English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

Words With Celtic Origins

Every word in the dictionary traced back to Celtic — a real, growing list pulled straight from each word's etymology, not hand-picked.

Take the Quiz

265 Words

  1. 1 Abercrombie A Scottish surname, also the name of several small places in Scotland and North America.
  2. 2 Agnew A surname of Scottish or Irish origin.
  3. 3 agra A large city in Uttar Pradesh, India, home to the Taj Mahal.
  4. 4 Aidan A male given name of Irish origin, also used occasionally for girls.
  5. 5 Aiken A surname, originally derived from the given name Adam.
  6. 6 Alastair A male given name from Scottish Gaelic, a variant spelling of Alistair, both derived from Alexander.
  7. 7 Avon The name of several rivers in the UK and elsewhere, most famously the river running through Stratford-upon-Avo...
  8. 8 Bala A town in Gwynedd, Wales, and several places named after it in Canada and the United States.
  9. 9 Balfour A Scottish surname, notably borne by British Prime Minister Arthur Balfour, and a place name in Scotland and e...
  10. 10 Bangor A city in Gwynedd, Wales, and another in County Down, Northern Ireland, both giving their name to towns elsewh...
  11. 11 banshee In Irish folklore, a female spirit whose mournful wailing is said to warn a household that a death is coming.
  12. 12 banter Light, good-humoured teasing conversation exchanged between people who know each other well.
  13. 13 bard A poet, especially one who composes and performs verse celebrating heroes and great deeds.
  14. 14 ben A mountain or high peak, especially in Scotland or Ireland.
  15. 15 Bevan A surname of Welsh origin, also used as a male given name.
  16. 16 biddy An informal, often unkind term for an older woman seen as fussy or gossipy.
  17. 17 Blaire A feminine given name from Scottish Gaelic, a variant spelling of Blair.
  18. 18 Bligh A surname of Irish, Cornish, or English origin, notably borne by Captain William Bligh of HMS Bounty fame.
  19. 19 bloke (British, informal) A man, especially an ordinary or average one.
  20. 20 bog An area of soft, wet, spongy ground formed from decayed plant matter, especially moss.
  21. 21 Bohannon A surname of Irish origin, and an unincorporated community in Mathews County, Virginia.
  22. 22 bonham A young pig; a piglet (dialectal).
  23. 23 Bowen A Welsh surname and male given name, also the name of towns in Australia and the United States.
  24. 24 Boyd A Scottish and Irish surname, also used as a male given name, from a Gaelic word meaning "fair" or "blond."
  25. 25 Boylan An Irish surname.
  26. 26 Boyle An Irish surname, also the name of a town in County Roscommon, Ireland.
  27. 27 Braden An Irish-derived surname, also a male given name popular from the 1990s onward.
  28. 28 Brannigan A drinking spree or bout of heavy drinking.
  29. 29 Brendan A male given name of Irish origin, borne by several early Irish saints.
  30. 30 Brennan A surname of Irish origin, also used as a male given name.
  31. 31 Brest A port city in Brittany, France, and a city in Belarus near the Polish border.
  32. 32 Brian A male given name of Irish origin, one of the most common English first names for men.
  33. 33 Bridget A female given name of Irish origin, from the saints' name Brighid/Brigid.
  34. 34 Broderick A severe beating or thrashing.
  35. 35 brogan A sturdy, heavy work boot or shoe.
  36. 36 Brophy A surname of Irish origin.
  37. 37 Bryn A male or female given name of Welsh origin, meaning "hill."
  38. 38 Burns A Scottish and Irish surname, most famously that of the poet Robert Burns, and the name of several towns in th...
  39. 39 Byrne An Irish surname, from a name meaning "descendant of Bran (raven)."
  40. 40 Cahill An Irish surname.
  41. 41 cairn A pile of stones stacked up as a marker, memorial, or landmark.
  42. 42 Calgary The largest city in Alberta, Canada, named after a village on the Isle of Mull in Scotland.
  43. 43 Callahan An Irish surname and male given name.
  44. 44 Cameron A Scottish surname, later used widely as a unisex given name.
  45. 45 Cardiff The capital and largest city of Wales.
  46. 46 Carmody An Irish surname, an anglicized form of Ó Cearmada.
  47. 47 Cass A short form of the female given name Cassandra, and sometimes of Cassidy or Cassiopeia.
  48. 48 Cassidy A surname of Irish origin, anglicized from Ó Caiside, meaning roughly "descendant of the curly-haired one".
