- Origin: Irish Gaelic
- Meaning: “blood.”
- Gender: Male
- FLAWN; FLAWN-nawn
The name comes directly from the Gaelic word for blood, which was also used poetically to describe the colour of red.
The name was popular among early medieval Irish nobility and ecclesiastics. It was borne by Flann Sinna (d. 916) – High King of Ireland and Flann mac Lonáin (d. 918) – one of the most celebrated poets of the era.
The name is traditionally masculine, though it is occasionally found as a feminine name in medieval records.
Flannán
A diminutive form of Flann, though it was already used as an independent name by Medieval times. The best-known bearer is Saint Flannan of Killaloe, a 7th-century Irish bishop and missionary venerated in both the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. His feast day is celebrated on 18 December, and the Flannan Isles off the coast of Scotland are named for him.
These names are the progenitors of the Irish surnames, Flanaghan, Flanahan, Flynn and O’Flynn.
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