Female Names for Highland Calves
| NAME | MEANING | |
| A | A Bhuidhe Aillidh | yellow beauty |
| Afton | a Scottish river | |
| Aideen (‘ay’ – ‘deen’) | fire | |
| Aigeannach | lively | |
| Aileach | rocky place | |
| Aileas | Alice | |
| Aileen (‘ay’ – ‘leen’) | Helen | |
| Ailleagan | jewel | |
| Ailsa (‘ale’ – ‘sa’) | island | |
| Ainslie | one meadow | |
| Airleahach | fancy | |
| Aisling | dream | |
| Alainn | elegant, beautiful, splendid | |
| Albannach | Scottish | |
| Aleine (‘a-lane’) | sunbeam | |
| Annag Ruadh | red Anna (Anna = ‘full of grace’) | |
| Annasach | rare, unusual | |
| An Spideag | slender female | |
| An Uiseag | the skylark | |
| Argante (‘are + gant + ti’) | Celtic goddess, place of joy and celebration | |
| B | Banail | feminine |
| Barabhalla | Barbara (parapet) | |
| Banarach | milkmaid | |
| Bean | wife, woman | |
| Beannaichte | blessed | |
| Bedelia | mighty, powerful | |
| Beitidh | pet name of Elisaid or Elasaid (forms of Elizabeth) | |
| Briagha | beautiful, lovely | |
| Blathan | blossom, bloom | |
| Blodwen | white flower | |
| Boann (‘bo’ – ‘an’) | goddess of food & fertility (‘bo’ = cow) | |
| Boidheach | pretty | |
| Boirionn | female, feminine | |
| Brannagh | raven, dark | |
| Brianne (‘bree + anne’) | beautiful maiden | |
| Bridie, Brighid, Breda, Birgitta | Celtic goddess (= power, vigour, virtue) | |
| Brollachan (‘broll + ach + hawn’) | a spirit figure from the Scottish highlands | |
| Bruadaran, Bruadair | dream | |
| C | Cadrann | rowan berry |
| Cargairean | darling (or whisper) | |
| Caileag, Caleagan | girl | |
| Cailleach | wife of a god (had 7 husbands & 50 children) | |
| Cairdeil | friendly | |
| Caitin | willow blossom | |
| Calmain | dove | |
| Camhanaiche | dawn | |
| Canach | mountain down | |
| Carlin | little champion | |
| Cathbodua (‘cah + bo + dwa’) | Celtic war goddess (= victorious in war) | |
| Casair | sea drift | |
| Casan | feet | |
| Ceilidh (‘kale-ee’) | social gathering | |
| Chaisfhionn | white feet | |
| Ceannsaich | tame, quiet | |
| Ceasg (‘cask’) | name of a Scottish mermaid who gave 3 wishes | |
| Ceit | Kate | |
| Claggan | fertile field | |
| Cluasag | pillow | |
| Conailbhe | goddess | |
| Corichean | Corries | |
| Craobhag | small tree | |
| Creidne | a female Celtic warrior (= honour, faith) | |
| Cruinneag | neat, tidy girl | |
| D | Dacey | southern girl |
| Dara, Deri | oak grove | |
| Davina, Daimhin | little deer | |
| Dara | oak | |
| Deirdre (‘dear+dree’) | female in Celtic folk law (may mean ‘end’) | |
| Diorbhail | Dorothy | |
| Dochais | hope | |
| Donalda | female form of Domhnul (= ruler of the world) | |
| Drusilla | magic | |
| Duaisean | prize | |
| Duana | dark haired | |
| Dubh Lacha (‘do+loch+a’) | black, beautiful girl | |
| E | Eamag | Emily |
| Eamhair (‘ayve+er’) | twin | |
| Eilidh | Helen (hind) | |
| Eiteag | fair maid | |
| Elspeth, Ealasaid, Elasaid | Elizabeth (= God if my oath) | |
| Enya | flame, brightness | |
| Euna | Juno | |
| F | Fabharach | favourable |
| Fainche (‘fan+che’ or ‘fine+che’) | raven or wanderer | |
| Fairin, Fairing | present | |
| Faoilte | delight | |
| Faragher | supreme choice | |
| Fearghachd | anger | |
| Fearna | Alder | |
| Feorag | squirrel | |
| Ferelith | perfect princess | |
| Ferlie | a wonder, marvellous | |
| Finola, Fenella | fair shoulders | |
| Fiochag | little angry one | |
| Flaitheas (‘flah+hish’) | sovereignty, or princely generosity | |
| Flanna | bright red | |
| Fogharan | autumn | |
| Fosadh | steadiness | |
| Fraoch | Heather | |
| Freen | friend | |
| G | Gaidhealach | Highland |
| Gallus (‘gallous’) | daring, cheeky, reckless | |
| Galshachs (‘gal-shaCHs’) | sweets, cakes | |
| Glenys, Glynys | girl of the valley | |
| Golach (‘goll-aCH’) | a beetle | |
| Grainach | sunny | |