  49. 49 Cathcart A Scottish surname and the name of a suburb of Glasgow, Scotland.
  50. 50 Cavanaugh An Irish surname, a variant of Kavanagh.
  51. 51 Cedric A masculine given name invented by Sir Walter Scott for his novel Ivanhoe, likely based on the Saxon king Cerd...
  52. 52 chook (chiefly Australian/New Zealand informal) A chicken.
  53. 53 Clyde A major river in Scotland flowing through Glasgow, also used as a male given name.
  54. 54 Coffey An Irish surname meaning "victorious," also the name of a city in Missouri.
  55. 55 Colleen Informal term for a girl or young woman, especially of Irish background.
  56. 56 corrie A steep, bowl-shaped hollow carved into a mountainside by a glacier.
  57. 57 Craddock A surname of Welsh origin.
  58. 58 Crewe A town in Cheshire, England, known as a major railway junction.
  59. 59 crumpet A soft, round, griddle-cooked cake with small holes in the top, usually toasted and buttered.
  60. 60 Cullen A surname and male given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, also the name of villages in Scotland and Ireland.
  61. 61 Curran A surname of Irish origin.
  62. 62 Dade A surname and male given name of Irish origin.
  63. 63 Daley (British, informal) A supporter of Rochdale Association Football Club.
  64. 64 Dalrymple A habitational surname from Scottish Gaelic, taken from a village in Ayrshire, Scotland.
  65. 65 Daly A surname of Irish origin, also the name of a river in Australia.
  66. 66 Dara A unisex given name used in Irish, Persian, and Slavic naming traditions.
  67. 67 Darren Internet slang for a middle-aged man, typically white, who acts with an exaggerated sense of entitlement or th...
  68. 68 Deane A surname, originally a variant spelling of Dean.
  69. 69 Declan A male first name of Irish origin, borne by an early Irish saint.
  70. 70 Deegan A surname of Irish origin.
  71. 71 Deirdre A female first name of Irish origin.
  72. 72 dirk A long dagger with a straight blade, traditionally associated with Scotland.
  73. 73 dod A dialect word meaning to clip or cut off, such as trimming wool or horns from livestock.
  74. 74 Dolan A surname of Irish origin.
  75. 75 Donnelly An Irish surname, and a place name found in Canada and the United States.
  76. 76 Donovan British slang for a potato.
  77. 77 Dooley An Irish surname.
  78. 78 Doran An Irish surname.
  79. 79 Dougal A male given name and surname of Scottish Gaelic origin.
  80. 80 Douglas A male given name and habitational surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, also the name of the capital of the Isle...
  81. 81 Downey A surname, and a city in Los Angeles County, California.
  82. 82 Doyle Slang for a foolish or stupid person.
  83. 83 Driscoll An Irish surname, a variant of O'Driscoll.
  84. 84 duan A section of a long poem, especially in Scottish or Irish poetry; also, a poem or song in general.
  85. 85 Duane A male given name, from an Irish surname.
  86. 86 Dublin The capital city of Ireland.
  87. 87 Duffy An Irish surname, also found in Scotland; also a suburb of Canberra, Australia.
  88. 88 Dugan An Irish surname.
  89. 89 Duncan A male given name and surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, borne by two early kings of Scotland; also the name o...
  90. 90 Dundee A city in Scotland, and the name of numerous other places worldwide.
  91. 91 Dunn An Irish surname, and a city in Harnett County, North Carolina.
  92. 92 Dunne An Irish surname, a variant spelling of Dunn.
  93. 93 Dwyer An Irish surname.
  94. 94 Dylan A male given name of Welsh origin, also used as a female given name and surname, notably borne by the musician...
  95. 95 Egan A surname of Irish origin.
  96. 96 Elgin A surname and place name, most notably a town in Moray, Scotland, and the earldom associated with it.
  97. 97 Elvis A male given name, made famous worldwide by singer Elvis Presley (1935-1977).
  98. 98 Enid A female given name of Welsh origin.
  99. 99 Erin A poetic name for Ireland.
  100. 100 Fallon An Irish surname and given name, also the name of towns in the United States.
  101. 101 Faraday A unit of electric charge used in electrolysis, roughly 96,487 coulombs.
  102. 102 Fiona A feminine given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, meaning "fair" or "white."
  103. 103 fook A softened spelling of a common swear word, imitating certain accents.
