What is "cathal"

Cathal is a common given name in the Irish, Scottish Gaelic and English languages. The name is derived from two Celtic elements: the first, cath, means "battle"; the second element, val, means "rule". There is no feminine form of Cathal unlike names such as Adrian. The Gaelic name has several Anglicised forms, such as Cathal, Cathel, Cahal, Cahill and Kathel. It has also been Anglicised as Charles, although this name is of an entirely different origin as it is derived from a Germanic element, karl, meaning "free man".

As is obvious from the list below, the name was in medieval times most popular in Ireland's two western provinces, Munster and Connacht.