ox
Daithi (da-hee) — Nimbleness or swiftness
Dalaigh (dawl-ee) — Counsellor
Declan — Full of goodness
Delaney — Dark challenger
Dempsey — Proud
Dermot — Free from envy
Desmond — One from Desmond
Devlin — Unlucky
Diarmuid (deer-mid) — Without an enemy
Digby — A town with a ditch or dike
Dinsmore — Fortified hill
Dooley — Dark hero
Donnacha (done-acka) — Brown-haired warrior
Donal (Dho-nal) — Ruler of the world
Dow — Dark-haired
Doyle — Dark Stranger
E
Eamon (ee-mon or ay-mon) — Wealthy protector
Earnan — Serious
Elatha (ahl-a-hah) — Art
Emmet — Irish orator and patriot who led the unsuccessful 1798 Irish Rebellion against the British
Eochaid (oh-kad) — Horse
Eoghan (oh-win) — Born of the yew tree
Erc — Battle boar
Euston — Heart
F
Fagin (fay-gin) — Rustic
Faolan (Fay-lawn) — Little wolf
Felix — Lucky
Ferdia — Man of God
Fergal — Brave
Fergus — Man of force
Ferris — Rock
Fiachra (FEE-uh-khruh) — Raven or hunt and king
Finnbar — Fair-haired
Finn — Fair, blonde
Finnegan — Little fair one
Fintan — White bull or white fire
Fitzgerald — Son of Gerald
Fogarty — Exiled one
Foley — Plunderer
Forbes — Wealthy or stubborn
Flynn — Ruddy
Frederick — Peaceful ruler
Fursey — Virtue
G
Gaibhne — The Celtic god of blacksmiths
Gaeth — Skillful
Gallagher — Eagle helper
Galvin — Sparrow
Galway — A vibrant waterside city in western Ireland
Garrett — Spear strength
Garvey — Rough place
Genty — Snow
Gilroy — Devoted to the king
Glendon — One from a valley or fortress
Gordon — Beloved
Grady — Noble
Gulliver — Glutton
Guthrie — Windy place
Gus — Great
Guy — Sensible
H
Hagan — Young
Haley — Ingenious
Harkin — Dark red
Harmon — Soldier
Hartigan — Descendent of Arthur
Hobart — Bright, shinning intellect
Hogan — Youth
Hoyt — Spirit, mind
Hugh — Mind, intellect
Hurley — Sea tide
I
Iarom (ear-um) — Sacred name
Iollan (ul-an) — One who worships a different god
Irv — Handsome
Ivo — Archer, yew wood
J
Jarlath (jar-lath) — PrinceK
Kane (key-in) — Enduring
Keallach (kall-ach)— Little Kelly
Keefe (kiy-f) — Handsome and noble
Keenan — Ancient
Keenan — Little Keene
Kelvin -— Narrow river
Kendrick — Son of Henry
Kennard — Brave chieftain
Kennedy (ki-ne-dee) — Ugly head
Kenyon -— White-haired
Kermit — Freeman
L
Labraid — Speaker
Labras — Laurel bush
Laegaire (lee-ree) — Calf herder
Lee — From the River Lee
Lawler — Mutterer
Lennan (lan-awn) — Lover
Liam — Strong-willed warrior or protector
Llyr — The Celtic god of the sea and underworld
Lochlan (lok-lun) — Land of the lakes
Lonan (lyo-nawn) — Blackbird
Lorcan — Silent or fierce
Lugh (loo) — The Celtic god of justice, laws, and kings
Lunn — Warlike
Lynch — Mariner
M
Macarthur — Son of Arthur
Maccoy — Son of Hugh
Mackenzie — Son of Kenzie
Mackinnley — Son of the learned ruler
Maguire — Son of the beige one
Mahon — Bear
Malachi (mala-ki) — Messenger of God
Mannix — Little monk
Manus (ma-nuhs) — Great
Mayo — Yew-tree plain
Michael (me-haul) — Who is like God?
