Ogham Translator
Convert any name, word, or phrase into the ancient Celtic Ogham script. Used across Ireland and Britain over 1,500 years ago — now free to use online.
Free Online Tool
Ogham Translator
Convert any word or name into the ancient Ogham alphabet
Only letters convert to Ogham — numbers and symbols are removed automatically.
How Ogham Transliteration Works
Ogham transliteration maps the sounds of modern English or Irish names onto the traditional 25-letter Ogham alphabet. Each Ogham character — called a fid (plural feda) — represents a sound rather than a spelling, so phonetic matching is used rather than letter-for-letter conversion.
The alphabet is divided into four groups of five letters called aicmí (singular aicme), named after the first letter of each group: Beith, hÚatha, Muine, and Ailme. A fifth group — the Forfeda — extends the alphabet with characters for sounds not found in Old Irish, such as diphthongs and the "P" sound.
Because Ogham was designed for Old Irish phonology, some modern sounds have no direct equivalent. This translator uses the nearest phonetic match following conventions established in modern Celtic scholarship and widely adopted by tattoo artists worldwide.
Tips for Tattoo Transliterations
If you're planning an Ogham tattoo, a few things are worth keeping in mind. First, decide whether you want a phonetic transliteration of your name's spelling or its pronunciation — for Irish names these can differ significantly (e.g. Saoirse is spelled with 7 letters but sounds like "Seer-sha").
Second, note that Ogham is traditionally written bottom-to-top along a vertical stem line — most modern Ogham tattoos use this orientation. The horizontal left-to-right rendering you see on this site and in most digital contexts is a modern convention.
Third, take a moment to review the letter breakdown for your name. Understanding each character — and its traditional tree association — adds a meaningful layer to the design. Read our complete Ogham alphabet guide for more on each letter's meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Ogham translator work?
The translator uses a process called transliteration — mapping modern Latin letters to their closest Ogham equivalents. Each Ogham letter is matched to one or more Latin sounds using the traditional 25-letter alphabet.
Is the Ogham translation historically accurate?
Ogham was designed for Old Irish, not modern English. Transliterating English names is a widely accepted modern convention used by Celtic scholars and professional tattoo artists.
Can I use this for a tattoo?
Yes. Our transliterations follow conventions used by tattoo artists worldwide. We recommend reviewing the letter breakdown and understanding each character before committing.
Why are some letters not in the Ogham alphabet?
Ogham was designed for Old Irish phonology. Letters like P, V, and Y had no equivalent, so transliterations use the closest phonetic match — for example, P is rendered as Peith (ᚚ).
What direction is Ogham written?
Traditional Ogham is written bottom-to-top along the edge of a stone. In modern use and tattoos, it is typically written left-to-right horizontally.
Can I write full sentences in Ogham?
Yes — the translator handles multi-word input. On traditional stones, words were separated by a notch across the stem line. This translator uses the Ogham word boundary markers ᚛᚜.