Irish Names for Orange Cats

Ireland and Scotland are often cited as having some of the highest proportions of red-haired people in the world, so it is no surprise that Irish names make a natural fit for ginger cats. Several traditional Irish names even mean red, fire or gold.

Below you will find Irish names with orange-friendly meanings, names from Irish legend, classic Irish names, Irish places and a few fun picks. Irish spelling and pronunciation do not always match, so we have included a pronunciation guide for the trickier names.

Irish names that mean red, fire or gold

The best Irish names for an orange cat, because their meanings match the coat.

• RoryNeutral: From the Irish Ruaidhri, usually translated as "red king."
• FlynnBoy: From an Irish surname meaning "son of the red-haired one."
• FlannBoy: An old Irish name meaning "ruddy" or "blood red."
• RowanNeutral: Often linked to the Irish Ruadhan, "little red one." Rowan berries are orange-red.
• RoyBoy: Linked to the Gaelic word ruadh, meaning "red."
• AidanBoy: From the Irish Aodhan, meaning "little fire."
• AodhBoy: An old Irish name meaning "fire," pronounced roughly like "ay."
• KeeganBoy: An Irish surname linked to Aodh, "fire."
• OrlaGirl: From the Irish Orlaith, usually translated as "golden princess."
• GrianGirl: The Irish word for "sun."
• LasairGirl: An Irish word meaning "flame."
• BrigidGirl: Linked to the Irish goddess and saint Brigid, both associated with fire.
• AineGirl: Aine, an Irish goddess associated with summer and the sun.
• NiamhGirl: An Irish name usually translated as "bright" or "radiant."
• FinnBoy: From the Irish fionn, meaning "fair" or "white," great for orange and white cats.
• FionnBoy: The original Irish spelling of Finn, the legendary hero Fionn mac Cumhaill.
• FionaGirl: Often linked to fionn, "fair" or "white," lovely for an orange and white girl.
• CiaraGirl: An Irish name meaning "dark," great for a black and orange tortie.
• CiaranBoy: Irish for "little dark one," for an orange cat with dark patches.
• DoyleBoy: An Irish surname meaning "dark stranger," for an orange cat with dark patches.
• FinneganBoy: A cheerful Irish surname that shortens to Finn.

Pronunciation guide

Irish pronunciation varies by region, so you may hear slightly different versions.

Irish words for colors and fire

Irish words can make simple, meaningful names. Here are the color and fire words most useful for naming an orange cat:

Irish words as cat names

The words above, ready to use as names.

• RuaNeutral: An Irish word used for red hair.
• DeargBoy: Irish for "red."
• Madra RuaNeutral: Irish for "fox," literally "red dog."
• TineNeutral: Irish for "fire," pronounced roughly "TIN-yeh."
• PiscinNeutral: From the Irish word for "kitten," pronounced roughly "pish-KEEN."
• KilkennyNeutral: An Irish county whose hurling team is nicknamed The Cats.

Names from Irish legend

Heroes, queens and gods from Irish mythology.

• OisinBoy: Irish for "little deer," and the poet son of Fionn mac Cumhaill.
• MaeveGirl: The legendary warrior queen of Connacht.
• AoifeGirl: A heroine of Irish legend, pronounced "EE-fa."
• NiallBoy: An Irish name linked to the High King Niall of the Nine Hostages.
• OscarBoy: A classic with a grumpy streak, just like some tomcats.
• SamhainNeutral: The Gaelic festival marking the end of harvest, pronounced "SOW-in."
• BansheeGirl: A wailing spirit of Irish folklore, for a very vocal cat.

Irish surnames for orange cats

Irish family names make friendly, characterful cat names.

• O'MalleyBoy: Thomas O'Malley, the smooth orange alley cat from The Aristocats.
• MurphyBoy: A popular Irish surname with a friendly, goofy feel.
• ClancyBoy: A spirited Irish surname.
• MulliganBoy: A second chance, for a rescue cat.
• RileyNeutral: A cheerful Irish surname that works for any cat.
• QuinnNeutral: A crisp Irish surname for any cat.

Classic Irish boy names for orange cats

Popular, timeless Irish names for orange toms.

