Ireland
/ˈaɪərlənd/noun
A country occupying most of the island of Ireland in northwestern Europe.
Did you know?The modern name ultimately comes from Ériu, a pre-Christian goddess of the island in Irish tradition, so the country’s name preserves a mythic divine figure in plain sight.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Celtic
PCelt
*Īwerjā
“A name for the island of Ireland, probably meaning something like 'fertile land' or a related island-name formation.”
Old Irish
OIr
Ériu
“The name of the island and a goddess associated with sovereignty and the land.”
Latin
Lat
Hibernia
“The Roman name for Ireland.”
Old English
OE
Iraland / Ierlond
“Land of the Irish; Ireland.”
Middle English
ME
Irland
“The island and country of Ireland.”
Modern English
Eng
Ireland
“The country and island of Ireland.”