How to pronounce famous Irish names

For non-Irish speakers, let’s face it, when some Irish names come up, it's either time to panic or badly mispronounce. The traditional Irish alphabet does not contain the letters- j, k, q, v, w, x, y, or z, so different letter combinations are used to represent different sounds than in English... though it's even more complicated than just that. So, here is a breakdown to help you pronounce some of the more famous Irish names.

Newly minted Oscar winner Cillian Murphy is the man of the hour, but people still pronounce his name wrong all the time. It’s not that tricky, but many people use the “s” sound like “sillian.” But just remember, he’s not silly, he’s more like his ‘Peaky Blinders’ character — kill-y. So yes, pronounce it with the hard C, not soft C. Again, it can’t be spelled with a K because Ks don’t exist in the traditional Irish alphabet.

Saoirse Ronan is another popular Irish actress in Hollywood, having starred in ‘Lady Bird’ and ‘Little Women.’ But don’t try to sound this name out and pronounce it correctly. As the actress explains, it sounds more like Seer-sha in Irish, but Americans come closest to pronouncing it right when they say sur-sha.

Now, let’s move to the 2022 Academy Award-nominated film ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’ which was packed full of good names. Brendan Gleeson played a fellow named Colm. And while you might think it’s one syllable, that’s not always it. Depends on the region of Ireland, but it is generally pronounced Coll-um or Cawl-em with hard Cs.

Image: The Banshees of Inisherin, SearchlightPictures / Youtube

This was Colin Farrell’s character in the movie. In the south of Ireland, the name is pronounced how you may think like "Pawd-rick,” in the West, where the film was based, “Paw-rick” with a silent D is the correct pronunciation. This is the Gaelic version of the name Patrick.

Follow Showbizz Daily to stay informed and enjoy celebrity galleries!

Another character in the ‘Banshees’ movie, and also the name of the daughter on ‘Succession' (played by Sarah Snook, shown) this name is better known in North America. Pronounced as Shuh-vawn, don’t let the "bh" fool you into thinking it’s pronounced as it looks. Remember, it’s all about the 'Shuh' sound at the start.

This very popular man’s name is pretty straightforward, though it can be treacherous. You might want to say this name as Dee-clan — but stop right there! The correct way to say it is like Deck-lan (or Deck-lin). Its variants Deaglán or Déaglán are pronounced similarly.

Image: Declan Rice of the Arsenal football (soccer) team

This lovely girl's name might seem like a puzzle, but it's said as Kwee-va or Kee-va. The "mh" in Irish names often sounds like a ‘v.’ Remember that for the next one. Caoimhe has a lovely meaning too, denoting beauty or grace. It’s from the same root as the masculine name Caoimhín (Kevin). In 2014, it was the 19th most popular girl's name in Ireland.

Image: Actress-Writer Caoimhe O’Malley, caoimeheomalley / Instagram

Definitely a challenging one! This beautiful name is pronounced Keel-in or Kwee-lin. The "fh" is silent, so don't let that part trick you. Caoilfhionn translates to 'slender and fair.’

Image: Travel visual storyteller and writer Caoilfhionn Maguire, caoilfhionnrose / Instagram

Pronounced Tyg (like the first part of ‘tiger’ without the ‘er’), this is a strong boy's name meaning 'poet' or 'philosopher.’ The 'dh' is silent, making it (kind of) easier once you know the trick. This was once such a common name it was the Irish equivalent of the “average Joe” — the “Tadhg an mhargaidh (Tadhg of the market)

Image: Songwriter Tadgh Cooke (who goes by Tiger as well), tigercooke / Instagram

Niamh, often seen in Irish folklore, is simpler than it looks. Forget the "mh" at the end, and say Neev. That’s right, it rhymes with ‘leave’. It's a beautiful name meaning bright or radiant. Watch out for rising Irish actress Niamh Algar, who was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in 2021.

This one's another beauty, pronounced as Sive (rhyming with 'five'). The name Sadhbh can be tricky due to its 'dhb' combination, but once you get that those letters sound like a V, it’s unforgettable, meaning sweet or goodness.

Image: Depiction of Sadhbh from Irish mythology, who was the mother of Oisin (Osheen), by Arthur Rackham, 1910, via Wikimedia

Another gem, Eoghan (or Eogan) is pronounced like Owen. Despite its look, the name follows a more straightforward pronunciation, blending in with common English names. It means noble born and was the name of many Irish royals.

Image: Musician (best known for appearing on ‘The X Factor’), Eoghan Quigg / Instagram

This is a super popular name in Ireland but is very confusing for non-Irish speakers. It’s pronounced rather simply, like Ee-fa and means beautiful and radiant. She also appears as a character in Irish mythology.

Image: Painting of Aoife by John Duncan (1866-1945) /  Wikimedia

Ruaidhri is one that can be tricky even for Irish people. But its pronunciation is quite simple: Rur-ree or Rue-ree. It means “red king” so it's perfect for a red-haired boy! The English alternative is Rory.

Image: Hermes Rivera / Unsplash

Last but not least, this beautiful girl’s name means flower. After all these names, can you guess how it’s pronounced? If you said Blaw-ned you would be correct! If not, maybe it's time to study Irish.

Image: Irish presenter Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh

Follow Showbizz Daily to stay informed and enjoy more content!