Merritt — Valuable
Meallan (mahl-an) — Lightening
Midir (my-tir) — The Celtic god of lakes and rivers
Morrisey — Sea choice
Murchadh (MUR-kha or MOOR-uh-ka) — Sea warrior
N
Néit — The Celtic god of war
O
Odhran (o-ran) — Dark-haired
Oisin (o-sheen) — Small deer
Odhran (orin) — Little pale green one
Oran (ohr-an) — Otter
Oscar — Deer lover
P
Patrick — Nobly born
Peadar (pad-ar) — Rock
Patterson — Son of Pat
Phelan (fwail-awn) — Wolf
Q
Quigley — Unkempt
Quill — Scribe with a quill pen
Quillon — Crossing swords
Quinlan — Athletic
R
Raymond — Counselor
Rian (ree-an) — Little king
Riddock — Smooth field
Riordan (reer-don) — Royal poet
Roarke — Famous ruler
Roc — Person with frizzy hair
Rónán (ROH-nawn) — Pledge
Ross — Headland
S
Scanlon — Little trapper
Scully — Town crier
Séafra (shee-a-fra) — God's peace
Seamus — Supplanter
Sean — God is gracious
Seanán (shaw-nawn) — Ancient
Searc (shark) — Affection, love
Shane — Gift from God
Skelly — Storyteller
Sleibhin (sle-veen) — Mountain man
Sloan — Warrior
Somhairle — Summer wanderer
Strahan — Minstrel
Steafán (stef-ahn) — Crowned with laurel
Struthers -— Brook
T
Tadhg (tige) — Poet or bard
Tarlach (tahr-lak) — Instigator
Taranis — The Celtic god of thunderstorms
Tiarnach (teer-nahk) — Superior
Tomas — Twin
Tormey — Thunder spirit
Treasach (trah-sak) — Fierce
Trevor — Prudent
Troy — Foot soldier
Turlough (tur-la) — One who aids
Tyrone — From the land of the yew tree
U
Ulick (oo-lick) — Little William
Ultan — Man from Ulster or Northern Ireland
V
Verlin — Farthing Coin
W
William — Strong protector
Female Irish Cat Names
A
Adina — Delicate
Aibreann (ab-rawn) — April
Aideen (ay-deen) — Fire
Aifric (eye-fric) — Pleasant
Aileen — Bright, shining light
Ailis — God is my oath
Áine (awn-ya) — The Celtic goddess of wealth and summer
Aisling (ash-ling) — Dream or vision
Alannah — Darling child
Alma — Good
Annabella — Joy
Aoife (ee-fuh) — Beautiful
Aoibhinn (ee-van or ay-veen) — Beautiful sheen
Arlise — Oath
Ashlynn — Dream
Augusteen — Great
B
Báirbre (BAR-bruh) — Stranger
Badb (bibe) — Scald-crow; the Celtic goddess of war
Bernadette — Courage of a bear
Beatha (beh-tha) — Livelihood
Bevin (bay-vin) — Fair Lady
Bidu — Strength, power
Binne — Sweet, melodious
Blair — From the plain
Blanche — White
Blathnaid (blaw-nid) — Blossom or flower
Boann — The Celtic goddess of water, fertility, inspiration, and knowledge
Brazil -— Strife
Breck — Freckled
Breena — Fairy place
Brigid (bri-guhd) — The Celtic goddess of healing, poetry, and smithcraft
Brina — Speckled
Brit — Spotted
Bronagh (brona) — Sad or sorrowful
Bryg (bree) — High or mighty
C
Cadhla (ky-lah) — Beautiful and graceful
Caitlin — Pure
Cailleach (key-iy-ch) — Veiled one; the Celtic crone goddess of winds and winter
Caoimhe (kwee-va or kee-va) — Precious
Cara — Friend
Carmel — Vineyard
Cassidy — Curly-haired
Catriona (ka-tree-na) — Clear
Cerridwen — Power underworld goddess whose potions brought knowledge and rebirth to the world
Cinnie — Beauty
Claire — Famous
Cliodhna (Klee-na) — The Celtic goddess of beauty and love
Cliona (klee-ona) — Shapely
Collen — Girl
Cordelia — Jewel of the sea
Cristín (kris-teen) — Christian
D
Daimhin (daw-veen) — Little deer
Darcy — Descendant of the dark one
Danu — The ancient mother of all Celtic gods and of the Irish people
Davan — Beloved
Dearbhla (der-vla) —True desire
Decla — Woman of prayer
Deirdre (deer-dra) — Woman or sorrow
Devnet (downet) — Poet
Doreen — Moody
Duana — Song
E
