First Names and Variants
The first names recorded in the Irish church registers, were written mostly in English, however many, especially in Gaelic speaking parishes, were written in Latin. Some first names were also written using the Irish spelling or they are just Irish names.
When the first names were being transcribed, they were often standardised - the Latin names would have normally been entered in English. Some databases have been standardised to a higher degree than others.
Abbreviations are common in the Irish church registers e.g. "JN", "Pat.", "WM", "Eliz." & "Edw". These were normally extended to the full spellings but some abbreviations still remain in the databases.
Some records contain errors that were introduced during keying e.g. Partrick, Mihcael instead of Patrick or Michael. There are so many variant spellings of names such as Bridget and Catherine etc that it is difficult to know if the name is mis-spelt, an abbreviation or just a variant spelling.
Firstname Match Feature
The firstname match feature contains 2 options : 'Begins' and 'Include Firstname Variants' ...
- Begins - retrieves records that begin with the search criteria entered - this is the default option
- Include Firstname Variants - retrieves records matching the name entered or any variant of the name listed below
Wildcard (%) A wildcard (%) can be used to match any character or range of characters in a search. For example the pattern "Jo%n" will match "John", "Joan", "Jonathan" etc. The wildcard can be used with 'Begins'.
List of First Name Variants
| Standard | Variants, Abbreviations, Pet names, Latin Spellings or Irish Spellings |
|---|---|
| Abigail | Abigeal, Nabby, Abby, Abbi, Abagail, Abel, Abbey, Abigal |
| Abraham | Abram |
| Adam | Adamus |
| Agnes | Agnus, Agness, Aggie, Agnys, Agnis |
| Albert | Bertie, Bert, Bertram |
| Alexander | Alexius, Alexr, Alex, Alexis, Allexander, Alec |
| Alice | Alicia, Alisia, Alecia, Alica, Ailis, Alis, Allis, Allice, Allicia, Alley, Aly, Ally, Allie, Alyce, Elis, Elisha, Elisia |
| Alison | Allison |
| Allen | Allan, Alan, Alen, Allin, All., Al. |
| Alphonsus | Alphonse, Alphonso, Phonsia, Phonsey, Fonsy |
| Ambrose | Ambrosius |
| Amy | Amie, Amey, Aimee, Amee, Aimy, Ami |
| Annabella | Anna Bella, Anabella, Annabell, Annabel, Annabelle, Anabell |
| Anastasia | Anastatia, Anastacia, Anstice, Anastasiae, Anast, Anty, Ansty, Statia, Stasia, Stacey |
| Andrew | Andreas, Andy, Andw, Andr, And, Andre, Drew |
| Anne | Anna, Aine, Ann, Annie, An, Anney, Anny, Hannah, Hanna, Hana, Hanah, Hannagh, Hanagh, Hannie, Nan, Nance, Nancy, Nancey, Nannie, Nanny, Nannie, Nanno, Nano |
| Anthony | Antonius, Antony, Anthoney, Anth, Anthy, Ant, Anty, Tony, Anto, Anton, Antonio, Antoine |
| Archibald | Archy, Archie, Archd, Archibold, Archey, Arch, Archbold |
