Here's a striking fact: the #1 baby name in America right now is Irish. Liam — an Irish short form of William — has held the top spot for boys for years. But that's just the beginning. Nora, Maeve, Finn, Quinn, Riley, Logan, Aiden — the Irish and Celtic naming tradition has thoroughly embedded itself in mainstream American culture.
It makes historical sense. Irish immigration shaped American culture profoundly, and Irish-American families have maintained strong naming traditions. But the more recent Irish naming boom goes beyond Irish heritage — parents of every background are drawn to the sounds and meanings of Gaelic names, which tend to be short, strong, and rooted in nature and legend.
Top Irish & Celtic Boy Names
Liam — #1
The name that has held the top spot for boys longer than any other name in recent memory. Liam is an Irish short form of William, from the Old Germanic Willahelm — "will" + "helmet," meaning determined protector. The Irish borrowed it, compressed it, and made it their own. It's become the most internationally successful Irish export in naming history.
Aiden — #47
From the Irish Aodhán, a diminutive of Aodh (the god of fire). Aiden and its variants (Ayden, Aydan, Aidan) collectively represent one of the great naming phenomena of the early 21st century. They're everywhere — and there's a reason for that. The name has a crispness and energy that feels fundamentally modern even though it's ancient.
Logan — #46
A Scottish Gaelic surname-turned-first-name, meaning "little hollow" from lagan. Logan crossed over from surnames into given names in the late 20th century and became firmly established as gender-neutral. Its Marvel associations (Wolverine) give it a quiet toughness that parents appreciate.
Nolan — #64
From the Irish Ó Nualláin, a descendant of Nuallán (famous, noble). Nolan is a surname-name that has made a strong transition to first-name usage. Christopher Nolan, the filmmaker, has probably helped its cultural profile. It has the clean, confident sound of names that succeed without trying too hard.
Cameron — #66
From the Scottish Gaelic cam sróin — "crooked nose," originally a nickname that became a clan name and then a surname-first-name. Cameron is gender-neutral and has been steadily popular for years. It has the sort of surname feel that gives it a certain modern cool.
Rowan — #71
From the Irish Ruadhan or from the Gaelic word for the rowan tree. Rowan is a nature name with genuine Celtic roots, and it works beautifully for both boys and girls. The rowan tree in Celtic mythology was considered a tree of protection and magic — a powerful symbol for a name.
Ian — #75
The Scottish Gaelic form of John — the most international name in history in its Celtic dress. Ian is short, clear, and works in virtually every language. Ian Fleming (James Bond's creator) made it globally recognizable. It's the kind of name that's been consistently popular because it has no weaknesses.
Ryan — #87
From the Irish Ó Riain, meaning "descendant of Rian" — with rí meaning "king." Ryan was one of the breakout Irish names of the late 20th century, transitioning from Irish-American surname to mainstream first name. It's gender-neutral but currently skews heavily male in usage.
Gael — #89
A name and a people — the Gaels are the Celtic peoples of Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. Gael as a given name carries the full weight of that cultural identity. It's more popular in French-speaking countries (where it's pronounced "Gah-EL") but has been rising in the US.
Arthur — #105
The legendary king of Britain — almost certainly of Celtic or Romano-British origin. Arthur carries the weight of one of the greatest legends in Western literature: the Round Table, the sword in the stone, Merlin, and the idea of a golden age of justice. It's been rising steadily for years.
Connor — #136
From the Irish Conchobhar — "lover of hounds" or "dog lover." Connor is a classic Irish name that made the leap to mainstream American usage in the 1990s and has remained consistently popular. It has a confident, open quality that wears well across decades.
Callum — #159
The Scottish Gaelic form of the Latin Columba — "dove." Callum is enormously popular in Scotland and the UK generally, and is making real inroads in the US. It has a warmth and strength that the similar-sounding Colin doesn't quite match.
Kevin — #196
From the Irish Caoimhín — "beautiful birth" or "beloved child." Kevin was one of the definitive Irish names of the mid-20th century. It's had a decade or two of unfashionability, but that means it's getting close to its revival moment. Saint Kevin of Glendalough is one of Ireland's beloved figures.
Finn — #198
From the Irish mythological hero Fionn mac Cumhaill, a legendary warrior and hunter. Finn is currently the most fashionable short Irish name in the US — short, punchy, mythologically rich, and utterly contemporary. It also works as a Scandinavian name (meaning "person from Finland"), giving it broader cross-cultural appeal.
Top Irish & Celtic Girl Names
Nora — #22
Short for Honora or Eleanor, and a fully independent name in Irish tradition. Nora is one of the great four-letter, two-syllable names: simple, warm, and complete. Nora Joyce, wife of James Joyce and muse of modernism, gave the name intellectual credibility. It's been rising for years and is currently at its highest point in decades.
Isla — #35
A Scottish name pronounced "EYE-la," from the island of Islay off the Scottish coast. Isla Fisher brought it to mainstream American attention, and it's been rising ever since. Short, striking, and with a natural quality (it simply means "island") that parents love.
Riley — #42
Originally an Irish surname meaning "courageous." Riley has become one of the defining gender-neutral names of the current generation — it trends heavily girl in US usage despite its masculine roots. Its cheerful energy and association with Inside Out's protagonist has given it a warm cultural resonance.
Maeve — #75
From the Irish Meadhbh — "intoxicating" or "she who intoxicates." Maeve is the warrior queen of Connacht in Irish mythology, a figure of power and complexity. The name has rocketed in American popularity — short, strong, entirely distinctive — and is one of the best examples of a name that feels both ancient and completely modern.
Kennedy — #89
From the Irish Ó Ceannéidigh — "helmeted head" or "misshapen head," originally a nickname. Kennedy as a given name was boosted by America's first Irish-Catholic president. It's now firmly gender-neutral and particularly popular for girls, sitting at #89.
Quinn — #96
From the Irish Ó Cuinn — "descendant of Conn," with conn meaning "counsel" or "intelligence." Quinn is the coolest one-syllable girl name in current American naming. Clean, sharp, gender-neutral, and with a certain no-nonsense quality that feels deeply appealing right now.
Brianna — #181
A feminine form of Brian, the great Irish king's name. Brianna was coined in the 20th century as a distinctly American elaboration of the Irish tradition. It peaked in the 1990s-2000s and is now settling into a comfortable, enduring position.
Mackenzie — #200
From the Scottish Gaelic Mac Coinnich — "son of Kenneth." Mackenzie made the transition from Scottish clan name to American girl's name in a fairly remarkable journey. It's become one of the defining names of the 1990s-2000s generation.
The Enduring Appeal of Celtic Names
What ties these names together isn't just geography — it's a sensibility. Celtic names tend to be short, rooted in nature and legend, and phonetically distinctive. They feel connected to something older than modern naming trends, which is precisely their appeal in an era when parents are searching for names with genuine roots.
The Irish naming tradition in particular has been remarkably generative for American naming culture. Names like Liam, Finn, Maeve, and Quinn feel simultaneously ancient and completely contemporary — that tension between old and new is part of what makes them so compelling.
For more Celtic options, browse our Irish names collection, or explore our old fashioned names cool again article — many of the names there have Celtic roots. Check the current rankings to see how Irish names are dominating the top charts, and use our comparison tool to weigh your favorites side by side.
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Analysis by NamesPop.