| Name |
Meaning |
Name of Fame |
Odanodan
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Variant of Adamnan taken to mean ‘little Adam'. Gaelic name is pronounced ‘Yownan’ Comemmorates St Adamnan, Abbot of Iona born in Donegal in 628 and died in Iona 703. The chronicler of the life of the warrior missionary St Columba. At one time expelled from the church for having the scripture translated into Gaelic and for saying Mass in Gaelic. |
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Odran
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Gaelic: ‘Green'. Variant of Oran.and a diminutive of Odhar Commamorates Saint Odran, Martyr and friend of St. Patrick. According to tradition, he drove Patrick’s chariot. Odran died when he changed places with Patrick in the vehicle just before an ambush by pagans was sprung.
Famous name: Irish youth worker Odhran Furlong and Breton bombarde player Odran Plantec. |
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Odran
Odhran |
Gaelic: ‘Green'. A diminutive of odhar. Odran is a variant. Commemorates Saint Odran, Martyr and friend of St. Patrick. According to tradition, he drove Patrick’s chariot. Odran died when he changed places with Patrick in the vehicle just before an ambush by pagans was sprung.
Famous name: Irish youth worker Odhran Furlong and Breton bombarde player Odran Plantec. |
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Oghie
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Gaelic: ‘Horse Expert’. Variant of Eochaidh. Hard to pronounce for the flat Anglo Saxon English tongue which is why this grand name has shamefully declined from its noble status in Ireland. A similar fate has befallen such traditional names as Achaius, Aghy, Atty, Eoi and Ogh(i)e. In Latin , Equitius, has been recorded as an independent name. The Latin equivalent Equitius has been recorded in Ireland as an independent name. Famous names: King of Scots Eochaidh III ‘Crook-Nose of Argyll’ died in 697 AD. Today Daithidh MacEochaidh is a writer, editor and independent-publisher. |
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Oho
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Gaelic: ‘Horse Expert’. Variant of Eochaidh. Hard to pronounce for the flat Anglo Saxon English tongue which is this grand name has shamefully declined from its noble status in Ireland. A similar fate has befallen such traditional names as Achaius, Aghy, Atty, Eoi and Ogh(i)e. In Latin , Equitius, has been recorded as an independent name. The Latin equivalent Equitius has been recorded in Ireland as an independent name. Famous names: King of Scots Eochaidh III ‘Crook-Nose of Argyll’ died in 697 AD. Today Daithidh MacEochaidh is a writer, editor and independent-publisher. |
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Oliver
Oilibhear |
Thought to have originated as a form of Olaf/Auliffe although may alsao drive from Old German, 'elf army'. or French 'Olive tree'. A name which survives from the Middle Ages despite the association with the hated Oliver Cromwell. Perhaps the balance was due to its positive association in commemoration of St Oliver Plunket, archbishop of Armagh, executed by the English in 1681. Relatively popular today. Famous names: Irish writer Oliver St John Gogarty 1878-1957 film director Oliver Stone. |
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Oscar
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Gaelic: ‘Champion’. The word in Irish can also mean 'jewel'. Oscar is the name of Finn’s grandson in the 18th century Scottish writer Macpherson’s reversioning of the ancient Celtic hero tales of Finn MacCool. His grandmother mother was supposed to formerly been a deer. Though the name is associated with the Scandinavian royal line the Finn legends go back before any Norse influence on Ireland. The use of the name in the Swedish royal family comes from the Gaelic source. In MacPherson’s Ossianic poems (1765) the tales are set in Scotland. Napoleon was such a fan of Macpherson's work that he insisted the House of Bernadotte adopt it. Famous names: In the Victorian era Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (1854-1900) the Irish novelist , poet, playwright and short story writer was celebrated in London society for his wit and skill as a raconteur. Ironically he was named after a Swedish king. Commemorated in a lifesize statue in Dublin. |
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Ossian
Oisin |
Gaelic: 'Fawn'. The 18th century Scottish writer, Macpherson, made his fortune from reversioning the ancient Celtic hero tales of Finn MacCool and his son, Ossian. Ossian’s mother was supposed to formerly been a deer and Ossian was said to have lived for a time in the Land of Promise. In MacPherson’s Ossianic poems (1765) the tales are set in Scotland. |
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Ounan
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Variant of Adamnan taken to mean ‘little Adam. Gaelic name is pronounced ‘Yownan’ Comemmorates St Adamnan, Abbot of Iona born in Donegal in 628 and died in Iona 703. The chronicler of the life of the warrior missionary St Columba. At one time expelled from the church for having the scripture translated into Gaelic and for saying Mass in Gaelic. |
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Owen
Eoghan |
Gaelic: ‘Well Born'. A name used in Ireland to anglicise Eoghan, to which it equates phonetically. In Wales it represents Euguein. Often confused with Eoin this Celtic name has been etymologically linked with the Greek name Eugene, which has led to that name's widespread presence in Ireland as with the Welsh name Eugeuin. Owen is sometimes used to translate Eoghan. In Omeath Eoghan can be translated as John. The Scottish name Ewen is an anglicised version of the Scottish Gaelic version Eoghainn. Real people: Vulcanologist Eoghan Holohan and singer/songwriter/doctor Eoghan Colgan. |
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