At a Glance
- Meaning
- Uncertain — popularly explained as 'summer's end,' though the real root is disputed
- Origin
- Old Irish (Gaelic festival name)
- Pronunciation
- SOW-in
Samhain is an Old Irish (Gaelic festival name) name meaning “uncertain — popularly explained as 'summer's end,' though the real root is disputed”. It appears in our list of Autumn Baby Names for a Fall-Born Little One.
Meaning & Origin of Samhain
Meaning: Uncertain — popularly explained as 'summer's end,' though the real root is disputed.
Origin: Old Irish (Gaelic festival name).
A common claim: Popularly said to literally mean 'end of summer' (from 'sam' + 'fuin') Actually: This 'summer's end' breakdown is a folk etymology; Celtic linguists haven't settled on it as the true origin, so it shouldn't be presented as a confirmed meaning.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Samhain
SOW-inIPA /ˈsaʊɪn/
Popularity of Samhain
Samhain doesn’t appear in U.S. Social Security birth records, which include every name given to at least five babies in a year — so it’s rare in the U.S.
Lists That Include Samhain
Similar Names
Hecate · Mabon · Hestia · Odin · Ceres · Vertumnus
