The Irish are renowned for their good humor, lyrical language, and love of horses. From point-to-point, steeplechase and flats races, they take pride in producing some of the world’s great racehorses. As such, it follows that if you want a meaningful moniker, you should contemplate one of the Irish horse names for your new steed.
Notable Characters from Celtic Myth and Legend
Imbue your new steed with strange magical powers by naming him or her after one of these Celtic luminaries.
Banshee: A supernatural woman whose shrieks predict an imminent death in the family.
Boudicca: Queen Boudica successfully defended her tribe from the Londoners.
Diarmuid and Grainne:
In the Irish version of the King Arthur legend, Grainne is the most beautiful lady in the land, therefore she is ultimately betrothed to Finn McCool. However, Diarmuid catches her eye, and she instantly falls madly in love with him, during her pre-nuptials. Grainne drugs the wedding guests, and the pair immediately absconded together. Naturally, a furious Finn and Fianna hunt them for years.
In time, Grainne becomes pregnant, and they must find shelter from the winter in caves. Here a wild boar and Diarmund fight to the death. Diarmuid kills the boar, but is mortally wounded in the process. Finn and the Fianna fall upon them, and Grainne begs Finn to use his magic to save her lover. Finn refuses, until his son Oisin intervenes on the lovers’ behalf. Finn agrees to let Diarmuid drink water from his magical hand, yet it is too late. Diarmuid dies in Grainne’s arms.
Fianna: A band of Irish warriors renowned for the oath of loyalty, courage, generosity, and respect for nature.
Finn McCool: Leader of the Fianna. As a young man, Finn cooks the Salmon of Knowledge for it to be consumed by the poet, Finnegas, who caught it. While cooking, its fat spits on Finn’s hand, burning it. Finn sucks on the burn and inadvertently consumes all of the knowledge from the Salmon of Knowledge. Henceforth, Finn has strange omniscience, in addition to his bravery.
Lugh: A Celtic trickster god.
Morrigan: A race of Celtic gods and shapeshifters.
Oisin: Son of Finn McCool, revered for his bravery in battle.
Pixie: Mischievous fairy.
Puca: A naughty imp and shapeshifter who can do either good or bad, but never truly causes harm.
Irish Horse Names From Words For Friends and Animals
Interestingly, in Irish slang, one calls a buddy or friend, ‘Horse.” For example, you might ask, “What’s the story, horse?” Meaning “What’s up with you, pal?” or “What’s the news?”
What could be better than a nation that considers their horses to be their best buddies, friends, and neighbors? Here we have compiled a list of lyrical Irish words and synonyms for horse, pals, and powerful animals, that are meaningful as Irish horse names.
Irish Names That Mean Horse
Asal: Means “donkey,” which makes a nice name for a stubborn pony.
Bromach: Means “colt.” Pronounced brum-ukh.
Carpall: Means “horse.” Pronounced koh-pul.
Chapaillíní: Means “pony.” Pronounced koh-pu-leen.
Each: Means “steed.”
Lair: Means “mare.” Pronounced law-irrj.
Láireog: Means “filly.” Pronounced lawr-owe-g.
Marcan: Means “steed.”
Marcshlua: Mean “horse.” Pronounced mar-clue-uh.
Marcra: Means “horse.” Pronounced mar-cra.
Pónai: Means “pony and kiss.”
Searrach: Means “foal.” Pronounced sharr-okh
Stail: Means “stallion.” Pronounced stah-il.
Gaelic Names That Mean Friend
Cara: Means “friend.”
Ciallach: Means “dear friend or dear one.”
Rún: Means “loved one or friend.”
Seanadh: Means “faithfulness.” Pronounced shay-nuh
Seanchara: Means “old friend.”
Irish Words for Powerful Animals as Stable Names
Art: Means “bear” in old Celtic.
Bulla: Means “bull.”
Conan: Means “hound or wolf.”
Connor: Means “lover of hounds.”
Dillon: Means “related to lions.”
Doir: Means “bull.”
Faol: Means “wolf.”
Math: Means “bear” in old Celtic
Irish Horse Names for Black Horses
Blake: Means “black.”
Brennigan: Means “raven.”
Canavan: Means “black-headed.”
Ciara: Means “dark.”
Donovan: Means “dark brown.”
Duff or Duffy: Means “dark.”
Enda: Means “raven.”
Lonan: Means “blackbird.”
Irish Horse Names for Red Mares and Geldings
Aidin: Means “little fire.”
Braden: Means “salmon.”
Clancy: Means “red warrior.”
Egan: Means “fire.”
Evin: Means “radiant.”
Flannery: Mean “red.”
Flynn: Means “red.”
Keegan: Means “fire.”
Keira: Means “red.”
Kelly: Means “bright-headed.”
Kieran: Means “red.”
Lassar: Means “fire.”
Niam: Means “brightness or radiance.”
Roan: Mean “red.”
Rohan: Means “Red one.”
Rory: Means “red king.”
Rowan: Means “little red one.”
Irish White or Blonde Horse Names
Bannon: Means “fair one.”
Berrin: Means “fair-haired.”
Bevan: Means “white lady.”
Derinn: Means “daughter of Finn.”
Finn: Means “fair one.”
Finnegan: Means “fair one.”
Fionn: Means “fair or white.”
Liaden: Means “grey lady.”
Orla: Means “golden princess.”
Roslea: Means “grey woods.”
Famous Irish Racehorse Names
Ireland’s verdant land has made its countryside the home of many of the great stud farms for racing breeders, from across the globe. From Coolmore to the Aga Khan’s Studs, to the Haefner family stud farm, and Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms. We share some of these great names with you as well as the great racehorses. Read on to find your perfect stable name now.
Arkle: Famous steeplechase racer born 1957.
Coolmore: Irish stud farm.
Dawn Run: The quintessential Irish racehorse, Dawn Run was the only racehorse in history to date to win the Irish, English, and French Champion Hurdles. Unfortunately, she ended her career at eight years after a fall in France.
Orby: The first Irish-trained horse to win the English Derby, in 1907, thus making him a national hero.
Sadler’s Wells: Considered by many to be the greatest stallion in modern turf history.
Sea The Stars: Winner of the Irish Derby, Eclipse Stakes, the Irish Champion Stakes, and the Prix d’Arc de Triomphe.
Shergar: Shergar won the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby. Then he was kidnapped and held for ransom. The horse was never returned or seen again.
Tattersalls: Irish auction market for top flat racers and National Hunt horses.
Yeats: Yeats won the Ascot Gold Cup four years in a row as well as the Grand National in 2022.
Zarkava: Irish-born, her career accelerated when she was sold to France for a career racing on the flats. Unstoppable, her career culminated with the win of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, in 2008.
Final Thoughts
The Irish language offers a myriad of opportunities to find the perfect, unique name for your charger. If you have other great Irish names we missed, please feel free to add them in the comments below!
If you are still looking for a name inspiration check out our other hundreds of horse name suggestions.
