Irish names are some of the most stunning and unique in the world. And as parents are on the hunt for rare Irish monikers for their little ones, baby name lists have started to feature more modern names of Irish origin.
One name that's been cropping up on lists across the web and gaining popularity with those seeking something timeless is Réalta. This is the Irish word for star, making it a beautiful name for a little girl whose arrival lights up the world. Pronounced 'rayle-tah', or 'rayle-thah,' this name has only recently become popular. Réalta can also be extended to Réaltín, which translates to little star.
Many Irish names have celestial meanings due to the ancient Celtic people of Ireland's deep connection with the night sky. Celestial bodies and stars were viewed as powerful symbols.
The sun was a crucial part of Celtic culture, symbolising life-giving power, fertility, and the cycle of seasons. This name has joined a host of other names with celestial meanings that have been growing in popularity, like Luna, Nova and Aurora, reports the Irish Star.
Names rooted in nature have also seen a rise in popularity recently, and there's no shortage of Irish names inspired by the country's renowned flora and fauna. Some of the most recently popular include Bláthnaid – pronounced blaw-nad – meaning 'flower. ' Fiadh - pronounced Fee-a - meaning 'wild deer,' and Éala – Pronounced ay-lah – meaning 'swan.'
Recently, Netflix series Bodkin highlighted another unusual Irish girls name - Dubheasa, which the character shortened to Dove. The name means dark beauty of the waterfall.
This trend comes as the top 100 baby names for boys and girls this year were recently revealed. In the top spot for the girls' and boys' lists were Olivia and Muhammad. Faye Mingo, the Chief Marketing Officer at BabyCentre, shared: "The top names for both boys and girls have remained largely consistent with last year's picks, but a few notable trends have emerged. Surname-inspired names for boys like Hunter and Harrison are on the rise, and there's a trend of girls' names ending in 'a,' like favourites Olivia and Amelia."
She added: "It's clear that while parents are embracing some fresh twists, the classic choices still hold strong and parents are looking for a name with timeless appeal." Other names in the list included Margot and Gabriella, as well as Matthew and Elliot.
