Irish names starting with I

The I names in brief

• Iarlaith · “EER-la” · Boy's name · also Jarlath, Iarfhlaith
  Possibly 'tributary lord'. St Jarlath founded the school of Tuam in County Galway, where, legend says, he was told to drive his chariot until a wheel broke, and to build his church there. It broke at Tuam, which became the ecclesiastical capital of Connacht.
• Íde · “EE-da” · Girl's name · also Ita, Ida
  From íte, 'thirst' — traditionally read as 'thirst for holiness'. St Íde of Killeedy in County Limerick was called 'the foster-mother of the saints of Ireland' and is said to have taught St Brendan the Navigator as a child. Her name's meaning, thirst, was explained by her hagiographers as a thirst for divine love.
• Íosac · “EE-sak” · Boy's name · also Isaac
  From Hebrew Yitschaq, 'laughter'. The patriarch, son of Abraham, probably named for the joy at his birth, says Woulfe. He adds that the name was always exceedingly rare in Ireland.
• Irial · “IR-ee-al” · Boy's name
  An ancient name; Woulfe records no meaning for it. Formerly in use among the O'Farrells, O'Kennedys and O'Loghlens — one of the oldest names in the Irish record and one of the rarest now.
• Isibéal · “ISH-a-bale” · Girl's name · also Sibéal, Isabella, Sybil, Bella
  The French form of Elizabeth. Woulfe thought this was probably the form in which Elizabeth first came into Ireland, before Eilís. He found it still in use but rare, and gives Sibéal as another form of the same name.

Also spelled with I

Listed on the atlas under another spelling, but the I form is the one many families carry — they are the same name.

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