Cool Irish Names for Babies

Cool Irish Names for Babies Linda Rosenkrantz Pamela Redmond Satran A must-have guide for parents-to-be everywhere. Whether you’re Irish, of Irish heritage or you simply love Celtic-inspired names, this book is packed full of the most popular, unusual and creative names around.By the best-selling authors of Cool Names for Babies and Brilliant Book of Baby Names, this collection takes you beyond the straightforward listings of other books and gives opinion on what’s hot and what’s not in the world of Irish baby names.The information given really helps parents to make the right choices and includes loads of original features – pronunciation guides; which names are going up and which down in popularity; which are unisex, which are good as middle but not first names; and which should really be avoided at all costs.Packed full of creative lists such as Names that are Classic But Not Boring, Place Names, Names from Literature, Spiritual Names and Names of Irish Heroes and Heroines this is every new parent’s one-stop guide to selecting the coolest Irish name for their baby. Cool Irish Names for Babies Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz Table of Contents Cover Page (#u791da054-1a89-597b-9d9a-740cbb1cabf6) Title Page (#u0cf0dd44-b695-580b-995d-70443a8ddbc9) Introduction (#uaca33f04-6fd0-5243-a087-be9d5e7fb347) I. POP COOL… (#ub90d6295-9da2-5616-adcd-784899827cdc) Aoife (#ua7088548-8a40-5deb-acae-2705e9e4e799) Senan (#uaed9001e-62dc-579d-b0ea-dbbd6ecdcb90) Brady (#ue4706ffb-7551-50a2-8ee8-b7f1f00889cc) Ruair? (#u354f366a-0bee-597e-99d1-3f0f696da2d5) Darragh (#u956d2acf-41bc-5626-bbfe-2d864816cefc) Isla (#u8c67a0a6-b281-5064-a889-1b699defc03c) Cadence (#uc0ae4388-35b5-5b5f-92f0-7710c63c2060) II. COOL COOL (#u0a61c66a-db46-5956-9431-66d335a47e69) Cillian (#udb2b5bb2-7973-5db6-86fd-42b3ac26da89) Rafferty (#u5d2b59cb-a59a-509e-ae3c-a85f7650f56e) Artemis (#u1436c227-3042-54d6-b838-dc4865a3040f) Xenia (#litres_trial_promo) Juno (#litres_trial_promo) Sholeh (#litres_trial_promo) Orinthia (#litres_trial_promo) Ois?n (#litres_trial_promo) III. PRE-COOL COOL… (#litres_trial_promo) Emer (#litres_trial_promo) Africa (#litres_trial_promo) Tallula (#litres_trial_promo) Lugh (#litres_trial_promo) O’Duffy (#litres_trial_promo) IV. NEW COOL (#litres_trial_promo) Donegal (#litres_trial_promo) Lennon (#litres_trial_promo) Breege (#litres_trial_promo) Carraig (#litres_trial_promo) Laoise (#litres_trial_promo) Addisyn (#litres_trial_promo) Pronunciation Guide for Irish Names (#litres_trial_promo) Index (#litres_trial_promo) About the Authors (#litres_trial_promo) Copyright (#litres_trial_promo) About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo) Introduction (#ulink_abe70728-3e83-5bdd-b562-59ddd0dc1148) What does cool mean when it comes to names for Irish babies? Something very different than it means for other kinds of baby names. Our first edition of Cool Names for Babies was aimed at the American market, where cool names are often invented, drawn from a range of ethnic backgrounds, borrowed from places or surnames or things. In the USA, when it comes to baby names, anything from Heaven to Harlow to Harmony goes. The British are more conservative, so when we devised the UK edition of Cool Names, we focused on the revival of such old-fashioned names as Edith and Arthur, on trendy short forms such as Dixie and Alfie, on royal names such as Leonie and Ludovic. And then we came to the Irish. Irish baby-naming is a culture in itself, full of gorgeous and often obscure ancient names whose original bearers were kings and queens, mythological heroes and heroines, saints and fairies. During the centuries of British rule, these native Irish names were suppressed, with anglicised forms—Grace for Gr?inne, Eugene for Eoghan—taking their place. But after Irish independence, a priest named Patrick Woulfe started a campaign to restore the use of original Irish names. His 1923 book, Irish Names for Children, launched a national revolution in the way children were named. Ancient