| Grainel | green field | |
| Grainne (‘graw+nya’) | the loved one | |
| Gruagach | long haired girl, maiden | |
| Gwenonwyn (gwen+on+win’) | lily of the valley | |
| I | Ial | gleam of sunshine |
| Ialach | shinning fur | |
| Ialuinn | honeysuckle | |
| Iarmailt | sky, heavens | |
| Iona (‘eye-o+na’) | a Scottish island (may mean ‘blessed’ or ‘violet’) | |
| Ionmholta | praiseworthy | |
| Iseabeal (‘ish+a+bale’), Sibeal | Elizabeth | |
| Isla (‘I’ll+a’) | name of a Scottish river (may mean ‘a rocky place’) | |
| J | Jeelie | jelly, jam |
| K | Kalin (‘kay+lin’), Keelin | slender & fair/pure |
| Kirstie | Christina | |
| Kyla | so beautiful only poets could describe her | |
| Kyna (‘key+na’) | best, champion, star | |
| L | Lachtna (‘lach’-‘na’) | milkiness, pure as milk |
| Laghach | pretty, nice | |
| Lana | darling | |
| Laochag | little heroine | |
| Lasair (‘lass+air’) | flame, blaze of fire or sunlight | |
| Leal (‘leel’) | loyal, faithful | |
| Lear-Ghaoth | sea wind | |
| Lesley, Lesslyn | protector of the grey fort | |
| Lianag | meadow | |
| M | Mab, Madhbh | one who can cause great joy |
| Maighdean | maiden | |
| Mairi | Mary | |
| Maiseach | beautiful | |
| Moina | soft & grassy | |
| Moiteil | proud | |
| Molly | Mary | |
| Morag (‘more’ – ‘ag’) | great | |
| Morag Og (‘more+ag’ ‘og’) | great young one | |
| Muirneag | darling girl | |
| N | Nadurrach | natural |
| Navlin | = Newlyn, means protector of the grey fort | |
| Neila, Nelda, Nilda | female champion | |
| Neo-Abhaisteach | unusual | |
| Neoinean (or Neonag) | Daisy | |
| Newlyn (‘new+lin’) | holy pool, healing waters | |
| Nighean | damsel | |
| Nigheanag | little girl | |
| Niseag | little Ness | |
| Nuala (‘noo+ala’) | fair shouldered, exceptionally lovely | |
| O | Orla (‘or-la’) | golden princess |
| Ostag | hostess | |
| P | Peallach | shaggy |
| Peigi | Peggy | |
| Polly | = Molly or Mary | |
| Priseal | valuable, prized | |
| Proiseag | proud little | |
| Q | Quigley, Quillan | beautiful shape |
| R | Raghnaid | feminine of Randal meaning great power |
| Raineach | fern | |
| Rainaild | Rachel | |
| Regan | a king’s child | |
| Rhona (‘ro+na’) | a beautiful women by the sea (‘ a seal woman’) | |
| Ribhunn, Ribhinnean | maiden, girl (poetic) | |
| Riomach | beautiful, elegant | |
| Rionach (‘ree+in+a’) | like a queen | |
| Robag | slut | |
| Ronnachmore | great fern place | |
| S | Sandaidh | Sandy |
| Saraid (‘sor’ – ‘id’) | best, surpassing all | |
| Sassenach (‘sass-en-aCH’) | jovial name for an English person (Saxon) | |
| Scathach | Great female Scottish warrior (shadowy one) | |
| Seasmhach | lasting, durable | |
| Seonaid (‘shone+aid’) | Jeanette (‘God is gracious’) | |
| Seud | jewel, precious stone | |
| Sgiamhach | beautiful | |
| Sgionaich (‘skee-on-aCH’) | person from Skye | |
| Sileas | Cicely | |
| Sineag | little Jean | |
| Sionnach | fox | |
| Sitheil | peaceful | |
| Siusaidh | Susan | |
| Skye | island in Scotland | |
| Smachdail | bossy | |
| Sitheil | peaceful | |
| Sobrach | primrose | |
| Socair | gentle | |
| Soire Bheag | little vessel | |
| Solta | docile | |
| Somalta | placid | |
| Sonasag, Sonsie (‘sonce-ee’) | happy, little female | |
| Sorcha (‘sor+ha’) | brightness, light | |
| Speachag | venomous little creature | |
| Sunndach | cheerful, lively | |
| Stoater | exceptional example of its kind | |
| Stracht (‘straCHt’) | straight | |
| Stuamaig | modest female | |
| Suairceag | gentle one | |
| T | Tearc | rare |
| Tebhach, Riabhag | brindled female | |
| U | Uaibhreach | proud |
| Uilleag | Wilma | |
References
1) Traditional Gaelic Girl Names – web page with a short list of male names, pronunciations and meanings.
2) Scottish Gaelic Pronunciation – web page with some great tips on how to say they nearly unpronounceable names.