| Aaron | Aron, Arron, Aran |
| Arthur | Art, Arther, Arty, Arthr, Arth, Artr, Aurthur, Authur |
| Augustine | Augustus, Gus, Gussy, Agustine, Agustus, Agustin, Augustin, Agusta, Augustine, Augusta |
| Austin | Austen, Auston, Austy |
| Barbara | Barbra, Bab, Barbera, Barb |
| Bartholomew | Bartholemew, Barthlomew, Bartholmew, Bartholmew, Bart, Bat, Batr, Bartly, Bartley, Barthly, Bartle, Barth, Barthw, Batt, Batty, Bartie, Barthw, Barthy, Bartolomew, Batholomew |
| Beatrice | Bee, Betsy, Beattie, Beatrix, Bea, Beaty |
| Benjamin | Benjamine, Ben, Benjamen, Benjn, Bengamin, Benjiman, Benj, Benjy |
| Bernard | Barney, Bernd, Berd, Benard, Barnard, Barnaby, Barny, Ber, Bern, Berny, Ber'd, Bern'd, Barnabas, Barnabus, Bernardus, Bearnard |
| Brendan | Benny, Bren |
| Bridget | Brigitta, Brigid, Beesy, Biddy, Bidy, Bridgid, Bridgett, Bridgt, Briget, Bgt, Brgt, Brid, Bride, Bridt, Bridgit, Brigit, Brigt, Bee, Bid, Bridg, Bridie, Brig, Brigida, Birdget, Delia, Bidelia, Bidilia, Bedelia, Bedilia, Brdget, Brdiget, Bridet, Bridg't, Bridge, Bridged, Bridger, Bridgie, Bridig, Bridy, Brigdet, Briged, Brigidae, Brigidam |
| Brian | Brion, Brien, Bryan |
| Catherine | Caitlin, Cait, Caitriona, Cath, Catharine, Catherina, Cathe, Cathrine, Cat, CTH, Cate, Catherin, Catheirne, Cathne, Cathy, Catty, Caty, Catharina, Cathr, Catheine, Catherinae, Cathleen, Cathn, Cathrn, Cassie, Cassy, Caterine, Cath'e, Catharin, Cather, Catheren, Catherien, Catheriene, Catherinam, Catherinee, Cathern, Catherne, Cathna, Cathre, Cathreine, Cathren, Cathrin, Cathrina, Catrine, Catt, Kitty, Kate, Kat, Katie, Katherine, Kathleen, Kath, Katharine, Katherin, Kathrin, Kathrine, Katherina, Kathy, Katey, Katy, Katty, Kattie, Kit, Kitt, Kity |
| Caroline | Carolina |
| Cecilia | Cecelia, Cecila, Cicilia, Ceclia, Cicelia, Cecllia, Cecily, Celia, Cilia, Cicely, Cicily, Selia |
| Charles | Charley, Charly, Charlie, Chas, Chs, Carolus, Cathal, Carlo, Charless, Charlis, Les |
| Charlotte | Charlot, Charlott, Carol, Carroll, Carola, Lottie, Lot |
| Christine | Christina, Cristina, Chrissy |
| Christopher | Cristopher, Chris, Christoper, Christr, Christy, Cristy |
| Clare | Clara, Claire |
| Claude | Claudius, Claud |
| Clement | Clemens |
| Clementine | Clementina |
| Connor | Conor, Conner, Conn, Con |
| Connell | Connel, Conel, Conal |
| Constantine | Constance, Constant, Constantia |
| Cormack | Cormac, Cormick, Cormic |
| Cornelius | Cornelious, Corny, Corney, Corneluis, Corn, Corns, Corneilus, Corneilius, Cornilius, Connie, Cornls, Conny, Cornelias, Cornelis, Cornelus |
| Daniel | Donal, Dan, Danl, Dan'l, Danny, Danielis, Danial, Daniell, Daneil, Danneil, Danil, Donnel |
| Dermot | Dermott, Demetrius, Diarmuid |
| DAVID | DVD, Davy, Dave, Davd |