names were rediscovered, original forms were revived and a naming culture was restored to its original glory. Today, such Irish names as Aoife and Conor and Niamh, Cian and Caoimhe and Cillian, Ois?n and R?is?n, Darragh and Aisling and Saoirse are at the top of the popularity charts. They share the spotlight with non-Irish names popular throughout the English-speaking world: Emma, Sophie and Ava for girls, Jack, Daniel and Luke for boys. Which brings us back to the issue of cool. Cool, when we’re talking about Irish names, most often means traditional. In many ways what’s old in Irish names is what’s new. The coolest names these days are the most deeply rooted ones, spelt the original way. Names scrambling the fastest up the popularity ladder, for instance, include Fionn and Ruair? and Aoibhe (in tandem with Finn and Rory and Eve). And if distinctive, undiscovered names often count for cool in the rest of the world, they do in Ireland as well, where the rosters are full of such treasures. You’ll find them all in these pages, along with details about why their original bearers were so inspirational. Irish literature and theatre also offer a trove of stylish names with inspiring associations, along with lots of other sources, both expected and surprising. Here are some basic rules to keep in mind when searching for a cool name for your baby: Cool Means Unusual In general, the more unusual a name, the cooler it is. With once-uncommon names such as Aoife, Luke and Ella now competing for the top spots, you have to move further and further from the mainstream to find a name that’s truly distinctive. While fashionable Irish names such as Aisling and Cian may still be wonderful choices (and perhaps ultimately the right ones for you), you can’t really call them cool. And trendy names ranging from Shane to Sophie, Chloe to Conor are simply too widely used to meet the prerequisites of cool. Cool is Diverse This is a trickier concept when it comes to names for Irish babies than it is for, say, American or British children, since the coolest names in Ireland are often the least diverse, the most ethnocentrically Irish. Still, Irish names don’t have a monopoly on cool, and some Irish parents may wish to search farther afield for fresh choices. But you don’t have to go too far: names from other Celtic cultures—Scottish and Welsh and Cornish and Breton—might provide the individuality you crave without sacrificing too much tradition. And if your tastes run more towards the pan-cultural Emma and Edward end of the spectrum, we’ve also included here names that are considered cool throughout the rest of an ever-shrinking Europe and across the Atlantic in the USA. Cool Goes Beyond Convention That’s not to say there aren’t fresh sources for Irish names with cultural resonance. Hero names—borne by politicians and poets and athletes—you might not have considered as first names are one idea. Irish last names are another, and not just the usual suspects such as Kelly and Ryan but O’Brien and Maguire and Sullivan as well. Irish place names can be yet another new locale in which to search for first names. And Irish words can be turned into names, too. Cool Draws on Popular Culture The world is full of inspiration for cool baby-naming—and more full every day, thanks to the innovative names of characters in films and books and to the names of starbabies and celebrities themselves. In these pages you’ll find a rundown of the coolest names in modern Irish literature and film, and of the stars and their children who influence baby-naming style. Don’t Be Afraid of Cool When today’s parents were growing up, if you had an unusual name, other kids thought you were a bit odd. But now that the concept of cool permeates culture, with so many people from celebrities to the other kids in the classroom bearing unusual names, children are more apt to admire distinctive names than to ridicule them. Children today are often more accepting than adults of names that are unfamiliar, from different cultures or that cross gender lines. There’s