• ConorBoy: A strong, popular Irish name.
• CuchulainnBoy: The great hero of Irish legend, whose name means "hound of Culann." Funny on a cat.
• DagdaBoy: The great father god of Irish mythology.
• DarraghBoy: An Irish name usually linked to the word for "oak."
• DeclanBoy: The name of an early Irish saint.
• DiarmuidBoy: The hero of the same legend, pronounced "DEER-mid."
• EoinBoy: The Irish form of John, pronounced "OH-in."
• FergusBoy: A hearty old Irish name.
• LirBoy: A sea god of Irish legend, father of the Children of Lir.
• LughBoy: A god of skill and craft in Irish mythology, often linked with light.
• PaddyBoy: A classic Irish nickname with a cheerful ring.
• RonanBoy: Irish for "little seal."
• SeamusBoy: The Irish form of James.
• SetantaBoy: The birth name of the hero Cu Chulainn.

Classic Irish girl names for orange cats

Lovely Irish names for orange girls.

• CaoimheGirl: An Irish name meaning "gentle," pronounced "KEE-va."
• ClodaghGirl: Named after a river in Ireland, pronounced "CLO-da."
• CloverGirl: A lucky little plant.
• EimearGirl: Emer, the wife of the hero Cu Chulainn in Irish legend, pronounced "EE-mer."
• ErinGirl: A poetic name for Ireland.
• FionnualaGirl: The daughter of Lir, turned into a swan. Her name includes fionn, "fair."
• GrainneGirl: The heroine of the Irish legend of Diarmuid and Grainne, pronounced "GRAWN-ya."
• NualaGirl: A short form of Fionnuala.
• SaoirseGirl: An Irish name meaning "freedom."
• ShannonGirl: Ireland's longest river.
• SiobhanGirl: The Irish form of Joan, pronounced "shi-VAWN."
• TaraGirl: The Hill of Tara, the ancient seat of Ireland's High Kings.

Irish places and fun Irish names

Counties, cities and a few playful picks.

• BlarneyNeutral: As in the Blarney Stone, said to grant the gift of gab.
• CorkNeutral: An Irish county and a fun, bouncy name.
• DublinNeutral: Ireland's capital city.
• GalwayNeutral: A lively city on Ireland's west coast.
• KerryNeutral: A county in Ireland's southwest.
• LeprechaunNeutral: For a small, mischievous cat with a stash of treasure.
• LuckyNeutral: Luck of the Irish, and lucky to have you.
• ShamrockNeutral: The Irish clover, for an orange cat with green eyes.

Irish names for orange cats with other colors

If your orange cat has white, black or gray patches, Irish names can point to those colors too.

• Orange and white: Finn, Fionn, Fiona, Fionnuala and Finnegan all come from fionn, meaning fair or white.
• Black and orange: Ciara (dark), Ciaran (little dark one) and Doyle (dark stranger) suit a tortie or calico.
• Gray and orange: the Irish word for gray is liath. For a softer name, try Grian and Liath as a sun-and-gray pair for two cats.

Cats in Irish folklore and culture

• The Kilkenny cats: an old saying describes two cats from Kilkenny who fought until only their tails were left. To "fight like Kilkenny cats" means to fight fiercely. Today the Kilkenny hurling team is nicknamed The Cats.
• The cat sith: a large fairy cat from Scottish and Irish folklore, usually described as black with a white spot on its chest.
• Red hair in Ireland: Ireland and Scotland are often cited as having some of the highest rates of red hair in the world, which is one reason Irish names feel so natural on a ginger cat.

Irish pairs for two orange cats

• Fionn and Oisin: the legendary hero and his poet son.
• Rory and Flynn: both names linked to red.
• Aodh and Lasair: fire and flame.
• Grian and Aine: the sun and a goddess of summer.
• Murphy and Paddy: two cheerful classics.
• Shannon and Clodagh: two Irish rivers for two girls.
• Galway and Dublin: a city pair.

Tips for choosing an Irish name

If you love an Irish name but worry about pronunciation, consider the anglicized spelling (for example, Aidan instead of Aodhan) or pick a nickname. And as with any name from another language, check the meaning with a reliable source before you commit.

1. Keep it to one or two syllables for everyday use. A longer formal name is fine, but give it a short call name. "Sir Fluffington" becomes "Fluff" by week two anyway.
2. Say it out loud ten times. If you feel silly yelling it across the yard or at the vet's front desk, keep looking.
3. Avoid names that sound like commands. "Kit" and "sit," or "Bo" and "no," can blur together for a cat who is still learning.
4. Watch your cat for a few days. Personality is often the best tiebreaker. A kitten who climbs the curtains may be a Blaze, not a Biscuit.
5. Use the name often and pair it with good things. Say it at mealtime and during treats. A 2019 study in the journal Scientific Reports found that pet cats can tell their own name apart from similar-sounding words.

More orange cat name lists

• Japanese Orange Cat Names
• Unique Orange Cat Names
• Male Orange Cat Names
• Female Orange Cat Names
• All orange cat names + sorter