| Deborah | Debora, Debby, Debra, Debbie, Deb, Debs |
| Denis | Donnacha, Dennis, Denny, Den, Dinny, Dionisius |
| Diana | Dina |
| Dominick | Dominic, Dom, Dominicus, Domnick, Domk, Domnic, Domonic, Domonick |
| Dorothy | Dorothea, Dora, Dolly, Dorah, Doris, Darky, Dorcus, Dot, Dorathea, Dorathy, Dorethea, Dorethy, Dority |
| Edmund | Edmundus, Edmundi, Eamon, Eamonn, Edmond, Edmd |
| Edward | Ned, Edwd, Edw'd, Ed., Edw, Eddie, Ewd, Edy, Eddy, Edd, Neddy, Nedd, Eduardus, Ted, Teddy |
| Ellen | Eleanor, Eleonora, Eleanora, Elenora, Ellenora, Elenor, Eleonor, Elinor, Elanor, Elleanor, Ellenor, Ellinor, Ellie, Elly, Elleanora, Elleonora, Helen, Helena, Hellen, Hellena, Lean, Leana, Elen, Elena, Ellena, Eileen, Ellin, Ellon, Nell, Nellie, Nelly, Elaine, Eleen, Eleln, Elener, Eleon, Eleonar, Eleoner, Elin, Elina, Elinora, Eleonorae, Eleonoram |
| Elijah | Elias, Elliot |
| Elizabeth | Elisabeth, Eilish, Eliza, Elisa, Eliz, Elizth, Betty, Bety, Beth, Betsy, Bess, Bessie, Bessy, Bessey, Lizzie, Lizzy, Liz, Lisa, Liza, Lissie |
| Emily | Amelia |
| Esther | Hester, Ester, Essy, Essie, Easter, Etty, Hesther, Hetty, Hessie, Hessy |
| Eve | Eva, Aoife |
| Eveline | Evelyn |
| Farrel | Farrell |
| Felicity | Felicitas |
| Fintan | Finton |
| Fionnula | Nuala, Finola, Finny, Fionnuala |
| Florence | Florrie, Florry, Flo, Flor |
| Frances | Fran, Franny, Francie, Francesca, Fanny, Fannie, Fanie, Fanney, Fany |
| Francis | Frank, Frankie, Franciscus, Francy, Fras, Frs |
| Frederick | Alfred, Fredrick, Fred, Fredk, Freddie |
| Gemina | Mina, Minna, Min |
| Geoffrey | Jeffrey, Geoffry, Jeff, Geoff |
| George | Geo, Geroge, Georgie, Georgii, Georgius, Georgio |
| Gerard | Gerrard, Gerry, Ger |
| Garret | Garrett, Garett, Garet, Gary, Garry, Gareth, Garreth |
| Grace | Gratia, Grainne |
| Gustav | Gustavus, Gustave |
| Heather | Erica |
| Henrietta | Henrica, Harriet, Harriett, Hariett, Harriot, Hariet, Hariette, Hariot, Harrietta, Harriette, Harriott |
| Henry | Harry, Henery, Hen, Henricus, Henrid |
| Honora | Honoria, Hanora, Hannora, Hannorah, Honour, Honorah, Hon, Honor, Honer, Honnor, Hanorah, Hanoria, Norah, Nora, Norry, Norrie, Onor, Nonie |
| Horace | Horatio, Horatius |
| Hugh | Hugo, Hugonis, Hugo, Hu, Eugene, Eugenius, Eugeni, Eoghan, Eugenius, Eoghan, Eug, Gene, Owen, Owin, Own, Owne, Owny, Oin, Moses, Mogue, Aidan, Edanus |
| Humphrey | Humphry |
| Isaac | Issac, Isac, Isacc, Isack |
| Isabel | Isabell, Isabelle, Isabella |
| Jacqueline | Jackie, Jacky, Jackey |
| Janette | Janet, Janett, Jeanette, Jennett |
| James | Jas, Jacob, Jacobus, Jams, Jim, Jacobi, Seamus, Jacobum, Jimmy, Jamie, Jacobo |
| Johanna | Joan, Joanna, Jane, Joanne, Johana, Johannah, Joannes, Joane, Johanne, Jony, Siobhan, Judith, Judy, Jude, Sinead |
| Jean | Jeane, Jeanie, Jeannie, Jeanne |
