| Name |
Meaning |
Name of Fame |
Kane
Cathain |
Welsh: ‘Beautiful'. It may also sometimes derive from the feminine first name Keina, perhaps. Use of Kane nowadays as a first name presumably comes from the surname. O’Kane and Kaneare common surnames in Ulster, translating the Gaelic O’Cathain, whilst in the Isle of Man it translates as MacCathian. The Ó Catháin came from the Laggan district of East Donegal in the twelfth century and drove the O'Connors out of Glengiven now Dungiven in Co. Derry where they built a priory which is still show on modern maps. The famous song Danny Boy is based on an ancient tune composed by renowned 17thCentury harper Rory Dall O Cathain called O’Cathain’s Lament The name may also derive from the name Caen, or from Anglo-Saxon Cana. Famous name: American Southern rock singer Christian Kane and Citizen Kane which has been voted by critics the greatest film of all time. |
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Keane
Cian |
Gaelic: 'Ancient'. Variant of Cian. A native Irish name from ancient times which is still popular today. Commonly known today as a surname carried by many Irish people including the legendary Manchester United and Ireland footballer Roy Keane. Occasionally anglicized as Cain. Kean and Cian are other variants. Famous name: Cork footballer Roy Maurice Keane of Ireland, Manchester United and Celtic, British melodic rock band Keane. |
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Keelan
Cillian |
Gaelic: 'Strife'. A variant of Killian A diminutive of the Gaelic word ceallach which also commemorates St Killian, a martyr at Wurzburg. Still in common use. Famous names: fitness consultant Keelan Hastings. |
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Keith
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A Scottish placename which became a surname and was then adopted as first name. Has become increasingly popular then , used first as a surname as a first name. It has also become popular in Ireland. Increasingly spreading across the English-speaking world. Famous names: Australian country music star Keith Urban, Rolling Stones lead guitarist Keith Richards. |
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Kelly
CeaIlach |
Gaelic: 'Strife, Contention'. A famous Irish surname which has become remarkably popular as a girl’s first name. The name originates as a variant of CeaIlach,’strife’ or’ contention’ and is the name of several distinct and illustrious families in various parts of Ireland There is also a Manx Gaelic surname Kelly, and the name exists in Scotland derived from Gaelic ‘Coille’ meaning ‘woodland’ and there is a Kelly placename in Devon, again meaning 'wood'. Famous names: champion Irish cyclist Sean Kelly. |
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Kennedy
Cinneide |
Gaelic: ‘Ugly-Headed’. A name of Irish origin from the Gaelic word ceannadeach ‘ugly-headed’. A name also strongly established since the tweltfth century on the other side of the Irish sea on the Western coast of Scotland. Although widely known as a surname it has also historically been used as a first name in Ireland since the Middle Ages. The name came to be established in Clare in the O’Brien family after King Kennedy of Munster who was the father of Brian Bom.
Famous names: Irish singer Brian Kennedy and former US President John F Kennedy and violinist Nigel Kennedy. |
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Kenneth
Cionaod |
Gaelic: ‘Firesprung’, ‘Fair One’. A name regarded as Scottish in orgin after the first King of Scotland Kenneth MacAlpin whose reign united the Picts with the decendants of the Dal Riata Irish settlers in Scotland and who died in 860. His name was probably given in honour of St Cainnech whose name is further preserved in the surname MacCoinnneach MacKenzie. Meaning may derive from either of two Gaelic forms Cinaed ‘firesprung’ or Coinneach ‘fair one’. In the middle ages in Ireland the name was common in the form' of Cinaed. The name appears in English as Canice.Pet forms Ken, Kenny. Famous names: Irish poet Cinaeth O’ Hartagain (died 975). Country music singer Kenny Rogers. |
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Kenny
Cionaod |
Gaelic: ‘Firesprung’,‘Fair One’. Pet form of Kenneth, a name regarded as Scottish in orgin after the first King of Scotland Kenneth MacAlpin whose reign united the Picts with the decendants of the Dal Riata Irish settlers in Scotland and who died in 860. His name was probably given in honour of St Cainnech whose name is further preserved in the surname MacCoinnneach MacKenzie. Meaning may derive from either of two Gaelic forms Cinaed ‘firesprung’ or Coinneach ‘fair one. In the middle ages in Ireland the name was common in the form' of Cinaed. The name appears in English as Canice. |
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Kerill
Coireall |
Gaelic: ‘Quarry’. An Irish name originally associating someone with an area in a neighbourhood near a quarry. I snow more commonly found in the surname MacKerall. Has been anglicised as Cyril. Famous name: Galway GAA hurling player Kerill Wade. |
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Kermit
Diarmid |
Gaelic: ‘Envy Free’. Variant of Dermot. An important hero of Irish legend, who eloped with Grania, betrothed of Finn MacCool. Dermot MacMurrough was a king of Leinster who invited the Normans into Ireland in the twelfth century. Darby was a form of Dermot used in Limerick and Tipperary; Dermot is quite popular in Ireland today. Diarmid. Is a variant. Famous name: screen actor Dermot Mulroney and Irish property tycoon and Celtic FC director Dermot Desmond. |
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