Eachna (ahk-na) — Steed
Eabha (ey-va) — Life
Éadaoin (eh-deen) — Happy friend
Ealga (ale-ga) — Brave
Edana — Firey
Eileen — Pleasant
Eimile — Rival
Eimear (ee-mur) — Swift
Eistir (ayst-er) — Star
Eithne (ith-nee) — Kernel of a nut or seed
Elva — Leader of the elves
Emily — Industrious
Enat (ey-nit) — Little fire
Erin — Peace
Erlina — Girl from Ireland
Etain — Jealousy
Eveleen (ave-leen) — Longed for child
Evelyn — Life
F
Fania — Ring
Ferelith — True sovereignty
Fey — Fairy
Fiadh (fee-a) — Wild
Fidelma — Constant
Fianait (fyan-it or fee-nat) — Deer
Finola (finn-ula) — Fair-shouldered
Fiona — White
G
Gemma — Precious stone
Geiléis (gyel-aysh) — Bright swan
Glynis —Valley
Gormlaith (gorm-lee) — Blue Lady
Grainne (graw-ni-eh) — The Irish Celtic goddess of the grain or harvest
Gwendolyn — White brow
Gweneth — Fair
H
Helen — Light
Hilde — Battle maid
I
Ide (ee-da) — Thirst for goodness or knowledge
Imogen (imma-jen) — Maiden or daughter
Iona — Blessed
Isibéal (ish-a-behl) — Consecrated to God
K
Kady — First
Karan — Little friend or little beloved
Kayleigh — Slender and fair
Keavy — Gentleness
Keela — A beauty that only poetry can capture
Kennocha (ken-oh-kuh) — Beauty
Kiara — Dark
Kiana — Soft, synthetic material
Kiley — Good looking
Kinnat — Ancient
Kyna (key-na) — Love
L
Labhaoise (lau-ee-shuh) — Holiness
Liadan (lyah-dan) — Gray lady
Laoise (lee-sha) — Light
Lucy — Bringer of light
M
Mab — Baby
Macha — The Celtic goddess of war
Maeve (may-veh) — Great joy
Maire (my-ra) — Bitter
Mairead (mi-rade) — Pearl
Maitilde — Battle maiden
Makenna — Happy one
Maolisa (mail-issa) — Follower of Jesus
Meara (meer-a) — Sea
Meryl (mur-el) — Bright as the sea
Mona — Noble, good
Morrigan (mohr-ee-gan) — Phantom queen
Morgan — Sea dweller
Moya — Great
Muireann (mweer-in) — Sea white
Muirne (meer-ne) — High-spirited
Muiriol (meer-ol) — Sea bright
Myrna — Beloved
N
Nainsi (nan-see) — Grace
Neala — Female champion
Neave (neev) — Luster
Nessa — Rough
Niamh (neev or nee-iv) — Brightness
Nora — Torch
Nuala (noo-lah) — Fair shoulder
O
Oonagh (Una) — Lamb
Orla — Golden princess
Ornice — Olive-colored
Ornóra — Honor
P
Paili (pahl-ee) — Bitter
Patricia — Noble
Pegeen — Pearl
Philomena — Powerful friend
R
Rainbow — A multicolored curved line in the sky
Raunak — Beauty of nature
Regina — Queen
Renny — Grace
Riona (ree-ona) — Saint
Rita — Pearl
Roisin (ro-sheen) — Little rose
Rowena — White hair
Rylee — Courageous
S
Sabrina — From the River Severn
Sadhbh (sive, sigh-v) — Sweet
Saoirse (ser-sha) — Freedom or liberty
Sarai (sar-eye) — Princess
Síle (shee-la) — Blind
Sinéad (shee-naid) — God is gracious
Siobhán (shiv-on) — Full of charm
Sive — Sweet
Shauna — Precious
Shannon — Wise river
Sheena — God's gracious gift
Shevonne — The lord is gracious
Seosaimhthín - (shoh-sa-veen) — God will add
Sorcha (sur-ka) — Radiant
Steise (steh-shuh) — Reborn
Sybil (shuh-beh) — Prophetess
T
Tallulah — Leaping water
Tara — Tower
Tessie — Harvester
Tipper — Ax
Toiréasa (toh-reh-suh) — Strong
U
Ula — Gem of the sea
Ulla — To fill up, rich powerful ruler
Úna (oo-nuh) — Lamb
Ursula — Little bear
W
Wanna — God is gracious
Winnifred — Blessed peacemaking
Whitney — White island
Whiltierna — Wolf lord
Wynne — A wish fulfilled
Y
Yeats — Gates
Yseult — Fair, light-skinned
Yvon — Archer
Z
Zaira — Princess
Gender-Neutral Irish Cat Names
Trendy and timeless, these gender-neutral cat names draw inspiration from Catholic poetry, iconic Emerald Island brands, and Irish character.