| Jemima | Gemima, Gemina, Minny |
| Jennifer | Jenny, Jennie |
| Jeremiah | Jeremy, Jeremias, Darby, Jerimiah, Jermiah, Jemh, Jer, Jeramiah, Jeremia |
| Jessica | Jessie, Jesse |
| John | Jno, Jack, JN, Joannes, Joannis, Sean, Johnny, Johannes, Johnie, Shane, Shan, Shaun, Shawn |
| Jonathan | Jonathon, Johnathan, Johnathon, Jonothan |
| Jonah | Jonas |
| Joseph | Joe, Jos, Josph, Josephus, Josephi, Jody, Joey |
| Joshua | Josua |
| Julian | Julius, Jules |
| Julia | Julie, Gillian, Gill, Gudith, Jillian, Jill, Julianna, Julian, Susan, Susanna, Susann, Susanne, Susie, Susy, Suzan, Suzanne, Susana, Susanah, Susannah, Suzanna, Shusan |
| Justine | Justina |
| Kieran | Kyran, Keiran, Kiran, Ciaran, Keran |
| Lackey | Lacky |
| Lancelot | Lot, Lotty, Lance |
| Laurence | Lawrence, Laurance, Lawerence, Lawerance, Lawrance, Lawernce, Laurentius, Larry, Laur., Lce, Lar, Lawr, Lrce |
| Leonard | Leonardus, Leo, Lenny, Linny, Les |
| Letitia | Letty, Latitia, Lericia, Letita, Lititia, Letetia, Leticia, Lettice, Letticia, Lettitia |
| Lily | Lillie, Lilly, Lillian |
| Louis | Ludovicus, Aloysius, Lewis |
| Louisa | Louise |
| Loughlin | Loughlan, Loghlin |
| Luke | Lucas |
| Lucy | Lucia, Lucille |
| Magdalen | Magdalena, Madeleine |
| Marcel | Marcellus |
| Margaret | Margarett, Margaretta, Margarita, Mairead, Margret, Maggie, Margt, Madge, Magaret, Magey, Magy, Maggy, Maragret, Mar., Marg, Mag, Mags, Margeret, Marget, Margrett, Mgt, Margery, Margary, Madgey, Madgie, Madgy, Magie, Magret, Magt, Margarett, Margaretta, Marg't, Margaritae, Margarite, Margart, Peg, Peggy, Pegy |
| Mark | Marcus, Marc |
| Marian | Marianna, Marianne, Maryann, Maryanne, Mariann |
| Martin | MTN, Murty, Murt, Mart., Martinus, Marten, Marty, Mt, Martini |
| Matilda | Mathilda |
| Matthew | Mathew, Matt, Mat., Mathias, Matty, Matthias, Math, Mathw, Matw, Mattw, Matheus, Mattie |
| Mary | Maria, May, Marie, Molly, Mariae, Maureen, Mollie, Maire, Mry, Mai, My, May |
| Maud | Maude |
| Maurice | Morris, Moris, Morice, Morrice, Mauritius, Mauritio, Mrce |
| Michael | Michaelis, Micheal, Michl, Mick, Mike, Mikey, Mic, Mich, Mchl, Micahel, Michal, Michel, Micl, Ml, Mich'l, Mi., Micael, Michaelem, Michail, Michale, Michol, Mickey, Micky |
| Murtagh | Mortagh, Murtha, Murt, Murty, Morty, Mort, Mortimer |
| Naomi | Onney, Onnie, Oney, Onny, Ony |
| Nathaniel | Nathan, Nathanial, Nathanael, Nathl, Nat, Nath |
| Neal | Neil, Neill, Neale, Nail, Niel, Neile, Nial, Niall |
| Nichola | Nicola, Nicol |
| Nicholas | Nicolaus, Nick, Nicolas, Nich, Nic, Nics, Nichs, Nich's, Nichls, Nichl, Nicholi, Nicholaus |
| Nigel | Nigellus, Nil |
| Olive | Olivia |
| Oliver | Oliverus |
| Patience | Pate |
| Patricia | Patrica, Patsy, Polly |
