Aodh ( , , ; ) is a masculine Irish and

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic (, ; Endonym and exonym, endonym: ), also known as Scots Gaelic or simply Gaelic, is a Celtic language native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a member of the Goidelic language, Goidelic branch of Celtic, Scottish Gaelic, alongs ...

given name, which was traditionally

anglicized Anglicisation or anglicization is a form of cultural assimilation whereby something non-English becomes assimilated into or influenced by the culture of England. It can be sociocultural, in which a non-English place adopts the English language ...

Hugh Hugh is the English-language variant of the masculine given name , itself the Old French variant of '' Hugo (name)">Hugo'', a short form of Continental Germanic Germanic name">given names beginning in the element "mind, spirit" (Old English ). ...

. The name means "fire" and was the name of a god in

Irish mythology Irish mythology is the body of myths indigenous to the island of Ireland. It was originally Oral tradition, passed down orally in the Prehistoric Ireland, prehistoric era. In the History of Ireland (795–1169), early medieval era, myths were ...

.The modern word meaning 'inflammation' or as a phrase with the Irish word for 'itch' (), giving , 'burning itch' or 'urtication' - (Foclóir Gaeilg-Béarla, eds

Tomás de Bhaldraithe Tomás Mac Donnchadha de Bhaldraithe (born Thomas MacDonagh Waldron; 14 December 1916 – 24 April 1996) was an Irish scholar notable for his work on the Irish language, particularly in the field of lexicography. He is best known for his ''Engli ...

Niall Ó Dónaill Niall Ó Dónaill (27 August 1908 – 10 February 1995) was an Irish language lexicographer from Ailt an Eidhinn, Loughanure, County Donegal, Ireland. He was the oldest of the six children of Tarlach ÓDónaill and Éilis NicRuairí from Gria ...

, Dublin 1977), is clearly cognate with the original meaning. The name features in the Irish surnames (lit. "son of Aodh"; anglicized as McGee/ McHugh/

McKee McKee is a surname of Scottish or Irish origin. The surname is derived from the Gaelic ''Mac Aodha'' ("son of ''Aodh''") a patronymic form of an old Gaelic personal name which means "fire". Similar surnames which also are derived from the same Ga ...

) and (lit. "descendant of Aodh"; anglicized as Hayes/ Hughes/O'Hea), and the Scottish surname (lit. "son of Aodh"; anglicized

McKay McKay, MacKay or Mackay is a Scottish and Irish surname. The last phoneme in the name is traditionally pronounced to rhyme with 'eye', but in some parts of the world this has come to rhyme with 'hey'. In Scotland, it corresponds to Clan Mackay. ...

). The name has a number of derived forms, including: * The feminine forms and . * (), anglicized as

Aidan Aidan, Aiden and Ayden are anglicised versions of the Irish male given name ''Aodhán''. The Irish language female equivalent is ''Aodhnait''. Etymology and spelling The name is derived from the name ''Aodhán'', which is a pet form of '' Aod ...

, formed by the addition of the

diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle s ...

suffix . * (traditionally ), a

double diminutive A diminutive is a word obtained by modifying a root word to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment, and sometimes to belittle som ...

. This form features in the surname (lit. "son of Aodhagán"; anglicized as

Egan Egan may refer to: People * Egan (surname) * Egan (given name) Places in the United States * Egan, Illinois, an unincorporated community * Egan, Louisiana, an unincorporated community and census-designated place * Egan, South Dakota, a city * ...

and Keegan). * (), anglicized as Mogue, derived from the pet form "my little Aodh".Baring-Gould, Sabine & al
''The Lives of the British Saints: The Saints of Wales and Cornwall and Such Irish Saints as Have Dedications in Britain'', Vol. I, pp. 122 ff
Chas. Clark (London), 1908. Hosted at Archive.org. Accessed 18 Nov 2014.

People with the name

Áed

Áed Rúad Aodh ( , , ; ) is a masculine Irish and Scottish Gaelic given name, which was traditionally anglicized as Hugh. The name means "fire" and was the name of a god in Irish mythology.The modern word meaning 'inflammation' or as a phrase with the ...

, legendary High king of Ireland *

Áed mac Echach Áed mac Echach Tirmcharna (died 575) was a King of Connacht from the Uí Briúin branch of the Connachta. He was the son of Echu Tirmcharna mac Fergusso (died ca. 556). He came to the throne in the year 557 and ruled until 575. The slaying of ...

(died 575), king of Connacht *

Áed mac Bricc Áed mac Bricc (died 589) was an Irish bishop and saint. Life Áed's principal church was at Rahugh (Ráith Áeda Meic Bricc) in modern County Westmeath. He was regarded as a patron saint of the Uí Néill The Uí Néill (; meaning "des ...

(died 587), bishop and saint *

Áed Dub mac Suibni Áed Dub mac Suibni (died c. 588) was an Irish king of the Dál nAraidi in the over-kingdom of Ulaid (in modern Ulster). He may have been king of the Ulaid. Áed was succeeded by his great-nephew Fiachnae mac Báetáin. Áed Dub — Black ...

