By Elizabeth Weiss McGolerick for SheKnows.com
Whether your baby is due in March or you simply love Irish names and want to honor your Irish heritage, the following baby names are inspired by St. Patty's Day and all things Irish (green beer excluded).
PATRICK, PATRICIA, AND BEYOND
It's natural to think of the names Patrick and Patricia when considering what titles are associated with St. Patrick's Day. But these are nickname-rich monikers with plenty of options for different spellings, unique derivations and unexpected nicknames.
For boys, you can stay in the key of P with Paddie, Paddy, Padraic, Padraig, Padrig, Padruig, Pat, Paton, Patricio, Patrizio, or Patten. But don't forget about nicknames like Rick or Ricky.
There are also some interesting alternatives for baby girls: Patrice, Patrizia, Patsy, Patti, Tricia, Trish.
Boys and girls can even share some of the Patrick/Patricia nicknames: Pat, Patten, Pattie, Patty, Payton, Peyton, Rickie.
Get more "P" baby name ideas here>>
THAT GOOD OLD IRISH LUCK
While everyone wishes for a little luck o' the Irish for their newborn, it's a meaningful and strong name that will go more toward helping your child discover their own pots of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Instead of stuffing their pockets full of four leaf clovers, try one of these lucky names on for size and see if it's just right for your son or daughter: Chance, Destiny, Fate, Fortune, Karma, Kismet, Lucky, Serendipity, Trinity, Triumph, Victory.
You may also like Old fashioned baby names: Classic and Cultured>>
COLOR ME IRISH
People wear green on St. Patrick's Day to avoid being pinched (or to get kissed). But there's nothing wrong with choosing a green name, literally, for your little one. This lush selection covers what Crayola offers and then some: Aquamarine, Beryl, Bice, Celadon, Chartreuse, Emerald, Jade, Kelly, Lime, Malachite, Olive, Sage, Sea, Shamrock, Viridian.
And, of course, there is the ever-popular idea of "going green." Channel the virtues of nature and Earth at the same time with these environmentally conscious baby names, ideal options for the Earth mother (and father): Apple, Bud, Chamomile, Clover, Evergreen, Fern, Fir, Forest, Forrest, Grass, Ivy, Lavender, Leaf, Meadow, Mint, Moss, Myrtle, Pine, Thistle, Willow.
Check out this list of the Top 50 Hippie baby names>>
HOME OF THE IRISH
"Home of the Irish" doesn't mean Notre Dame, but rather Ireland itself. Borrowing one of the names of the cities, towns or provinces on this green isle will give you that distinctly Irish title you're in search of for your newborn.
Consider these Irish landmarks: Armagh, Blarney, Cork, Derry, Dublin, Galway, Kilkenny, Killarney, Limerick, Lisburn, Newry, Rosslare, Shannon, Tipperary. And don't forget about the name Ireland itself - currently in the limelight as the moniker of the daughter of actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.
Get more fabulous Irish baby names here!>>
IRISH SPELLINGS
You can truly celebrate your love of Ireland, your family's heritage or just the joyful inspiration of St. Patrick's Day by opting for an authentically Irish name… with an authentically Irish spelling and pronunciation.
Irish Girl Names:
Ailis (AY-lish)
Eithne (ETH-na)
Saoirse (SEER-sha)
Sile (SHEE-la)
Siobhan (Shi-VAUN)
Get more Irish girl names here>>
Irish Boy Names:
Aengus (EYN-gus)
Ciaran (KEER-an)
Donagh (DUN-a)
Eoin (OH-in)
Niall (NEE-al)
Get more Irish boy names here>>
More on St. Patrick's Day:
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