| Name |
Meaning |
Name of Fame |
Cabal
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An anglicised spelling of Cathal. Gaelic: 'Battle Mighty'. An ancient Celtic name which seemed to fade but is now once again growing in popularity. Perhaps the part played by the patriot Cathal Brugha (1874-1922), who was killed in the Irish Civil War has given the name an extra poignancy. In the past a king of Connacht was Cathal Crobhdhearg, 'Red Hand' (died 1224), also spelt Cathal is a spelling variant.
Anglicised as Charles. In Scotland the ancient surname Cadell is probably derived from Cathal. Famous name: Cathal Brugha, Irish revolutionary who survived severe hand grenade injuries explosion in the Easter Rising to preside over the first meeting of Dáil Éireann on the 21st January 1919. Also Cathal McConnell, longest serving memner of the legendary traditional Celtic band The Boys of the Lough. |
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Cadhla
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Gaelic: 'Handsome'. A old native name name used in the Middle Ages. An early bearer of the name was the archbishop of Tuam in 1539 who ministered to Rory O'Conor, the last high king of Ireland. His name was latinised as Catholicus, 'universal'. Famous name: Irish traditional Gaelic singer Labhras O Cadhla. |
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Caffar
Catabharr |
Gaelic: 'Helmet'. A name associated with the O'Donnells family which ruled Tyrconnel, in Co. Donegal, up to the seventeenth century. |
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Cahir
Cathaoir |
Gaelic: 'Warrior'. A ancient Celtic name popular in Leinster and still used in Ireland today. The variant Cathair is found running in a number of families. Famous name: Cathaoir Mac Cába subject of Ireland’s revered blind harper and composer Turlough O’Carolan’s (1670-1738) ‘Marbhnadh Cathaoir Mac Cába - Elegy for Charles MacCabe’. |
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Cain
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Hebrew: 'Smith'. This name was used to anglicise the Gaelic name Cian. A strange choice of name to give a child given the nasty connotations for the character in the Bible, however its use also occurs outside Ireland. Famous name: top Irish surfer Cain Kilcullen. |
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Cairbre
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Gaelic: 'Strong Man'. A legendary Cairbre was said to have defeated the Fianna at the Battle of Gabhra. Another legendary Cairbre was said to be the first Milesians to settle in Ulster. Real Irish person Cairbre O Cairealain. |
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Callaghan
Ceallachtin |
Gaelic: 'Strife'. Diminutive of ceallach, normally thought of as a surname though it is also used as a first name. St Callaghan was a monk at Clontibret. As a surname can claim descent from King Callaghan of Munster who ruled in the tenth century. Famous name: movie animator Matt O Callaghan. |
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Callough
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Gaelic: ‘Bald’. Variant of Calvagh. Latinised as Calvinus. Once fairly widespread in early times is now very rare in modern more image conscious times. In Irish the name was sometimes made the more emphatic ‘An Calbhach’, ‘ The Bald’. Anglicised to Charles. Callough O'Donnell also known as Calvagh, was created First Lord Tyrconnel by Queen Elizabeth 1st in 1561. |
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Calvagh
Calbhach |
Gaelic: 'Bald'. Latinised as Calvinus. Once fairly widespread in early times is now very rare in modern more image conscious times. In Irish the name was sometimes made the more emphatic. Anglicised to Charles. name was sometimes made the more emphatic An Calbhach ‘The Bald’. Anglicised to Charles. Callough O'Donnell also known as Calvagh, was created First Lord Tyrconnel by Queen Elizabeth 1st in 1561. |
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Canice
Coinneach |
Gaelic: 'Comely', ‘Handsome’. The name of the saint (c. -599) who gave his name to the city of Kilkenny in Gaelic Cill Coinneach, 'Canice's church'. Also founded a monastery at Aghaboe. The name is still in widespread use today in Ireland and in Scotland especially the variant Kenny as in the Irissh balladeer Kenny Logan and the Celtic FC football legend Kenny Dalglish. Anglicised as Kenneth. Famous name: Gaelic broadcaster Coinneach MacIomhair. |
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