Beyond Fred: Ancient Celtic Names

Finding a character’s name can sometimes be the hardest part of building a character. If you’re looking for something different from the usual fantasy sources and more pronounceable that a random name generator, you may find something here you like.

Beyond ‘Fred’ is an occasional series that provides lists of names from real-world cultures, both past, and present. In other posts, I’ve covered everything from Italian to Ancient Egyptian. This time, we’re covering ancient Celtic names. I’ve included pronunciations where I could find them, since it can be very difficult to figure that out from the spellings.

An important note: I’m listing names that I think sound cool for RPG game purposes. I’m not worried about historical accuracy. If you’re looking for a name for historical re-enactment, please check out my list of sources at the end of this post. I also don’t usually cover name meanings, but again, most of my sources list those. Finally, I tend to stay away from names that are currently in common usage. I figure if you were interested in those, you wouldn’t be looking at this list.

These names are broken into names that are traditionally male and traditionally female. I chose to retain these distinctions in all of my Beyond Fred posts. Use these names however you want. There is no reason you can’t name a female character “Drest” or a male character “Brigit.”

Male Names

Áed
Ailill
Airril
Aodh
Aonghus
Bedwyr
Blàthan
Bréandan
Cadeyrn
Cáel
Caradoc
Cian
Cuconnacht
Cumaighe
Dáire
Dathi
Diarmait
Drest
Dubhalethe
Éibhir
Elisedd
Eònan
Fachtna
Fáelán
Ferdorach
Fiachra
Galchobhar
Gwalchmei
Gwydion
Haerviu
Heremon
Iudicael
Laise
Lleu
Lóegaire
Lughaidh
Lugus
Máedóc
Máel Sechnaill
Melaghlin
Morcant
Murchadh
Neas
Ninian
Nilidh
Odhran
Oisín
Onchu
Pryderi
Pwyll
Ruadhri
Ruairidh
Sealbhach
Sláine
Sluaghadhán
Taog
Toirdelbach
Tomoltach
Tristan
Ualraig
Uthyr

Female Names

Agrona
Angharad
Bébinn
Beathag
Bláthnat
Brigit
Caoimhe
Caitir
Céibhfhionn
Clíodhna
Daireann
Derdriu
Doirend
Dolidh
Éimhear
Eithne
Emer
Fedelmid
Finola
Fionnuala
Flanna
Gormal
Graine
Granya
Gwenhwyfar
Latharna
Lewella
Luigsech
Maeve
Meadhbh
Mór Ríoghain
Morag
Muirenn
Mùirne
Neasa
Niamh
Oighrig
Rhiannon
Ríghnach
Ròs
Sadhbh
Seàrlaid
Sionann
Sláine
Slàinidh
Teàrlag
Una

References

• Ancient Irish Proper Names
• Behind the Name: Ancient Celtic
• Scottish First Names
• Traditional Gaelic Names

Other ‘Beyond Fred’ Posts

• Ancient Egyptian
• Ancient Greek
• Ancient Roman
• Anglo-Saxon
• More Anglo-Saxon
• German
• Italian
• Russian
• Sumerian
• Victorian English