What does Cathal mean?
Cathal joins the Irish words for “battle” and “rule,” “strong in battle.”
What does Darragh mean?
Darragh means “oak tree” in Irish, a symbol of strength.
Cathal vs Darragh
Which is more popular?
Darragh is more popular than Cathal today: about 9 US babies were given the name Darragh in 2025, compared with 0 named Cathal.
| Cathal | Darragh | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Strong in battle | Oak tree |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KAH-hal | DAH-ruh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1998 | 1987 |
| Peak year | 2000 (10) | 2021 (16) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 9 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cathal
Darragh
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cathal | Darragh |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 69 |
| 2010s | 5 | 81 |
| 2000s | 29 | 86 |
| 1990s | 6 | 23 |
| 1980s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cathal or Darragh more popular?
Darragh is more popular than Cathal today: about 9 US babies were given the name Darragh in 2025, compared with 0 named Cathal.
What is the difference between Cathal and Darragh?
Cathal means Strong in battle (Irish origin), while Darragh means Oak tree (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Cathal or Darragh?
In US records, Cathal first appears in 1998 and Darragh in 1987, so Darragh has the longer recorded history.