More Than One Way to Be Cool Cool wouldn’t be cool if it was too regimented. There are cool names to suit any sensibility or level of cool, from the mainstream to the avant-garde. How far you want to go depends on your taste, your sense of adventure, your community. Before you settle at either end of the spectrum or on one particular name, weigh the various options and become comfortable with the brand and level of cool that fits you best. Cool Isn’t Everything So what if you’re one of those people who realise that a cool name isn’t for you or your child? What if you read this book and find yourself intrigued, entertained, inspired…but in the end a lot more convinced than you realised that you want to give your child a plain, solid and decidedly uncool name such as John or Mary? So what indeed. A name is not your personal style statement, a choice with which to impress the world. Rather, you should think of it as something that will identify your child for the rest of his or her life, a label he or she will have to live with forever. You may decide that cool is a desirable component of such a lifelong imprimatur. But then again, you may decide that, when it comes to a name, you want nothing to do with cool (just know you may have to suffer the consequences when your child is a teenager). Whether or not you end up with a cool name, you owe it to your baby and your choice of a name to read this book. For one thing, you’ll find hundreds and hundreds of naming options here that you won’t find anywhere else, and that will open your eyes to a way of thinking about names that no other book or source can. And you’ll know for certain, after reading this book, what constitutes a cool name—even if you eventually decide that uncool is cool enough for you. I. POP COOL… Mainstream Names Aoife (#ulink_a4ddca41-f7f5-5f70-aac8-12433aa3c21e) Top of the Lists For many people, Irish and others alike, there’s nothing cooler than a popular name. The theory is that a popular name makes a child feel popular—accepted and approved—simply because he or she has a name that’s familiar to all and currently in style. Here then, from the Central Statistics Office in Dublin, are the current Top 50 names in Ireland: Boys SE?N DANIEL JACK LUKE CONOR CIAN ADAM MICHAEL JAMES JAMIE AARON MARK DYLAN NATHAN THOMAS CIAR?N RYAN SAMUEL DARRAGH CATHAL OIS?N CHARLIE MATTHEW ROBERT JOHN KYLE PATRICK FIONN BEN JOSEPH DAVID HARRY CALLUM CORMAC ALEX ANDREW SHANE CALUM EVAN RORY EOIN STEPHEN JOSHUA RONAN CILLIAN KEVIN JAKE NOAH LIAM EOGHAN Girls SARAH MOLLY EMMA RO?S?N KATIE AISLING AOIFE SAOIRSE SOPHIE ELLIE AVA ABBIE GRACE MEGAN ELLA HOLLY LEAH ELLEN CLARA ERIN AMY NICOLE EMILY ?INE LUCY TARA CHLOE SHAUNA CAOIMHE CLODAGH HANNAH RUBY RACHEL LILY NIAMH KATELYN REBECCA ABIGAIL JESSICA EVA ANNA CAITLIN LAUREN ZOE KATE EIMEAR LAURA SHANNON MIA ISABELLE And here are the Top Ten in Northern Ireland, reflecting a somewhat more conservative picture: JACK KATIE JAMES GRACE MATTHEW SOPHIE DANIEL LUCY RYAN EMMA THOMAS ELLIE ADAM SARAH JOSHUA ERIN DYLAN HANNAH BEN ANNA Senan (#ulink_b5244210-9055-5487-a51a-93fae61bc452) Going Up And which are the names rising fastest up the ladder, those on the cusp of mega-popularity? In the last year counted, there were two first-time entries in the boys’ Top 100: Senan and Tristan, while girls’ names new to the list were Aoibheann, Aoibhinn and Jasmine. Among other names on the rise: Girls ALANA ELLIE LUCY AMELIA FAYE MIA AOIBHE GRACE RUBY AVA ISABELLA SARAH EABHA ISABELLE SOPHIE ELLA KAYLA Boys CALLUM/Calum FIONN OSCAR CAMERON LEO R?AN CHARLIE MAX RUAIR? CILLIAN NOAH SAM EVAN OIS?N In Northern Ireland, the fastest growing boy’s name is Carter, followed by Rory and Aodh?n, and for girls Kayleigh, Lucie and Poppy are on the rise. Looking at it locally, in Derry the top names were Callum and Ellie. Brady (#ulink_0e3774ed-5888-5759-a356-544b0fa475cc) Irish Exports For many decades, lively Irish names have been a prime export to the UK and the USA—dating back to the eras of Bridget, Kathleen and