Pronunciation
Se-tan-ta
Meaning
The childhood name of Cú Chulainn. Its literal meaning is not firmly established
Alternate spellings
Sétanta
Fun fact
Sétanta is Cúchulainn's childhood name. He kills Culann's guard dog and offers to take its place, which is how he gets the name Cúchulainn, Culann's hound. So most of us grew up learning the story of Sétanta at school.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Setanta, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | #286 |
| 2024 | 5 | #582 |
| 2023 | 6 | #516 |
| 2022 | 7 | #454 |
| 2021 | 6 | #498 |
| 2020 | 3 | #741 |
| 2019 | 4 | #646 |
| 2018 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2017 | 4 | #610 |
| 2016 | 5 | #541 |
| 2015 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2014 | 3 | #715 |
| 2013 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2012 | 4 | #616 |
| 2011 | 6 | #490 |
| 2010 | 5 | #542 |
| 2009 | 6 | #472 |
| 2008 | 8 | #412 |
| 2007 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2006 | 4 | #493 |
| 2005 | 8 | #302 |
| 2004 | 4 | #439 |
| 2003 | 4 | #423 |
| 2002 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2001 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2000 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1999 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1998 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1997 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1996 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1995 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1994 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1993 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1992 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1991 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1990 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1987 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1986 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1985 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1984 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1983 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1980 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1979 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1976 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.