Irish Boy Names That Mean Fire
Nearly every one of these Irish boy names that mean fire traces back to a single root: Aodh, the old Celtic word and god-name for fire itself.
Names72
OriginIrish
MeaningFire
GenderBoy
Open an Irish baby name book looking for 'fire' and you'll keep landing on the same ancestor: Aodh. It named a fire god in early Ireland, and centuries later it's still quietly powering a huge share of the boys' charts, just wearing different spellings.
That's really what this page is about — not forty-two unrelated names, but one root splitting into forty-two branches. Some, like Ayden, are everywhere. Others, like Aedan, are the same idea in a quieter coat.
Why so many Irish boy names that mean fire come from one root
Aodh didn't just survive as its own name — it became a building block. Add a diminutive ending and you get 'little fire': Aden, Aydan, Aidyn, and Aedan are all versions of Aodhan, the 'little' form of Aodh. Add 'son of' or 'descendant of' and you get a surname: Keagan, Kegan, and Mckay all mean roughly 'son of Aodh.' One root, three grammatical shapes, dozens of spellings.
The familiar spellings versus the quieter ones
Ayden and its cousin Aiyden represent the -aiden boom of the 2000s, when this fire-root name became one of the most copied shapes in American naming. If you want the same meaning without the crowd, Egan and Hagan carry it in a shorter, less common form, and Kenny reaches the meaning through a different door entirely, via Scottish Gaelic Cainnech.
Names List
Ayden#257 in the U.S.Little fire; fiery onePronounced AY-den▶Aden#997 in the U.S.Little fire; from Irish Gaelic Aodhan (little fire), a diminutive of Aodh (fire); or from Arabic Aden (thPronounced AY-dun▶Kenny#1354 in the U.S.Born of fire; handsome; diminutive of KennethPronounced KEN-ee▶Aydan#1607 in the U.S.Respelling of Aidan, from Irish 'Aodhan', diminutive of Aodh ('fire'), meaning 'little fiery one'.Pronounced AY-duhn▶Keagan#1620 in the U.S.Variant of Keegan, from Irish Mac Aodhagáin, a patronymic from 'Aodh' (a Celtic fire god, meaning 'fire')Pronounced KEE-guhn▶Aidyn#2333 in the U.S.Little fire; fiery one; Y-spelling variant of Aidan, from Irish Gaelic Aodhan (diminutive of Aodh: fire)Pronounced AY-din▶Aedan#2548 in the U.S.'Little fire'; diminutive of Áed ('fire').Pronounced AEHD-an▶Mckay#3648 in the U.S.From the Scottish/Irish surname MacKay — 'son of Aodh', Aodh being a fire-god/name meaning 'fire'Pronounced mə-KY▶Hagan#3819 in the U.S.From Irish Ó hÁgáin ('descendant of young Aodh/Hugh' — fire lines) or Germanic Hagen ('enclosure'); routePronounced HAY-gən▶Egan#3998 in the U.S.From Irish Mac Aodhagáin — from Aodh, 'fire' — 'little fiery one, son of little Aodh'Pronounced EE-gən▶Kegan#4365 in the U.S.Spelling of Keegan — from Irish Mac Aodhagain, 'descendant of Aodhagan' (little Aodh, 'fire')Pronounced KEE-gən▶Aiyden#4556 in the U.S.Spelling of Aiden/Aidan — from Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, 'fire' — 'little fire, fiery'Pronounced AY-dən▶Aidin#4873 in the U.S.From Irish Aiden ('little fire') and/or Turkish/Persian Aydin ('moonlight, bright, enlightened'); routes Pronounced AY-din▶Aeden#5228 in the U.S.Ae-spelling of Aiden/Aodhan — from Irish Aodh, 'fire', plus a diminutive — 'little fire; fiery one'Pronounced AY-dən▶Adian#5649 in the U.S.A spelling of Aidan/Aiden — from the Irish Aodhán, 'little fire; fiery' (Aodh, 'fire', plus a diminutive)Pronounced AY-dee-ən▶Aiven#5652 in the U.S.A modern name with an Ai- opening and -ven ending — echoing Aidan ('little fire') and Evan ('God is graciPronounced AY-vən▶Laiden#5780 in the U.S.A modern name echoing Aiden ('little fire', Irish) with an L- opening; no single fixed root; routes layerPronounced LAY-den▶Adyn#5882 in the U.S.A -yn spelling of Aiden/Aidan — from Irish Aodhán, 'little fire' (a diminutive of Aodh, the fire-god)Pronounced AY-din▶Eagan#5961 in the U.S.From the Irish surname Egan (Mac Aodhagáin) — a diminutive of Aodh, the fire-god; 'a little fire, a fieryPronounced EE-gən▶Kennan#6307 in the U.S.A spelling echoing Keenan/Cianan — from