Scholars disagree on the derivation of the Feakle place name.

Flanagan gives it as "tooth", referring to some natural feature of the landscape, maybe a rock or such.

Adrian Room gives the same derivation.

However, Seán Spellissy in his "A History of County Clare", Gill and Macmilla, 2003, says,

"Feakle may derive its name from Fia-Choill, "the deer wood". Or, Teampall na Fiathgail, "the temple of the rough grass, an early church".