  104. 104 Foyle A river in Ireland that flows through Derry (Londonderry) and forms part of the border between the Republic of...
  105. 105 Gael A member of the Gaelic-speaking peoples native to Ireland, Scotland, or the Isle of Man.
  106. 106 Gaffney A surname of Irish origin.
  107. 107 Gallagher An Irish surname, anglicized from Gaelic, meaning "foreign helper."
  108. 108 Galloway A historic region in southwestern Scotland.
  109. 109 galore In great abundance (always placed after the noun it describes).
  110. 110 gammy Injured or not working properly, especially describing a leg.
  111. 111 Gareth A male given name of Welsh origin, borne by a knight in Arthurian legend.
  112. 112 Gilchrist A Scottish surname meaning "servant of Christ."
  113. 113 Gillespie A Scottish and Irish surname meaning "servant of the bishop," notably borne by jazz musician Dizzy Gillespie.
  114. 114 Gilmore A Scottish surname, later also used as a given name.
  115. 115 Gilroy A surname, and the name of a city in California known for growing garlic.
  116. 116 glen A narrow, secluded valley, especially in Scotland or Ireland.
  117. 117 Glenda A feminine given name of Welsh origin.
  118. 118 Glynn A surname, and the name of several small places in Ireland, the United States, and the Caribbean.
  119. 119 Gorman An Irish surname, also used as a place name in several U.S. states.
  120. 120 Gormley An Irish surname, also the name of a small community in West Virginia.
  121. 121 gowan A daisy, especially the common daisy — a term still used in Scottish and northern English dialect.
  122. 122 Grady A surname of Irish origin.
  123. 123 Griffith A masculine given name and surname of Welsh origin, originating as a patronymic; also the name of towns in Aus...
  124. 124 Grogan A vulgar slang word for a piece of feces.
  125. 125 Guinness A brand of dark Irish stout beer, one of the most recognized beer brands in the world.
  126. 126 Gwendolen A feminine given name of Welsh origin.
  127. 127 Hagan A surname of Irish origin.
  128. 128 Haggerty A surname of Irish origin.
  129. 129 Halloran A surname of Irish origin.
  130. 130 Hamill A surname of Irish origin, notably borne by actor Mark Hamill.
  131. 131 Hamish A Scottish male given name, an anglicized version of the Gaelic name Seumas.
  132. 132 Hanlon A surname of Irish origin.
  133. 133 Hannigan A surname of Irish origin.
  134. 134 Harrigan A surname of Irish origin.
  135. 135 Hennessey A surname of Irish origin.
  136. 136 Hennessy A surname of Irish origin, also the name of a well-known French cognac brand.
  137. 137 hooligan A violent or destructive troublemaker, especially one acting as part of a rowdy group.
  138. 138 Houlihan A lasso throw used in rodeo and roping in which the loop is cast with a downward, sweeping motion.
  139. 139 hubbub A loud, confused noise made by a crowd of people talking or shouting at once; an uproar.
  140. 140 Huw A Welsh male given name, equivalent to the English name Hugh.
  141. 141 Imogen A female given name popularized by Shakespeare in his play Cymbeline.
  142. 142 Irvine A surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, taken from a place name in Scotland.
  143. 143 Irving A surname of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant of Irvine.
  144. 144 Jennifer A feminine given name of Cornish origin, a form of Guinevere meaning "fair one" or "white wave."
  145. 145 kam Crooked or bent out of true (dialectal/archaic).
  146. 146 kane A word for a Polynesian or Māori man.
  147. 147 Kathleen A female given name of Irish origin, an anglicized form of Caitlín.
  148. 148 Kavanaugh A surname of Irish origin, a variant of Kavanagh.
  149. 149 Keane An Irish surname.
  150. 150 Kearney An Irish surname, also used as a given name.
  151. 151 Kearns An Irish surname.
  152. 152 Keegan An Irish surname, also used as a unisex given name.
  153. 153 Kelly A common given name and surname of Irish origin, used for both men and women.
  154. 154 Kevin British slang, often disparaging: a stereotype of an unsophisticated or unfashionable young working-class man.
  155. 155 Kieran A unisex given name, the anglicized form of the Irish name "Ciarán," meaning "little dark one."
  156. 156 Kyle A narrow stretch of sea between an island and the mainland, or between two islands — a term used mainly in Sco...
  157. 157 Lachlan A male given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, popular in Scotland and Australia, also a river in New South Wale...
  158. 158 langer (Irish slang, informal) A foolish, annoying, or contemptible person, usually a man.
