Gender Masculine
Usage Irish, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Mythology
Meaning & History
From Old Irish Óengus, possibly meaning "one strength" from óen "one" and guss "force, strength" [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] . Aonghus (sometimes surnamed Mac Og meaning "young son") was an Irish god of love and youth, one of the Tuatha Dé Danann. He was the son of the Dagda and Boann. The name was also borne by an 8th-century Pictish king, several Irish kings, and a few saints, including a 9th-century bishop of Tallaght.
Related Names
Surname DescendantsAngus, Guinness, Hennessy, MacGinnis, MacGuinness, Mag Aonghuis, McGinnis, McGuinness, Ó hAonghuis (Irish) Angus, Innes (Scottish)
People think this name is
classic mature formal upper class natural wholesome strong strange complex serious
Images
19th-century depiction of Aonghus Mac Og19th-century depiction of Aonghus Mac Og
Sources & References
- An Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language, entry Oengus, available from http://www.dil.ie/.
- Ó Corráin, Donnchadh and Fidelma Maguire. Irish Names. Lilliput Press, 1992, page 179.
- Sheard, K. M. Llewellyn's Complete Book of Names. Llewellyn, 2017, page 60.
- Matasović, Ranko. Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill, 2009, page 304.
- Matasović, Ranko. Etymological Dictionary of Proto-Celtic. Brill, 2009, page 169.
Categories
Entry updated May 26, 2026