the Irish, variously 'a little ancient one' (cian, 'ancient, enduPronounced KEN-ən▶Macoy#6328 in the U.S.A spelling of McCoy — from the Irish Mac Aodha, 'a son of Aodh' (Aodh, a fire god, so 'a son of fire'); rPronounced mə-KOY▶Mcaiden#6337 in the U.S.A modern name joining the Mc- prefix ('son of') with Aiden ('a little fire', Irish); no single fixed rootPronounced mək-AY-dən▶Aadyn#7287 in the U.S.Aadyn is a contemporary respelling of Aiden, which comes from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, an Pronounced AY-din▶Fintan#7378 in the U.S.From Irish, variously 'white fire' and 'white bull' (fionn, 'white; fair', + a fire or bull element)Pronounced FIN-tan▶Aidenjames#7602 in the U.S.Aidenjames is two given names joined into one, Aiden plus James, as sometimes happens when a first and miPronounced AY-den-jaymz▶Aydyn#7791 in the U.S.Aydyn is a stylized respelling of Aiden, itself an anglicized form of the Irish Aodhán, a diminutive of APronounced AY-din▶Aadon#8146 in the U.S.Aadon is a modern respelling most often read as Aiden, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, 'firePronounced AY-den▶Aaiden#8288 in the U.S.A spelling of Aiden/Aidan — from the Irish Aodhan, 'a little fire; the fiery one' (from aodh, 'fire'; linPronounced AY-den▶Aideen#8306 in the U.S.From the Irish, variously a feminine of Aodhan/Aiden, 'a little fire' (from aodh, 'fire'), and linked to Pronounced ay-DEEN▶Ardan#8338 in the U.S.From the Irish ard, 'high; tall', hence 'high; lofty'; also linked to the Latin ardens, 'ardent; eager; bPronounced AR-dan▶Ayiden#8387 in the U.S.Ayiden is a modern respelling of Aiden, the anglicized form of Aodhan, an Irish name meaning 'little firePronounced AY-din▶Mackey#8687 in the U.S.An Irish surname — from Mac Aodha, 'the son of Aodh' (Aodh, 'fire', an old Irish name/fire-god); we note Pronounced MAK-ee▶Aidden#8855 in the U.S.Aidden is a doubled-d respelling of Aiden, an anglicized form of the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh (Pronounced AY-dun▶Aedyn#8966 in the U.S.A spelling of Aiden — from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire'), hence 'little fire; fiery'; APronounced AY-den▶Aydon#9043 in the U.S.A spelling of Aiden/Ayden — from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire'), hence 'little fire; fiePronounced AY-den▶Keighan#9327 in the U.S.Keighan is a fancy spelling of Keegan, an Irish surname turned first name. Keegan comes from Mac AodhagaiPronounced KEE-guhn▶Keigan#9409 in the U.S.A spelling of Keegan — from the Irish Mac Aodhagain, 'son/descendant of Egan (little fire)', connoting fiPronounced KEE-gun▶Kinney#9520 in the U.S.Kinney is an anglicized Irish and Scottish surname, from Gaelic forms such as 'Mac Cionaodh' or 'O CionaoPronounced KIN-ee▶Aadin#9693 in the U.S.Aadin is a modern boys' name that reads as a doubled-a variant of Aden/Aiden, the Irish Aodhan from Aodh,Pronounced AH-din▶Aidon#9783 in the U.S.A form of Aiden/Aidan, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire') — so 'little fire; fiery one.Pronounced AY-dun▶Aydenn#9858 in the U.S.A variant spelling of Aiden/Ayden, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire'), so 'little fire.Pronounced AY-den▶Aayden#9871 in the U.S.A spelling of Aiden/Aidan — from the Gaelic Aodhan, 'a little fire; fiery' (a diminutive of Aodh, 'fire')Pronounced AY-den▶Adien#9883 in the U.S.A spelling of Aiden/Aidan — from the Gaelic Aodhan, 'a little fire; fiery' (a diminutive of Aodh, 'fire')Pronounced AY-den▶Aodhan#9943 in the U.S.From the Irish Aodhan, a pet form of Aodh ('fire'), hence 'a little fire; fiery/born of fire'; borne by SPronounced AY-dahn▶Kenney#10108 in the U.S.Kenney doubles as a spelling of Kenny — the short form of Kenneth, from Gaelic Coinneach, 'handsome,' andPronounced KEN-ee▶Keagon#10308 in the U.S.Keagon is a modern respelling of Keegan, an Irish surname from Mac Aodhagain, meaning son or descendant oPronounced KEE-gun▶Aedon#10796 in the U.S.Aedon is generally a stylized respelling of Aiden, the Irish name meaning little fire (from Aodh, a fire Pronounced