Northern Ireland Names

The Greek form of the Aramaic name meaning 'twin'.

Supplanter, held by the heel (traditional interpretation via Jacob).

Commonly interpreted as a rhetorical question, 'Who is like God?', implying no one compares to God.

Commonly interpreted as 'resolute protector' or 'will helmet', combining the ideas of desire/will and protection.

Commonly interpreted as 'God is my judge', referencing the biblical prophet Daniel.

From Hebrew Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious', via Greek Ioannes and Latin Iohannes. One of the most widespread names in Christian Europe, associated with both John the Baptist and the apostle John.

Commonly interpreted as 'beloved', with a possible secondary sense of 'uncle' for the root.

A shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma.

From Greek Petros ('stone'), a translation of the Aramaic Cephas, the name Jesus gave to the apostle Simon.

From Hebrew, meaning 'lady, princess, noblewoman'. In the Old Testament, Sarah's name was changed from Sarai by God, alongside Abraham's own name change (Genesis 17:15); she is regarded as matriarch of the Jewish people.

From Greek Matthaios, from Hebrew Mattithiah, combining 'mattat' (gift) with 'Yahweh' — 'gift of God'. Matthew was a tax collector and one of the twelve apostles, traditionally credited as author of the first Gospel.

Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'.

Free man (feminine form of Charles).

Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree', though the true root is debated.

From the Roman name Martinus, connected to Mars, the Roman god of war. Widely known through Saint Martin of Tours, a 4th-century bishop and patron saint of France.

Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together.

From a Cornish form of the Welsh name Gwenhwyfar (Guinevere), combining 'gwyn' and 'hwyfar'. Confined mainly to Cornwall until George Bernard Shaw's 1906 play The Doctor's Dilemma sparked wider adoption.

Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root).

God is gracious (via John), though now used as an independent name.

A short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.

Coined by William Shakespeare for his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, where it belongs to Shylock's daughter — likely based on the biblical name Iscah, also spelled Jescha/Jischa in some translations of Shakespeare's time.