← All names

Ruadhan

Boy / Girl name · 19 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Ruadhan: 19 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to both boys and girls, peaking at 5 births in 2024.

Ruadhan, a classic Irish name from the Gaelic word *ruadh* (“red”), means “little red one” and originally described a person with red hair or a ruddy complexion. The name is most famously borne by Saint Ruadhan of Lorrha, a 6th-century abbot who, according to legend, cursed the ancient seat of Tara. Ruadhan Mac Eoghain, a 10th-century king of Connacht, also carried the name. While no major modern places are directly named after a bearer, the root *ruadh* appears in Irish place-names like Rathruadhain (“fort of Ruadhan”). A common Gaelic variant is Ruadhán, and the name shares its root with the popular Scottish name Ruairidh (Rory), making it a distinctive red-haired cousin within the Celtic naming tradition.