AY-din▶Adden#10798 in the U.S.Adden is best read as a phonetic respelling of Aidan or Aden, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of AodhPronounced AD-en▶Aaden#10889 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Aiden (or Aden), from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, 'fire' — hence 'littPronounced AY-den▶Aedin#10899 in the U.S.Aedin is a spelling of Aidan or Aodhan, an Irish name from Aodh, an old Celtic sun and fire god, plus a sPronounced AY-din▶Aydn#10968 in the U.S.Aydn is a vowel-light spelling that reads two ways. As the Turkish Aydin it means 'enlightened, bright, lPronounced AY-din▶Aydeen#11011 in the U.S.Aydeen has two honest routes. It reads as a respelling of Aiden, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of APronounced AY-deen▶Ayeden#11013 in the U.S.Ayeden is a modern respelling of Aiden (Ayden), from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, an old name Pronounced AY-din▶Aydens#11051 in the U.S.A modern -s ending on Ayden (a spelling of Aiden, from the Irish Aodhan, 'little fire'). The added -s reaPronounced AY-denz▶Conlin#11163 in the U.S.A spelling of the Irish surname Conlin/Conlan (from Conleth/Conlaodh), tied to senses like 'hero; chief; Pronounced KON-lin▶Keeghan#11480 in the U.S.A modern respelling of Keegan, from the Irish surname Mac Aodhagain, 'son of Aodhagan' — a diminutive of Pronounced KEE-gun▶Kiegan#11506 in the U.S.Kiegan is a modern respelling of Keegan, an Irish surname anglicized from Mac Aodhagain, meaning son of APronounced KEE-gun▶Aidenn#12084 in the U.S.Aidenn is a respelling of Aiden/Aidan, the Anglicized form of Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire')Pronounced AY-din▶Aidian#12169 in the U.S.Aidian is a modern respelling of Aiden or Aidan, an Irish name from a root meaning fire, in the affectionPronounced AY-dee-un▶Aidynn#12190 in the U.S.Aidynn is a modern respelling of Aiden, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, an old name for a fiPronounced AY-din▶Aydien#12209 in the U.S.Aydien is a phonetic respelling of Aidan, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, 'fire,' giving thePronounced AY-den▶Adain#12332 in the U.S.A spelling of the Irish name Aidan (Aodhan), a diminutive of Aodh, 'fire' — glossed 'little fire.' Aodh wPronounced AY-din▶Aidens#12364 in the U.S.A modern -s form of Aiden, itself a spelling of the Irish Aidan, 'little fire.' The added -s is a stylistPronounced AY-denz▶Aydden#12464 in the U.S.Aydden is a modern respelling of Aiden, from the Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh, an old name meaning Pronounced AY-den▶Eidhan#12789 in the U.S.Eidhan reads as a modern respelling of Aidan/Aiden, from Irish Aodhan, a diminutive of Aodh ('fire'), i.ePronounced AY-dun▶Keaghan#13112 in the U.S.Keaghan is a decorative respelling of Keegan, the Anglicised Irish surname Mac Aodhagain, 'son of AodhagaPronounced KEE-guhn▶Keegen#13157 in the U.S.Keegen is an -en spelling of Keegan, the anglicized Irish surname from Mac Aodhagain. It traces to Aodh, Pronounced KEE-gun▶Kaegan#13172 in the U.S.Kaegan is a modern respelling of the Irish surname-name Keegan, from Mac Aodhagain, 'son of Aodhagan' — aPronounced KEE-gun▶Keagen#13242 in the U.S.A modern spelling of Keegan, anglicized from the Irish surname Mac Aodhagain — 'son of Aodhagan', a diminPronounced KEE-gun▶Keyes#13277 in the U.S.From the surname Keyes/Keys. In Ireland it can anglicize Mac Aodha, 'son of Aodh' (fire); in England it mPronounced KEEZ▶Keygan#13385 in the U.S.Keygan is a respelling of Keegan, an anglicized Irish surname from Mac Aodhagáin, 'son of Aodhagán' — a dPronounced KEE-gun▶Maccoy#13578 in the U.S.Maccoy is a spelled-out form of the surname McCoy, an anglicization of the Gaelic Mac Aodha, 'son of AodhPronounced muh-KOY▶
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Frequently Asked
Do all these names really share one origin?
Most do. Names like Aden, Aydan, and Keagan all descend from Aodh, the Irish fire god. Kenny is the exception, coming from a separate Scottish Gaelic root.