| Patrick | Pat, Patt, Patk, Paddy, Pat'k, Patritius, Patr, Partick, Patritii, Patricius, Parick, Patick, Patirck, Patritium, Patricii, Patrcik, Pk, Ptk, Pattrick, Patrk, Patritio, Padraig, Ptrick, Patrck, Patarick |
| Penelope | Nappy, Penny, Pen |
| Percival | Percy |
| Peter | Petrus, Pete, Petr, Petter |
| Phebe | Pheobe, Pheby |
| Philip | Phillip, Phil, Phill, Philipp, Philippi, Phillipp, Philp, Philippus |
| Phillis | Phyllis |
| Phoebe | Phoebe |
| Pierce | Pierse, Peirce, Pearce, Pearse |
| Pricilla | Priscilla |
| Prudence | Prudentia |
| Quintin | Quinton |
| Rachel | Rachal, Racheal, Rachell, Rachael |
| Randal | Randall, Randle |
| Randolph | Rodolph, Rodolphus |
| Raphael | Ralph |
| Rebecca | Rebeca, Rebbecca, Rebbeca, Rebecka, Rebeeca, Rebekah |
| Redmond | Redmund |
| Rhoda | Rhody |
| Richard | Richd, Dick, Rich, Rich'd, Ricd, Rickard, Ric'd, Ricardi, Rick, Ricardus |
| Robert | Robt, Rob, Bob, Robbert, Rob't, Roberti, Robertus, Bobby |
| Robin | RN |
| Rodger | Rogerius, Roger, Rodge |
| Roderick | Rody, Roddy, Rodrick, Rhody |
| Roland | Rowland |
| Rosaleen | Rosaline, Rosalie |
| Rose | Rosanna, Rosa, Rosy, Rosena, Rosina, Roseanna, Rosea, Rosey, Rosie, Rosannah, Rosan, Rosana, Rosann, Rosanne, Roseann, Roseanne |
| Ruby | Rubina |
| Rudolph | Rudolphus |
| Sabina | Sabrina |
| Sampson | Samson |
| Samuel | Saml, Sam, Samual, Samuell, Sammuel, Sammy |
| Sarah | Sara, Sally, Saragh, Serah, Sera, Seragh, Sadie, Sar, Sarrah, Saly, Salley, Sal |
| Selena | Selina, Celina, Celena |
| Sheila | Sheelah, Shela, Shelah, Shiela |
| Sibby | Sibina, Sebina, Siby |
| Simon | Simeon, Symon |
| Sidney | Sydney |
| Soloman | Solomon |
| Sophia | Sophie, Spohy, Sophy |
| Stanley | Stanislaus, Stan |
| Stephen | Stephan, Steven, Steph, Stephin, Steve, Stephani |
| Steward | Stewart, Stuart |
| Sylvester | Silvester, Sylvestor, Vesty, Silvestor |
| Teague | Teige, Tague, Tadhg, Tadgh |
| Terence | Terrence, Terry, Terrance, Terance, Terre, Terrins, Terentius |
| Teresa | Theresa, Teressa, Tessie, Teresia, Treasa, Tess, Therese, Tessy, Terese |
| Thomas | Thos, Tom, Tho's, Ths, Thoms, Thoams, Thom, Tomas, Thomae, Tommy, Thoma, Th's, Tho, Tommie |
| Thomasine | Thomasina |
| Thomson | Thompson |
| Tillie | Tilly |
| Timothy | Tim, Timy, Timothey, Timmothy, Timmy, Timotheus, Thady, Thaddeus, Thadeus, Thadius, Thaddy, Theady, Thade |
| Toal | Tole |
| Toby | Tobias |
| Valentine | Val |
| Veronica | Vera, Vere |
| Violet | Viola |
| William | Wm, Willm, Will'm, W'm, Willie, Wiliam, Willaim, Will, Wil, Willy, Willliam, Billy, Willam, Wilm, Bill, Liam |
| Wilhelmina | Wilhemina |
| Winifred | Winny, Winefred, Winnifred, Winnie, Winfred, Winifrid, Winefride, Winifreda, Winey, Winnefred, Win, Wenefred, Winifride, Wini, Winfrid, Winefreda, Wenifred, Winafred, Wineford, Winefred, Winiford, Winifrida, Winney, Winy, Wyny |