(died 588), king of Dál nAraidi *

Áed Dibchine Áed Dibchine mac Senaig (died 595) was a King of Leinster from the Uí Máil branch of the Laigin. He is the first king of this branch to hold the overlordship of Leinster. The '' Book of Leinster'' king lists mention a certain Áed Cerr mac ...

(died ''c''.595), king of Leinster *

Áed mac Ainmuirech Áed mac Ainmuirech (born c.530 – died 598) was High King of the Northern Uí Néill. He belonged to the Cenél Conaill and was a distant cousin of Columba of Iona. He was the son of Ainmuire mac Sétnai (died 569), a previous possible high k ...

(died ''c''.598), High king of Ireland *

Áed Sláine Áed mac Diarmato (died 604), called Áed Sláine (Áed of Slane), was the son of Diarmait mac Cerbaill. Legendary stories exist of Áed's birth. Saint Columba is said to have prophesied his death. His descendants, the Síl nÁedo Sláine— ...

(died 604), High king of Ireland *

Áed Rón mac Cathail Áed Rón mac Cathail (died 604) was a king of the Uí Failge, a Laigin people of County Offaly. He was the grandson of Bruidge mac Nath Í (died 579), a previous king. He is listed as king in the ''Book of Leinster'' king list though incorrect ...

(died 604), king in Leinster *

Áed Uaridnach Áed Uaridnach ("Áed the Warlike", or Áed mac Domnaill, "Áed son of Domnall") (died 612) was an Irish king who was High King of Ireland. He is sometimes also known as Áed Allán, a name most commonly used for the 8th-century king of the ...

(died 612), High king of Ireland *

Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn Áed Bennán mac Crimthainn (died 618) was a possible King of Munster from the Eóganacht Locha Léin branch of the Eoganachta. He was definitely king of West Munster or Iarmuman. He was the great-grandson of Dauí Iarlaithe mac Maithni also a ...

(died 618), king of or in Munster *

Áed Dub mac Colmáin Áed Dub mac Colmáin or Áed(h) of Kildare is a former King of Leinster, and an Irish saint, commemorated by Colgan under date of 4 January; but much obscurity attaches to his life-work. History The ''Annals of the Four Masters'' and the ' ...

(died 641?), bishop of Kildare *

Áed Aired Áed Aired (died 698) or Áed Airdd or Áed Airech was a Dal nAraide king of the Cruithne in Ulaid (Ulster). He ruled from 690-698. In the 6th and 7th centuries the Dal nAraide were part of a confederation of Cruithne tribes in Ulaid (Ulster) a ...

(died 698), king of Dál nAraide *

Áed Róin Áed Róin mac Bécce Bairrche (died 735) was the Dál Fiatach ruler of the over-kingdom of Ulaid in Ireland. He reigned from 708 to 735. He was the son of Bécc Bairrche mac Blathmaic, (died 718), a previous king of Ulaid who had abdicated in 707 ...

(died 735), king of Dál Fiatach *

Áed mac Colggen Áed mac Colggen (died 738) was a king of the Uí Cheinnselaig of Leinster. Some sources incorrectly make him joint king of Leinster with Bran Becc mac Murchada, but it appears that Áed was main ruler of Leinster in 738. His father Colcú mac ...

(died 738), king of Leinster *

Áed Balb mac Indrechtaig Aodh ( , , ; ) is a masculine Irish and Scottish Gaelic given name, which was traditionally anglicized as Hugh. The name means "fire" and was the name of a god in Irish mythology.The modern word meaning 'inflammation' or as a phrase with the ...

(died 742), king of Connacht *

Áed Muinderg Áed mac Flaithbertaig (died 747), called Áed Muinderg, was a chief of the Cenél Conaill of the northern Uí Néill in Ireland. He was the son of the high king Flaithbertach mac Loingsig (died 765). His byname Muinderg means "red-necked". His ...

(died 747), king of northern Uí Néill *

Áed Find Áed Find (Áed the White), or Áed mac Echdach (before 732–778), was king of Dál Riata (modern western Scotland and County Antrim, Ireland). Áed was the son of Eochaid mac Echdach, a descendant of Domnall Brecc in the main line of Cené ...

(died 778), king of Dál Riata *

Áed Oirdnide Áed mac Néill (; died 819), commonly called Áed Oirdnide ("the anointed"), was King of Ailech. A member of the Cenél nEógain dynasty of the northern Uí Néill, he was the son of Niall Frossach. Like his father, Áed was reckoned High King ...

(died 819), king of Ailech *

Áed mac Boanta Áed mac Boanta (died 839) is believed to have been a king of Dál Riata. The only reference to Áed in the Irish annals is found in the Annals of Ulster, where it is recorded that " Eóganán mac Óengusa, Bran mac Óengusa, Áed mac Boanta, a ...

