Irish boy name
Turlough Name Meaning, Origin & Pronunciation
Turlough means possibly 'instigator'; sometimes explained as 'shaped like thor'. From the Irish Toirdhealbhach, thought to mean like Thor or instigator
Turlough is the anglicised form of Toirdhealbhach, an old Irish name, which may mean instigator, or in some views link to the Norse god Thor. It was borne by high kings and chieftains, including Toirdhealbhach Mór Ó Conchobhair. The famous harper Turlough O'Carolan helped keep the name alive. The anglicised spelling is quite long, but the sound, TUR-lock, is easily learned. The name is strongly historical, making it a bold and unusual choice for those who like Irish tradition.
Variants of Turlough
ToirdhealbhachTarlachTurloghTerence
Well-known people named Turlough
Turlough O'Carolan.
Turlough popularity: Ireland vs the US
In 2025 Turlough ranked #787 in Ireland (3 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 Turlough mean?
Turlough means "possibly 'instigator'; sometimes explained as 'shaped like thor'". From the Irish Toirdhealbhach, thought to mean like Thor or instigator.
How do you pronounce Turlough?
Turlough is pronounced TUR-lock.
What is the origin of Turlough?
Turlough is of Irish origin. From the Irish Toirdhealbhach, thought to mean like Thor or instigator.