Aengus
Say it: AYN-gus
BoyIrishMythologyMeans usually explained as "one strength"6 letters2 syllables
Unranked
in 2025
0
babies in 2025
#200
best rank (1973)
149
babies since 1964
Aengus through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 3 | #712 |
| 2010 | 3 | #720 |
| 2008 | 3 | #698 |
| 2005 | 3 | #518 |
| 1997 | 5 | #303 |
| 1996 | 5 | #295 |
| 1994 | 3 | #342 |
| 1993 | 3 | #339 |
| 1990 | 4 | #286 |
| 1987 | 4 | #272 |
| 1986 | 4 | #283 |
| 1985 | 5 | #250 |
| 1984 | 5 | #250 |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 |
| 1982 | 5 | #268 |
| 1981 | 3 | #322 |
| 1980 | 8 | #232 |
| 1979 | 5 | #269 |
| 1977 | 3 | #333 |
| 1976 | 8 | #222 |
| 1975 | 6 | #251 |
| 1974 | 7 | #240 |
| 1973 | 11 | #200 |
| 1972 | 9 | #207 |
| 1971 | 7 | #233 |
| 1970 | 4 | #278 |
| 1968 | 6 | #207 |
| 1967 | 5 | #222 |
| 1965 | 3 | #250 |
| 1964 | 5 | #204 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Aengus mean?
Usually explained as "one strength"
Irish, from Old Irish Oíngus, from oín (one) and probably gus (strength, vigour).
Say it right
AYNgus
Some people say it like the Scottish Angus. In Irish the name is pronounced quite differently from one region to the next.
The story of Aengus
Aengus comes from the Old Irish Oíngus. The first part is oín, “one”. The second part is disputed: it is most likely gus, “strength” or “vigour”, though some link it to a root meaning “choose”. The modern Irish spelling is Aonghus, and Angus is the form used in Scotland and in English.
In Irish myth Aengus, also called Aengus Óg, is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the son of the Dagda and the river goddess Boann. He is linked with youth, love and poetry, and his home is Brú na Bóinne, the great mound at Newgrange. In the best-known story he searches Ireland for a girl from his dreams and finds her as a swan. The name was also borne by Saint Óengus the Culdee, who wrote a verse calendar of saints in the early 800s.
Aengus has always been rare in the CSO records. Its best year was 1973, when 11 boys were given it and it was number 200. It has barely been used since the 1990s. The CSO counts Aengus and Aonghus separately.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Aengus (Middle Irish proper noun)
- Wiktionary: Aonghas (Irish proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Aengus
- Wikipedia: Angus (given name)
- Wikipedia: Óengus of Tallaght
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
Gus
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Aengus | under 3 | 149 |