Rathnait · “RA-nit” · Girl's name · also Renny From rath, 'grace' or 'prosperity'. Patroness of Kilrenny in Kildare — the church that still carries her name, which is more than most of these saints managed.
Réamonn · “RAY-mun” · Boy's name · also Raymond, Redmond Germanic, 'mighty protection' or 'counsel protection'. Introduced by the Anglo-Normans and formerly not uncommon in many Irish families, says Woulfe. He gives both Raymond and Redmond as its English forms.
Rian · “REE-an” · Boy's name · also Ryan, Rían Possibly 'little king' — from rí; disputed. Better known as a surname (Ó Riain, Ryan) than a given name until the late 20th century, when Ryan became a global favourite and Irish parents reclaimed it in its native spelling.
Ríona · “REE-na” · Girl's name · also Riona, Ríoghnach, Regina From ríoghan, 'queen'. The full form, Ríoghnach, was the name of a 6th-century saint and, in legend, the wife of Niall of the Nine Hostages. It doubles neatly as an Irish equivalent of Regina, which means the same thing in Latin.
Ríordán · “REER-dawn” · Boy's name · also Riordan, Rearden Traditionally read as 'royal poet', from ríogh + bardán. Better known as a surname (Ó Ríordáin), and borne by Seán Ó Ríordáin, widely held to be the greatest Irish-language poet of the 20th century — fitting for a name that literally means royal bard.
Risteárd · “RISH-tyard” · Boy's name · also Riocárd, Richard A French-influenced variant of Riocárd (Richard). Woulfe calls this the common form of the name, with Riocárd the older one, and compares Italian Ricciardo beside Riccardo. Wikipedia adds that only three babies were given it in 1975, and fewer in the years either side.
Roibeárd · “REB-ard” · Boy's name · also Roibeard, Robert Germanic Hrothberht, 'fame-bright'. One of the commonest names among the early Anglo-Norman settlers. Woulfe says it had declined until it was rather rare.
Róis · “ROHSH” · Girl's name · also Róise, Rose Woulfe derives it from a Germanic word for 'horse', by way of Norman Rohais; the flower-name Rose came separately from Latin rosa. Brought in, Woulfe thinks, by the Anglo-Normans, and borne by a lady of the Maguires early in the 16th century. He makes a point of saying that Róis was a woman's name in Ireland long before St Rose of Lima, whose own name does come from the flower.
Róisín · “ro-SHEEN” · Girl's name · also Rosheen, Rosaleen 'little rose'. Róisín Dubh, 'Dark Little Rose', is Ireland herself in one of the most famous songs in the language, a love poem to a woman that is also a coded lament for a country. James Clarence Mangan's translation gave it to English as 'Dark Rosaleen'.
Rónán · “ROH-nawn” · Boy's name · also Ronan From rón, 'seal' — 'little seal'. A dozen saints bore it, and in the old stories it belongs to a king who, deceived by his wife, kills his own son Mael Fothartaig — a tale of tragic misjudgement told in 'Fingal Rónáin'. The seal in the name links it to the selkie lore of the western coasts.
Rossa · “RUSS-a” · Boy's name · also Ross, Ros From ros, 'wood' or 'headland'. Jeremiah O'Donovan Rossa (whose 'Rossa' came from his native Rosscarbery) was the Fenian whose funeral in 1915 gave Pearse the platform for the most famous graveside oration in Irish history: 'Ireland unfree shall never be at peace.'
Ruadhán · “ROO-awn (Munster roo-AWN)” · Boy's name · also Ruán, Rowan A diminutive of ruadh, 'red'. Ruadhán founded the monastery of Lorrha in Tipperary, was known for his prophecies, and is counted among the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He died on 15 April 584, which is his feast.
Ruairí · “ROO-a-ree” · Boy's name · also Rory, Ruaidhrí, Roderick 'red king' — rua + rí. Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was the last High King of Ireland: he submitted to Henry II in 1175 and died a monk at Cong in 1198. Rory O'More's name became a password of the 1641 rising, and Rory O'Connor held the Four Courts in 1922.