Labhrás · “LOW-rawss” · Boy's name · also Laurence, Larry, Lorcán (distinct) The Irish form of Laurence. Distinct from Lorcán, though the two are often treated as equivalents because both were anglicised as Laurence.
Lachtna · “LAKHT-na” · Boy's name · also Lucius An old name; Woulfe records no meaning for it. The name of Brian Boru's great-grandfather — which is why Lucius, its stand-in, turns up so often among the O'Briens.
Laoise · “LEE-sha” · Girl's name · also Leesha, Lucy Usually read as 'radiant girl'; sometimes linked to Laois. Often used today as an Irish equivalent of Lucy, because both carry the idea of light. It may also connect to the ancient Laigis people who gave County Laois its name.
Laoiseach · “LEE-shakh” · Boy's name · also Lysagh, Louis, Lewis 'belonging to Laois'. A name that is really a county: in use among the O'Mores, who were the lords of Laois until the first plantation took it from them in 1556.
Lasairfhíona · “la-sir-EE-na” · Girl's name · also Lasairíona, Lassarina Lasair + fíon, 'flame of wine'. One of the most gorgeous names in the medieval annals, borne by several noblewomen of Connacht — and rare enough today that its bearers tend to be asked to repeat it twice.
Lasairian · “LASS-a-reen” · Boy's name · also Laserian, Molaise From lasair, 'a flame'. Four Irish saints carried it; one is patron of the diocese of Leighlin in Carlow, where the great old yew still stands at St Laserian's.
Léan · “LAYN” · Girl's name · also Eleanor, Eleanora A pet form of Eiléanóir. Irish wore Eiléanóir down to a single syllable, which is what Irish does to any name it uses often enough.
Lí Ban · “LEE-ban” · Girl's name 'paragon of women', from lí, 'beauty', and ban, 'of women'. There are two of her. One is an otherworld woman of Magh Mell, sister of Fand.
Líadan · “LEE-a-din” · Girl's name · also Liadain, Leedan Possibly from liath, 'grey'. Líadan was a poet of 7th-century Ireland who fell in love with the poet Cuirithir — and, having taken religious vows, refused him. The dialogue-poem 'Líadan and Cuirithir' is one of the earliest and most painful love poems in any European vernacular.
Liam · “LEE-am” · Boy's name · also William, Uilliam, Bill Short form of Uilliam, the Irish for William — 'resolute protector'. Ireland's most successful naming export: a shortened Uilliam that is now among the commonest boys' names in the United States, Britain and Australia. Liam Mellows died in the Civil War; Liam O'Flaherty wrote 'The Informer'.
Lochlann · “LOKH-lan” · Boy's name · also Loughlin, Laughlin, Lochlainn Lochlann — the Irish name for the Norse homeland, read as 'lakeland' or 'fiordland'. A name borrowed from the invaders themselves. Ireland called Scandinavia Lochlann, then started calling its own sons after it — which says something about how quickly the Norse stopped being strangers.
Lonán · “LO-nawn” · Boy's name · also Lonan From lon, 'a blackbird'. The name of eight Irish saints. Early Ireland named its children after birds more readily than any other living thing.
Lorcán · “LOR-kawn” · Boy's name · also Lorcan, Larkin, Laurence From lorc, 'fierce' — 'little fierce one'. Lorcán Ua Tuathail, St Laurence O'Toole, was archbishop of Dublin during the Norman invasion, and spent his last years trying to protect his people from both sides. He died at Eu in Normandy in 1180, still negotiating, and is the city's patron saint.
Lughaidh · “LOO-ee” · Boy's name · also Lewy, Louis, Lugaid Derived from the god Lugh. Lugh Lámhfhada, Lugh of the Long Arm, killed his grandfather Balor at the second battle of Moytura and gave his name to Lughnasa, the August harvest festival still marked at Puck Fair and on Croagh Patrick.