A
Aiden — Little fire
Ailbe (ale-by) — White
Aindrea — Manly
Asthore — Loved one
B
Bailey — An Irish creme liqueur
Barra — Fair-haired
Banba — The Celtic Goddess of the spirit of Ireland
Berrach (bar-akh) — Sharp
Bellamy — Fine friend
Beltany — a 5.9-foot Neolithic stone circle in County Donegal
Blarney — Skillful battery
Blaine — Yellow
Brady — One with broad eyes
Branna — Raven
Beag (b'yag) — Small
Bushmill — A classic, light-bodied Irish blended whisky
C
Cabbage — An important Irish food staple during the Great Potato Famine
Callen – Rock
Caolán (keelin) — Slender and pure
Cahan — Battle
Carey — Dark, black, or from the fort
Carlin — Little champion
Carson — Son of the marsh dwellers
Casey — Vigilant in war
Ceallach (kal-ukh) — Bright-headed
Channing — Wolf cub
Clover — Meadow flower
Coddle — A traditional Irish dish made with sliced pork sausage, bacon rashers, onions, and potatoes
Coinneach (con-yach) — Beautiful
Connolly — Fierce as a hound
Cory — From the hollow
Curran — Hero
D
Dacey — From the south
Darcie — Dark one
Daireann (dar-awn) — Bountiful
Darragh (darra) — Dark oak
Dallas — From the meadow dwelling
Derby — From the deer settlement
Dillon — Flash of lightning
Devin — Poet
Dublin — The capital of Ireland
Duff — Olive-skinned
E
Eirnin (air-nin) — Iron
Emerald — Green gemstone
Enda — Bird
Ennis — Island
F
Fallon — Leader
Fachtna — Hostile
Farrell — Brave
Fianna — One with Celtic roots
Flann — Fiery red
G
Gael — Gaelic person
Gormon — Dark or swarthy
Grady — Noble
Guinness — The chosen one
H
Hurley — Sea tide
I
Ireland — Abundant land
J
Jameson — A blended Irish whiskey
K
Kavanaugh — Born handsome
Keegan — Descendant of the fiery one
Kelly — War
Keir — Black
Kellen — Swamp, slender
Kennedy — Helmet
Kerry — Dark
Killian — Little war-like one
Kimball — Warrior chief
Kirby — From the church village
Kynan — Wise and intelligent
L
Larkin — Fierce, tough
Lennon — Little cloak
Liam — Guardian
Limerick — A humorous, five-line poem
Lucky — Fortunate
M
Madigan — Little dog
Maon (mayn) — Silent
Mccoy — Fire
Miach (mee-ach) — Honorable
Murphy — Sea warrior or hound of the sea
Murtagh — Skills of the sea
N
Naoise (nee-sha) — Bond
Nevin — Holy
Niall (nye-al or niel) — Cloud
Nollaig (null-ig) — Christmas
O
Oatcake — A flat biscuit or cracker
P
Payton — Noble
Pangur — From an Old Irish poem about a monk named Brother Aidan and his cat, Pangur Bán, or "white cat”
Phelim — Ever good
Piran — Prayer
Práta (prawh-tah) — The main Irish word for potato
Pusheen — Kitten
Q
Quinn — Intellect or chief
R
Radha — View or vision
Rafferty — Wealthy
Redmond — Protector
Regan — The king’s child
Renny — Little prosperous one
Riley — Courageous
Rionnach (ree-in-ock) — Royal
Robin — A singing bird, bright fame
Rohan — Sandalwood
Rory — Red or rust-colored
Rowen (roe-an) — Little redhead
Ryan — Little king
Rylie — Courageous
S
Shamrock — Young clover
Shannon — Old and wise; the longest river (224 miles) in all of Britain and Ireland
Sheridan — Searcher or wild one
Shea — Esteemed
Shay — Hawk-like or noble
Sláine (slaw-nuh) — Health
Sullivan — Black-eyed
T
Tayto — Irish chip (“crips) and popcorn brand
Teagan — Beautiful
Tierney (teer-nee) — Lord of the household
Tremayne — Town surrounded by stone
Tully — From the little hill
Turlough — Dry lake
Tyran — From The Land Of Owen
Tynan — Dark
U
Uaine — Green, verdant
V
Valentine — Strong and healthy
Veren — Great hero