(died 839), probably king in Dál Riata *

Áed of Scotland Aodh ( , , ; ) is a masculine Irish and Scottish Gaelic given name, which was traditionally anglicized as Hugh. The name means "fire" and was the name of a god in Irish mythology.The modern word meaning 'inflammation' or as a phrase with the I ...

(died 878), king of the Picts *

Áed Findliath Áed mac Néill (died 879), called Áed Findliath ("fair-grey Áed"; Modern Irish: ''Aodh Fionnadhliath'') to distinguish him from his paternal grandfather Áed Oirdnide, was king of Ailech and High King of Ireland. He was also called Áed Olach ...

(died 879), king of Ailech *

Áed Ua Crimthainn Áed Ua Crimthainn (''fl.'' 12th century), also called Áed mac Crimthainn, was abbot and coarb of Terryglass (), near Lough Derg in County Tipperary, Ireland. He was the principal scribe of the Book of Leinster (), the Book of Oughaval, an im ...

(''fl.'' mid-12th century), abbot of

Terryglass Terryglass () is a village in County Tipperary, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is on the north-eastern shore of Lough Derg (Shannon), Lough Derg, near where the River Shannon enters the lough, on the R493 road. Terryglass is also a civil parish ...

Aedh

Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair (reigned 1224–1228) was King of Connacht with opposition alongside his uncle Toirdhealbhach mac Ruaidhrí Ó Conchobhair. Aedh succeeded his father Cathal Crobhdearg upon his death in 1224 but strugg ...

, king of Connacht, 1223–1228 *

Aedh Muimhnech mac Felim Ua Conchobair Aodh ( , , ; ) is a masculine Irish and Scottish Gaelic given name, which was traditionally anglicized as Hugh. The name means "fire" and was the name of a god in Irish mythology.The modern word meaning 'inflammation' or as a phrase with the I ...

, king of Connacht *

Aedh mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair Aodh ( , , ; ) is a masculine Irish and Scottish Gaelic given name, which was traditionally anglicized as Hugh. The name means "fire" and was the name of a god in Irish mythology.The modern word meaning 'inflammation' or as a phrase with the ...

, king of Connacht, 1228–1233 *

Aedh mac Aedh Breifneach Ua Conchobair Hugh McHugh Breifne O'Conor ( Irish: ''Aedh mac Aedh Breifneach Ua Conchobair'') was king of Connacht, Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopo ...

Áed Ua hOissín Aodh ( , , ; ) is a masculine Irish and Scottish Gaelic given name, which was traditionally anglicized as Hugh. The name means "fire" and was the name of a god in Irish mythology.The modern word meaning 'inflammation' or as a phrase with the I ...

, First Archbishop of Tuam 1152

Aodh

* Aodh, Earl of Ross (died 1333) *

Aodh Mór Ó Néill Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone (; – 20 July 1616) was an Irish lord and key figure of the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War. Known as the "Great Earl", he led the confederacy of Irish lords against the Crown, the English Crown in r ...

(1540–1616), Irish earl and resistance leader *

Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil Aodh Mac Cathmhaoil, O.F.M. (; anglicised: Hugh MacCaghwell; 1571 – 22 September 1626), was an Irish Franciscan theologian and Archbishop of Armagh. He was known by Irish speakers at Leuven (Louvain) by the honorary name '' Aodh Mac Aingil'' ...

(1571–1626), Irish archbishop and theologian *

Aodh Rua Ó Domhnaill Hugh Roe O'Donnell II (; 20 October 1572 – 30 August 1602), also known as Red Hugh O'Donnell, was an Irish Chief of the Name, clan chief and senior leader of the Irish confederacy during the Nine Years' War (Ireland), Nine Years' War. He was ...

(1572–1601), Irish King, Lord and rebel leader *

Aodh Mac Dónaill Aodh Mac Dónaill (Anglicized: Hugh McDonnell) was a scribe from County Meath. Among the works he transcribed was ''Seachrán Chairn tSiadhail'' by Tarlach Rua Mac Dónaill. It is now contained in a manuscript house in the Public Library, Belfast ...

(Hugh McDonnell), Irish scribe

Aodhagan, Aodhagán, Aodhán, Aogán

All of these variants are or . The spelling ''Aogán'' reflects the loss of the light ''dha'' syllable, pronounced , but the ''o'' may be reinterpreted as even in that spellinɡ. * Aodhagan O'Neill (born 1959), Irish darts player *

Aogán Ó Rathaille Aodhagán Ó RathailleVariant Irish spellings of his name include ''Aogán'' and ''Ua Rathaille'' or Egan O'Rahilly (c.1670–1726), was an Irish language poet. He is credited with creating the first fully developed Aisling. Early life It is tho ...

(1670–1728), Irish language poet *

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (; born 22 July 1976) is an Irish Labour Party politician who has been a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Ireland for the Dublin constituency since July 2024. He previously served as a Teachta Dála (TD) for ...

(born 1976), Irish politician

References

{{given name Irish-language masculine given names Masculine given names

People with the name

Áed

Aedh

Aodh

Aodhagan, Aodhagán, Aodhán, Aogán

See also

References