Irish Baby Name · Boy

Cormac

Pronounced: KOR-mək

Meaning: Charioteer; son of defilement

About the name

Origin
Irish
English version
Cormac, Charles
Variants
Cormack
Stronghold region
All-Ireland

Overview

Borne by Cormac mac Airt, the wisest of Ireland's legendary High Kings, and by Cormac mac Cuilennáin, 9th-century king-bishop of Cashel and putative author of Sanas Cormaic.

The story behind Cormac

Cormac was raised by a wolf-bitch after his birth following his father Art's death; he won back the kingship of Tara through wisdom, and during his reign no one ever went hungry; his reputed sayings (Tecosca Cormaic) form a key Irish wisdom-text.

Mythology & legend

3rd-century High King; central figure of the Cycles of the Kings.

Did you know?

Cormac mac Airt is reckoned the wisest of all the High Kings, ruling at the height of Tara's golden age.

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