Declan

Cillian

Old Irish · “Probably derived from the Old Irish "cell" meaning "church" combined with a diminutive suffix, giving the sense of "associated with the church" or "little church". The name was borne by the 7th-century Irish saint Killian of Würzburg, who evangelised in Franconia and was martyred there, spreading Irish Christianity across continental Europe.”

Fionn

Old Irish · “Derived from the Old Irish "find" meaning "white", "fair", or "fair-haired". It is one of the most celebrated names in Irish mythology as the given name of Fionn mac Cumhaill, the legendary leader of the Fianna warrior band. Fionn gained supernatural wisdom as a boy by accidentally tasting the Salmon of Knowledge, and he became Ireland's greatest hero and protector.”

Conor

Irish · “Anglicised form of the Irish "Conchobar" or "Conchobhar", derived from "con" (dog or wolf, used as an honorific for a great warrior) and "cobhar" (desiring or loving) — together possibly meaning "lover of hounds" or "wolf-lover". Conchobar mac Nessa was the king of Ulster in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology, the lord who ruled over the great warriors including Cúchulainn.”

Padraig

Irish · “The Irish form of Patrick, derived from the Latin "Patricius" meaning "nobleman" or "of noble birth", from "pater" (father). Saint Patrick (c. 385–461 AD), the patron saint of Ireland, was a Romano-British missionary who became the most celebrated figure in Irish Christianity. The Irish form Pádraig has been used in Ireland continuously since the early medieval period.”

Conn

“Derived from the Old Irish "conn" meaning "chief", "reason", "intelligence", or "head" — the same root that gives the modern Irish "ceann" (head). Conn of the Hundred Battles was one of the legendary High Kings of Ireland, ancestor of the Connachta dynasty, and the name was borne by numerous historical and legendary Irish rulers. It projects both intellectual authority and natural leadership.”

Dagda

“From the Old Irish "Dagda" meaning "the Good God" from "dag" (good, noble) and "día" (god). The Dagda is the father-figure of the Tuatha Dé Danann in Irish mythology, a benevolent deity of agriculture, wisdom, and virility who possesses three great treasures: a magic club that kills the living and revives the dead, an inexhaustible cauldron, and a magical harp that controls the seasons.”

Fionnuala

“From the Old Irish "Fionn" (white, fair) and "guala" (shoulder), meaning "white-shouldered one" or "fair-shouldered one". In Irish mythology, Fionnuala was the eldest daughter of Lir, turned into a swan by her stepmother Aoife and forced to wander the waters of Ireland for nine hundred years. The tale of the Children of Lir is counted among the Three Sorrows of Irish Storytelling and is one of the most emotionally powerful myths in the Irish tradition.”

Aoife

“Derived from the Old Irish "Aífe", itself from the word "oíph" meaning "beauty" (modern Irish "aoibh"). This ancient Irish name has been borne by several legendary figures, most notably a fierce warrior woman who engaged in single combat with the hero Cúchulainn, and a jealous queen in the tale of the Children of Lir who transformed her stepchildren into swans.”

Sadhbh

“From the Old Irish "sadb" meaning "sweet" or "goodly". In Irish mythology, Sadhbh is the mother of Oisín: she was transformed into a deer by the Dark Druid Fear Doirc and returned to human form when she entered the protection of Fionn mac Cumhaill. Their son Oisín ("little fawn") was born while she was again in deer form after she was recaptured. The name carries both gentleness and the tragedy of transformation.”

Nessa

“Of uncertain Old Irish etymology, possibly related to "ness" meaning "rough" or "wild". In the Ulster Cycle, Nessa was the mother of King Conchobar mac Nessa — his name means literally "son of Nessa" — a woman of great political cunning who manipulated the hero Fergus mac Róich into surrendering his kingship to her son by agreeing to marry Fergus only on condition he let Conchobar reign for a year.”