Trendiest Irish Baby Names

Last week the Social Security Administration released the top baby names in the United States for 2013. Jacob and Sophia remain the number one choices for boys and girls for the second year in a row.

While Jacob and Sophia are perfectly fine names, the South Side Irish have a knack for choosing some really cool, unique Irish baby names. Ironically, very few authentic Gaelic names make the top ten baby name lists in Ireland (Mason and Lexi are creeping up into Ireland’s top 100).

If you’re shopping around for an Irish name for your next blessed event – or if you just want to be hip and cool – we snagged a few from Huffington Post’s most loved Irish baby names.

Girl’s names

1. Michaela – The feminine form of “Michael,”
2. Ailbe (pronounced all-bay) – A name that works for either gender, Ailbe comes from the old Irish word for "white."
3. Fiona – Fair and beautiful, Fiona is the feminine form of “Fionn.”
4. Oona – Oona is derived from the Latin word for “one,” which means “unity.” Oonagh (pronounced the same) was also dubbed the “Queen of the Fairies” according to the Irish legend.
5. Saorise (pronounced sear-sha): Saorise made Ireland’s top girl’s names list in the 1920s. It’s catching on overseas but is slowly making its way across the pond into North America’s cool and hip Gaelic baby names.

Boy’s Names

1. Conor – Gaelic for “hound lover,” you can make your son really stand out by spelling it the traditional way “Concobhar.” Imagine how that would look in a Brother Rice box score.
2. Ciaran – Combines two patron saits, “Ciaran” is pronounced “Keer-an” and translates into “black.” The name has been in style since the 5^th century.
3. Ronan – Now there’s a name you don’t hear every day. Ronan is the name of the King of Leinster. It also means little seal. The name is just starting to penetrate North America, so be prepared for five Ronans in your kid’s kindergarten class five or six years from now.
4. Padraig – Better known as “Patrick,” Padraig is the national name of Ireland. Derived from the Latin word for “noble,” it’s the name of kings.
5. Jack – Solid and strong in its simplicity, Jack is currently the number one boy’s name in Ireland. In Hebrew it means "God has favored" and various forms include Eoin, Seon, Shuan, Shawn and Shane.

Would you or have you given your child an Irish name? Tell us your favorites.