  159. 159 leprechaun A small, mischievous fairy from Irish folklore, usually pictured as an old man in green who guards a pot of go...
  160. 160 Lesley A Scottish surname, also used as a given name for both men and women, especially popular for girls in the mid-...
  161. 161 Leslie A Scottish surname, also used as a unisex given name; also the name of several villages in Scotland.
  162. 162 Liam A male given name, originally an Irish short form of William, now widely used across the English-speaking worl...
  163. 163 Llewellyn A masculine given name of Welsh origin, also used as a surname.
  164. 164 Lloyd A Welsh surname, originally a nickname for someone with grey hair, also used as a masculine given name.
  165. 165 loch A lake, or a narrow inlet of the sea, especially in Scotland.
  166. 166 Lohan A surname of Irish origin.
  167. 167 Looney A surname of Irish origin.
  168. 168 loy A narrow, single-sided spade traditionally used for digging in Ireland.
  169. 169 Lynette A female given name of Welsh origin.
  170. 170 Macbeth A tragedy by William Shakespeare about a Scottish nobleman driven by ambition and prophecy to murder his way t...
  171. 171 Macintosh A brand of personal computer made by Apple Inc.
  172. 172 Mackenzie A surname from Scottish Gaelic of Scottish origin.
  173. 173 MacMillan A surname of Scottish origin.
  174. 174 Maddox A male given name, from a Welsh surname.
  175. 175 Maeve A female first name of Irish origin.
  176. 176 Magee A surname, an Anglicized variant of McGee.
  177. 177 Maguire An Irish surname.
  178. 178 Maher A surname of Irish origin.
  179. 179 Mahoney A surname of Irish origin.
  180. 180 Maisie A pet form of the name Margaret.
  181. 181 Marmaduke An old-fashioned male given name, historically popular in parts of northern England.
  182. 182 Marvin A male given name of Welsh origin, also used as a surname.
  183. 183 mick A short form of the given name Michael.
  184. 184 mickey Chiefly in the phrase "take the mickey": to tease or mock someone playfully.
  185. 185 Milligan A surname of Irish origin, and the name of several small communities in the United States.
  186. 186 Moffat A town in Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and a Scottish habitational surname derived from it.
  187. 187 Molloy A surname of Irish origin.
  188. 188 Monahan A surname of Irish origin.
  189. 189 Montrose A Scottish surname and dukedom, and a coastal town in Angus, Scotland, whose name has also spread to towns and...
  190. 190 Mooney A surname of Irish origin, from Ó Maonaigh, meaning roughly "descendant of the wealthy or beloved one."
  191. 191 Moriarty An Irish surname, famously borne by Professor James Moriarty, the archenemy of Sherlock Holmes.
  192. 192 Morrissey An Irish surname.
  193. 193 Mulcahy An Irish surname.
  194. 194 Muldoon An Irish surname, and the name of places in Alaska and Texas.
  195. 195 Mulholland A surname of Irish origin.
  196. 196 Mulligan An Irish surname.
  197. 197 mungo A low-grade fiber reclaimed by shredding old woollen rags or scraps of felted cloth, used to make cheap fabric...
  198. 198 Murdoch A Scottish surname derived from Scottish Gaelic.
  199. 199 Muriel A female given name of Scottish Gaelic origin, chiefly used in Britain.
  200. 200 Murphy A potato (informal, chiefly Irish or old-fashioned slang).
  201. 201 Murray A Scottish surname derived from Scottish Gaelic, also used as a given name; also the name of a major river in...
  202. 202 Myrna A female given name of Irish origin, popularized by the American actress Myrna Loy.
  203. 203 Neal A male given name and surname, a variant of Neil, ultimately from the Irish name Niall.
  204. 204 Nerys A female given name of Welsh origin.
  205. 205 nin An affectionate, informal term for a grandmother, used mainly in parts of Britain and Ireland.
  206. 206 Nolan An Irish surname, and a first name derived from it.
  207. 207 Noreen A feminine given name, an anglicized form of the Irish Nóirín, a diminutive of Nora.
  208. 208 Oona A feminine given name of Irish origin, a variant of Una.
  209. 209 Orla A feminine given name of Irish origin, meaning "golden princess."
  210. 210 Orville A masculine given name coined by the novelist Fanny Burney for a character in her novel Evelina.
  211. 211 pendragon A title given to ancient British war leaders, meaning something like supreme chief or overlord.
