Boy's name
Eoghan
“OH-in”
IPA: /oːn̪ˠ/
'born of the yew' — from eo, yew
Why it is said that way
The gh between vowels is silent, which leaves OH-in. It is the same name as Eoin, spelled the older way.
- dh, gh → silent, or a soft y at the start
The story behind the name
Eoghan, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages, gave his name to Tír Eoghain — County Tyrone, 'the land of Eoghan'. Eoghan Rua Ó Néill (Owen Roe O'Neill), the Spanish-trained general, won Benburb in 1646; Eoghan Rua Ó Súilleabháin was Munster's last great wandering poet.
Its age
Associated with 1646 — Confederate Ireland & Cromwell.
See Ireland in that year on the atlas ↗
Where the name belongs
Meanings follow Ó Corráin & Maguire's Irish Names and Woulfe; pronunciations give the commonest Irish-English form. Know this name better — a dialect pronunciation, a family tradition? Tell us. · All Irish names A–Z