Origin of Ireland's Name

Origin of the Name of the Island of Ireland

by Mr. Jose Gregorio MONAGAS: a Linguist graduated of Universidad De Oriente, Venezuela, South America, and an Irish descendant. Copyright (C) 2005. E-Mail: josegmonagas@yahoo.es

Early Names given by Other Peoples

NAME ORIGIN MEANING CONNOTATION

HIBERNIA (1.) Latin (a term used by Caesar) (1.) "the Land of Ice" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" was covered by ice during a long period of time (the Ice Age).

LERNA (1.) Greek (a term used by Claudius) (1.) "the Sleeping Land" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" seemed dormant under the Ice Age.

OGYGIA (1.) Latin (a term used by Plutocrats) (1.) "the Ancient Isle" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" was an ancient land.

JUVERNIA (1.) Latin (a term used by Ptolmey) (1.) "the Land of Youth" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" seemed new after the Ice Age (as in "Spring", when everything is new).

JUVERNA (1.) Latin (a term used by Solinus) (1.) "the Land of Youth" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" seemed new after the Ice Age (as in "Spring", when everything is new).

Early Names given by its Inhabitants

NAME ORIGIN MEANING CONNOTATION

INIS NA FIDBAGH (1.) Old Irish (pronounced: inish nafveevah) (1.) "the Isle of Woods" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" was a land full of trees, especially oaks.

CRIOH NA FUINEDAH (1.) Old Irish (pronounced: creeagh na fwinnayagh) (1.) "the Remote Island" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" was far from the European continent.

INIS ELGA (1.) Old Irish (pronounced: inish alga) (1.) "the Noble Island" (1.) it refers to the fact that "Ireland" is a fertile land.

INIS FAIL (1.) Old Irish (pronounced: inish fawl) (1.) "the Land of the Stone of Fate" (1.) it refers to the fact that kings in "Ireland" sat/stood on a mythical stone at the time when they were crowned.

MUICH INIS (1.) Old Irish (pronounced: muigh inish) (1.) "the Land of Mist" or "the Land of Fog" (1.) it refers to the name given by the Milesians to the island of "Ireland".

Later Names given to the Island

NAME ORIGIN MEANING CONNOTATION

IRIN (1.) "Irin" was used in a Greek poem called: "Argonautics" (1.) "the Land of Irin" (1.) it refers to the island of "Ireland".

ERINN (1.) "Erinn" or "Erin" is Old Irish (1.) "the Land of Erin" (1.) it refers to the island of "Ireland"

ÉIRE (1.) "Éire" or "Erin" is Old Irish (1.) "the Land of Eiru" (1.) "Eiru" was the Queen of King Mac Greni. It also refers to the fact that in "Ireland" every King must have a Queen, because every man or male is complete /happy only when he has a woman or female counterpart.

(2.) "Erin" or "Éire" conjures up the magical Queen of the Tuatha de Danann. "Dana" or "Brigid" was the Goddess/Mother of childbirth, poetry, music, creative endeavors, smithing, crafting, metallurgy, animal husbandry, and agriculture.

EIRE-YANN (1.) Greek. It comes from the word: "Keltoi" or "Keltai" or "Galata" (1.) "the Keltic People" or "the Celtic People" (1.) it refers to the fact that the "Celts" used to go into battle without clothes (only with their weapons on). "Galata" refers to "Tall and Noble", which described two characteristics of this People.

(2.) Old Irish. It comes from the word: "Aryan" or "Aire" (2.) "Noble" and "Free" (2.) "Aryan" is believed to come from the word: "Aryan", which is "Sanskrit" or "Avestan" or "Vedic", and means: "Noble" or "Lord".

(3.) "Aryan" refers to what we now know as "Iran", which is believed to come from the mythical "Atlantis" (the island/continent that sank into the ocean after an earthquake). Hence, the word: "Ariana" or "Airyana" refers to "the Land of the Aryans".

(4.) "Aryan" was used by Hitler for "Racist" purposes.

(5.) "Aryan" refers to what we now know as the "Proto-Indo-Europeans".

IRLANDA (1.) Old Irish taken from Latin. It comes from the word: "Ir" (1.) "the Land of the Tribe of Ir" (1.) "Ir" was one of the three sons of Milesius. He died in taking the land and was the first one of his tribe (of Celtic Invaders) to be buried in "Ireland".

IRELAND (1.) Latin. It comes from the word: "Ire" (1.) "To Go" or "the Land to Go" (1.) it refers to the fact that the "Celts", after being obliged to leave "Greece" and "Italy", carried out with them some "bags" full of "land", in order to remember those who lived, fought, and died for the land.

(2.) "Ireland" refers to the first heroic "Celts" who gave their life for the land.

IRONLAND (1.) Modern English. It comes from the word: "Iron" (a term used by the Author of this work: Mr. Jose Gregorio MONAGAS, who is an Irish descendant) (1.) "the Land of the Iron People" (1.) it refers to the fact that the "Irish" have defended their ancient land and their culture from invaders and enemies through time and they have always been successful.

(2.) I also use this term to honor my Irish Ancestors who gave origin to the surname "MONAGHAN", which later became "MONAGAS" in Las Palmas in Grand Canaries.

(3.) I also use this term to refer to the fact that in "Ireland" the "Celts" used their rich mines of "iron" in order to make "weapons", especially "swords" that were buried for a period of time in order to eliminate any "weakness" through the process of "oxidation".