  212. 212 pet An animal kept at home for companionship rather than work or food.
  213. 213 Phelan An Irish surname meaning "descendant of the wolf".
  214. 214 plaid A checkered or tartan pattern, or fabric woven in that pattern.
  215. 215 Pritchard A Welsh surname meaning "son of Richard".
  216. 216 Probert A Welsh surname, originally a patronymic meaning "son of Robert".
  217. 217 Pugh A surname of Welsh origin.
  218. 218 Quigley A surname of Irish origin.
  219. 219 Quinlan A surname of Irish origin; also a city in Texas.
  220. 220 Quinn A surname of Irish origin, meaning "descendant of Chief"; also used as a male or female given name.
  221. 221 Rafferty An Irish surname.
  222. 222 rath An ancient circular earthen fort or enclosure found in Ireland, dating from the Iron Age or early medieval per...
  223. 223 Reagan An Irish surname and given name, notably borne by U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
  224. 224 Redmond An Irish surname and given name, an anglicization of Mac Réamoinn ("son of Raymond"); also a city in Washingto...
  225. 225 Reece A Welsh surname and unisex given name, an anglicized form of Rhys.
  226. 226 Reese Short for a peanut butter cup, a chocolate-covered candy with a peanut butter filling (from the US brand name)...
  227. 227 Reilly An Irish surname and modern unisex given name, meaning "descendants of Raghallach."
  228. 228 Rhonda A female given name of Welsh origin.
  229. 229 Rhys A male given name and surname of Welsh origin.
  230. 230 Ronan A male given name of Irish origin.
  231. 231 Rooney A surname of Irish origin, notably borne by footballer Wayne Rooney.
  232. 232 Rory Damp with dew.
  233. 233 Ryan A given name, originally an Irish surname meaning roughly "descendant of Rian," now common for both boys and g...
  234. 234 scam A dishonest scheme designed to trick people out of money.
  235. 235 Scanlon A surname of Irish origin.
  236. 236 Scobie A surname of Scottish Gaelic origin.
  237. 237 Scully A short barrier or spiked obstacle set up to block military vehicles, such as a Czech hedgehog.
  238. 238 Seamus A male given name of Irish origin, equivalent to "James."
  239. 239 shamrock A small clover leaf with three leaflets, widely used as a symbol of Ireland.
  240. 240 shamus Informal American slang for a private detective.
  241. 241 Shannon The longest river in Ireland, flowing into the Atlantic Ocean, and the town and airport near its mouth.
  242. 242 Sharkey A surname of Irish origin.
  243. 243 Shea A West African tree whose seeds produce a rich, fatty butter used in cooking and cosmetics.
  244. 244 shebang Informal: the whole thing; every part of a situation or undertaking (usually "the whole shebang").
  245. 245 Sheehan A surname of Irish origin.
  246. 246 Sheena A female given name of Scottish Gaelic origin.
  247. 247 sheila Australian and New Zealand slang for a woman.
  248. 248 Skye A Skye terrier.
  249. 249 Slattery Rainy, wet, or muddy underfoot.
  250. 250 slob A person regarded as lazy, messy, or careless about their appearance.
  251. 251 slogan A short, memorable phrase used to represent an idea, cause, or brand.
  252. 252 smithereens Small scattered fragments, especially from something broken violently.
  253. 253 Tara An Irish place name, associated with the Hill of Tara, seat of ancient Irish kings.
  254. 254 Teague A dated and now offensive term for an Irishman.
  255. 255 Tegan A given name, used for both women (from Welsh) and men (from Irish), and also a surname.
  256. 256 tilly A small extra item thrown in free with a purchase, as a gesture of goodwill.
  257. 257 Tobin A surname of Irish origin.
  258. 258 Tory A member or supporter of Britain's Conservative Party.
  259. 259 Tudor A member of the English royal family that ruled from 1485 to 1603, including Henry VII, Henry VIII, and their...
  260. 260 turlough A seasonal lake in a limestone area that fills with groundwater during the rainy season and dries out in summe...
  261. 261 twerp A foolish, annoying, or insignificant person.
  262. 262 Ulster A historic province in the north of Ireland, made up of six counties in Northern Ireland and three in the Repu...
  263. 263 Vaughan A Welsh surname and given name meaning "small" or "little."
  264. 264 welch To fail to pay a debt or honor a promise, especially a bet.
  265. 265 Yale A private university in Connecticut, one of the oldest and most prestigious in the United States.