Skip to content
NameLore.

Name

Cathal

/KA-hal/ MasculineIrish

Meaning

Cathal is a masculine name of Irish origin meaning “battle rule”.

Cathal combines the Old Irish cath, battle, with val, rule, and was a favorite of medieval Irish kings, including Cathal Crobhdearg, the Red-Handed, king of Connacht. It is sometimes anglicized as Charles, though the two names are unrelated.

A steady traditional choice in Ireland; little known elsewhere.

At a glance

Origin
Irish
Gender
Masculine
Pronounced
/KA-hal/
Themes
Warrior

Advertisement

Questions

  • Cathal is a masculine name of Irish origin meaning “battle rule”. Cathal combines the Old Irish cath, battle, with val, rule, and was a favorite of medieval Irish kings, including Cathal Crobhdearg, the Red-Handed, king of Connacht.

  • Cathal is traditionally a masculine (boy) name. It is a steady traditional choice in Ireland; little known elsewhere.

  • The name Cathal comes from Irish. Cathal combines the Old Irish cath, battle, with val, rule, and was a favorite of medieval Irish kings, including Cathal Crobhdearg, the Red-Handed, king of Connacht. It is sometimes anglicized as Charles, though the two names are unrelated.

  • Cathal is pronounced KA-hal.

More names that mean warrior

Names that share this meaning.

  1. Alexandra FeminineGreek“defender of men”
  2. Edith FeminineOld English“prosperous in war”
  3. Gunnar MasculineOld Norse“warrior”
  4. Harvey MasculineBreton“battle worthy”
  5. Hilda FeminineGermanic“battle”
  6. Koa MasculineHawaiian“warrior, brave”