Irish boy name
Sétanta Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Sétanta means boyhood name of cú chulainn. Old Irish name that was the childhood name of Cú Chulainn, of uncertain meaning.
Sétanta was the birth name of Cú Chulainn before he killed the hound of Culann and took on its role. In tales of the boyhood deeds of the hero, young Sétanta travelled to Emain Macha to join the boy-troop, and he defeated all of them with ease. The name is found today as the title of sports companies and in the Gaelic Athletic Association world, and it is sometimes used as a given name. Sétanta is lively and unusual, and it brings a story of boyhood strength and courage that suits a sporty child.
Computer-generated voice, as a guide to pronunciation.
Variants of Sétanta
SetantaSedantaSétantae
Sétanta popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Sétanta ranked #276 in Ireland (15 babies). It is too rare to appear in US rankings.
Ireland (boys)
Rank among babies of the same sex, 1 = most popular (log scale). Ranks below #10,000 sit on the bottom edge. Gaps mean fewer than 3 Irish or 5 US babies that year.
Data: US Social Security Administration (public domain) and Central Statistics Office, Ireland (CC BY 4.0). Irish accented spellings (such as Síle) are only recorded from 2018, so earlier years combine spellings.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sétanta mean?
Sétanta means "boyhood name of cú chulainn". Old Irish name that was the childhood name of Cú Chulainn, of uncertain meaning.
How do you pronounce Sétanta?
Sétanta is pronounced SHAY-tan-tuh.
What is the origin of Sétanta?
Sétanta is of Irish origin. Old Irish name that was the childhood name of Cú Chulainn, of uncertain meaning.