Ogham (pronounced OH-um) is the earliest known writing system in Ireland. It uses 20 letters made of straight strokes and notches cut along a central line, usually the edge of a standing stone, and is read from the bottom up. It was used mainly from the 4th to the 6th century AD to write early Irish, and medieval scholars named most of its letters after trees, which is why it is often called the Celtic tree alphabet.
About 400 ogham stones survive, most of them in Ireland, especially in Kerry, Cork and Waterford, with others in Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man. Most carry a single name, often in the pattern "X, son of Y," marking a grave or a boundary.
Where Ogham Came From
Irish legend says ogham was invented by Ogma, a god of eloquence and strength among the Tuatha Dé Danann. Scholars think it was devised by people who knew the Latin alphabet, because its letters map onto Latin sounds, but who wanted a script suited to carving on wood and stone. The medieval Book of Ballymote, written around 1390, preserves a treatise on ogham that lists its letters and dozens of secret variations.
The 20 Letters of the Ogham Alphabet
The letters, called feda, are grouped into four families of five, called aicmí. Each family is named for its first letter. Read upward along the stemline, the first family is cut to the right of the line, the second to the left, the third diagonally across it, and the vowels as short strokes or notches across it. Within each family, one stroke is the first letter and five strokes the fifth.
Aicme Beithe (strokes to the right):
- B, Beith: birch
- L, Luis: rowan
- F (or V), Fearn: alder
- S, Sail: willow
- N, Nion: ash
Aicme hÚatha (strokes to the left):
- H, Úath: hawthorn
- D, Dair: oak
- T, Tinne: holly
- C, Coll: hazel
- Q, Ceirt: apple
Aicme Muine (diagonal strokes):
- M, Muin: vine or bramble
- G, Gort: ivy
- NG, nGéadal: broom or reed
- Z (or ST), Straif: blackthorn
- R, Ruis: elder
Aicme Ailme (the vowels, notches or short cross strokes):
- A, Ailm: pine or fir
- O, Onn: gorse
- U, Úr: heather
- E, Eadhadh: aspen
- I, Iodhadh: yew
Later manuscript writers added five extra letters, the forfeda, for sounds such as diphthongs. The tree names were attached by medieval scholars, and for a few letters the meaning is still debated.
How to Write Your Name in Ogham
Spell your name by sound, one letter at a time, from the bottom of the line to the top. Ogham has no J, K, V, W, X or Y, so use the nearest sound: C for K, F for V or W, I for J or Y, and CS for X. Draw a vertical line, then add each letter's strokes in order: right-side strokes for the B family, left-side strokes for the H family, diagonal strokes for the M family, and short notches for the vowels.
The Irish word for love, grá, is written G (two diagonal strokes), R (five diagonal strokes), A (one notch). That is the word carried on our Ogham Grá necklace.
Ogham Grá Love Barre Necklace CZ Sterling Silver — $89.99
"Grá," the Irish word for love, written in ogham.
Ogham Script Faith Celtic Cross Necklace Sterling Silver — $89.99
"Faith" in ogham on a Celtic cross.
What Ogham Means Today
For people with Irish roots, ogham is a way to carry a word in the oldest writing of Ireland: a name, a promise, or a single word like love or faith. Because each letter is linked to a tree, many people also read a name in ogham as a set of qualities, such as the oak's strength or the yew's endurance. Irish phrases like anam cara, "soul friend," and the many ways of saying I love you in Irish are natural words to carry in ogham.
Wear the Oldest Writing in Ireland
Our ogham necklaces spell grá (love) and faith in the ancient Irish tree script, in sterling silver.
Free U.S. shipping on orders over $250. Designing Irish jewelry since 2006.
Explore more Celtic meaning in our guide to 12 Celtic symbols and their meanings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ogham?
Ogham is the earliest known writing system in Ireland. It uses 20 letters made of straight strokes and notches cut along a central line, usually the edge of a standing stone, read from the bottom up. It was used mainly from the 4th to the 6th century AD to write early Irish names.
How do you pronounce ogham?
Ogham is usually pronounced OH-um in English, with a silent gh. In modern Irish it is spelled ogham and in Old Irish ogam, pronounced roughly OG-am. Either pronunciation is widely understood, and OH-um is the most common among English speakers.
Why is ogham called the Celtic tree alphabet?
Ogham is called the Celtic tree alphabet because medieval Irish scholars named most of its 20 letters after trees and plants, such as beith for birch, dair for oak and iodhadh for yew. The tree names were attached later, and a few letter meanings are still debated.
How do you write your name in ogham?
Spell your name by sound from the bottom of a vertical line to the top. Use right-side strokes for B, L, F, S, N, left-side strokes for H, D, T, C, Q, diagonal strokes for M, G, NG, Z, R, and notches for vowels. Replace K with C, V or W with F, and J or Y with I.
Where can you see ogham stones?
About 400 ogham stones survive, most in Ireland, with the largest concentrations in Counties Kerry, Cork and Waterford. Good examples stand at Dunloe in Kerry and in the ogham collection at University College Cork. Others are found in Wales, Scotland and the Isle of Man.
About the Author
Jennifer Derrig founded The Irish Jewelry Company in 2006. A graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), she designs Celtic and Irish jewelry that carries the stories, symbols and language of Ireland. Follow Jennifer on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.
