We’re all familiar with Irish boy names like Aidan (Aodhán), Brendan (Breandán), and Kieran (Ciarán).
What if you like the sound of these names, but want something a little less common?
Here are a dozen legit Irish names that are barely being used right now — and all of them have that popular two-syllable, ends-with-N structure that American parents tend to like for boy names (think Mason, Ethan, Jackson, Logan, Owen, Jayden, Dylan, Justin…and countless others).
Which of these would you be most likely to use for your own baby boy?
Cammán
Historical example: Cammán mac Amlaíb, 10th-century viking.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.
Colmán
Historical example: Colmán mac Báetáin, 6th-century monarch.
Current usage: Colman is rare.
Crónán
Historical example: Crónán mac Bécáin, 7th-century saint.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.
Dallán
Historical example: Dallán Forgaill, 6th-century poet.
Current usage: Dallan is rare.
Donnán
Historical example: Donnán of Eigg, 7th-century priest.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.
Fintán
Historical example: Fintán of Taghmon, 7th-century saint.
Current usage: Fintan is rare.
Flannán
Historical example: Flannán mac Toirrdelbaig, 7th-century saint.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.
Garbán
Historical example: Garbán mac Éndai, 6th-century monarch.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.
Lommán
Historical example: Lommán mac Dalláin, 6th-century saint.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.
Lorcán
Historical example: Lorcán mac Cellaig, 9th-century monarch.
Current usage: Lorcan is rare.
Marcán
Historical example: Marcán mac Tommáin, 7th-century monarch.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.
Mongán
Historical example: Mongán mac Fiachnai, 7th-century prince.
Current usage: Has never been in the data.