Giolla

Giolla is a Gaelic noun meaning "servant" or "youth." In Old Irish the form gilla, and its later spellings Giolla and Gilla, denote a person who serves or is devoted. In medieval Gaelic writing, Giolla also functioned as a prefix attached to a name to create a theophoric or devotional name, conveying “servant of” or “devotee of” the following term.

Usage in names: The prefix appears in many compound Gaelic personal names from Ireland and Scotland, formed by placing Giolla before a saint’s name or a religious concept. The exact spelling and pronunciation varied by region and period, reflecting broader manuscript traditions. In this way, a name built with Giolla signified a bearer’s devotion or association with the named figure or virtue.

Modern usage: Today, Giolla survives mainly in historical texts, etymology, and the study of medieval onomastics. It is not commonly used as a contemporary given name. In some cases, the element appears in surnames and place-names derived from Gaelic roots, preserving the historical sense of “servant” or “devotee” within the linguistic landscape of Gaelic-speaking regions. The term remains of interest to linguists and historians studying Gaelic naming practices and hagiography.