Pronunciation | English: /ˈkɒhəl/ Irish: [ˈkahəlˠ] |
---|---|
Gender | Masculine |
Language(s) | Irish Scottish Gaelic English |
Origin | |
Language(s) | Celtic |
Derivation | cath + val |
Meaning | "battle" + "ruler" |
Other names | |
See also | Cathal, Cathel, Cahal, Charles, Cahill, Kathel |
Cathal is a common given name in Ireland, spelled the same in both the Irish and English languages. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, cath, means "battle"; the second element, fal, means "rule".[1] There is no feminine form of Cathal. The Gaelic name has several anglicised forms, such as Cathel,[2] Cahal, Cahill and Kathel.[3] It has also been anglicised as Charles,[3] although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic element, karl, meaning "free man".[4]
As is evident from the list below, the name was in medieval times most popular in Ireland's two western provinces, Munster and Connacht.