Eileen, Kevin, Kelly, Brian, Shannon and Se?n. The trend not only continues but has accelerated in both realms. TOP IRISH NAMES in the UK Girls ERIN NIAMH CAITLIN SHANNON KEIRA Boys RYAN BRANDON LIAM RILEY CONNOR AIDAN FINLAY/Finley SEAN KIERAN …and TOP IRISH NAMES in the USA Girls RILEY ERIN REAGAN DELANEY CASSIDY CAITLIN KELLY MCKENNA SHANNON CASEY TEAGAN RYAN TARA Boys AIDAN/Aiden COLIN RYAN NOLAN BRANDON BRODY KEVIN SHAWN CONNOR SHANE SEAN BRENDAN BRIAN DONOVAN LIAM KEEGAN RILEY QUINN BRADY CASEY COOLEST EXPORT NAMES … Donovan Ruair? (#ulink_7d397d8d-e048-58f7-bdd6-6927c81af89c) Blondes, Brunettes and Especially Redheads An ever-growing number of parents subscribe to the belief that you shouldn’t name a child until you see what he or she looks like. A number of traditional Irish names fit in with this notion, meaning ‘fair’ or ‘dark’ or ‘red-haired’. The catch, of course, is that a baby’s colouring at birth may differ considerably from what it is a year—or ten or twenty—down the road. Many of the earliest Irish names connote dark colouring or dark hair—perhaps a hint that the Gaels who arrived around the time of Christ came from Spain. Fair colouring was more unusual among the early Irish, and so more prized, with mythical and heavenly creatures often described as having golden hair. The Vikings, who invaded Ireland in the ninth and tenth centuries, made blonde and red hair more common. You may want to consider one of these colourful choices for your own little blonde, brunette or redhead. NAMES for DARK BABIES Girls BARRDHUBH DUIBHEASA/Duvessa BRENNA DUIBHLEAMHNA CAREY D?INSEACH CIAR KERRY CIARA/Keara/Kiera/Kira ORNA CIARNAIT Boys BRANDUBH/Branduff DOUGAL CIARAN/Kieran DOYLE CIARMHAC DUALTACH/Duald CR?N?N/Cronan DUBH?N/Duane DOLAN DUBH/Duff DONNCHADH/Donagh DUBHAG?N/Duggan DONAHUE DUBHDARA DONLEAVY FEARDORCHA/Farry DONN KERWIN DONNABH?N/Donovan SULLIVAN DONNAG?N/Donegan TEIMHN?N/Tynan DONN?N Either DARCY DUBHTHACH/Dufach DELANEY DUFFY DONNELLY GORMAN DUBH?G NAMES for FAIR BABIES Girls B?INE B?IBHINN/Bevin CAOILINN/Keelin CAOIMHINN CEALLACH/Kelly C?IBHIONN FINNEACHT FINN?ADAN FINNSEACH FIONA FIONNUALA/Finola FIONN?IR MUIREANN MUIRGHEAL/Muriel NIAMH NUALA UAINIONN Boys CAOIMH?N/Kevin FINN FINNBARR FINNEGAN FINNIAN FINTAN LACHTNA ORAN Either AILBHE/Alby ALBANY BAIRRFHIONN/Barry MOINGIONN NAMES for RED-HAIRED BABIES Girls COCHRANN R?IS?N CORCAIR SCARLETT FLANNAIT Boys ALROY CORC CORCR?N/Corcoran DEARG?N FLANN?N LOCHLAINN (Though this name does not strictly mean redhaired, it’s a nod to the ‘land of the lochs,’ homeland of the Vikings who brought fair and red hair to Ireland.) REED/Reid ROAN/Rohan ROONE/Rooney Either CLANCY RUAIR?/Rory DERRY ROWAN FLANN FLANAGAN FLANNERY FLYNN Darragh (#ulink_0a8240cb-3eb1-5eee-b71f-81007585adea) Irish Unisex Names Many Irish names, particularly the surname-names, swing both ways, an increasingly popular method of injecting coolness into your baby’s name. While names such as Kerry and Kelly, once used for boys as well as girls, have largely shifted to the female side, a whole new raft of choices has arrived to take their place. Here is a selection of names equally appropriate, not to mention cool, for both girls and boys. AILBHE CASSIDY ALBANY CHRISTIAN BEVIN CLANCY CAMPBELL DARA CASEY DARCY DARRAGH OWNY DELANEY QUINN DERRY REAGAN/Regan DONNELLY RILEY DUFFY RORY EVANY ROWAN FALLON RYAN FARRELL SHEA FLANN TIERNAN FLANAGAN TIERNEY FLANNERY FLYNN GORMAN KENNEDY LOGAN MAGEE MAOL?OSA MORGAN MURPHY Isla (#ulink_b3682b5a-8089-5dd2-8d4f-db89c42786fd) Pan-Celtic Cool As Celtic languages have several different branches, you may want to look beyond Irish names to those of your fellow Celts: the Scottish, Welsh, Cornish, Breton and even the Manx, from the Isle of Man. As with Irish names, many of these are being revived in their native lands, offering the perfect blend of tradition and exotic cool. Note that a few of the boys’ names—Dylan, Idris, Reese—would work and perhaps be even cooler for girls. Girls AALIN Manx AAMOR Breton ADARYN Welsh ADIGIS Cornish ADO Cornish AELA Breton AELWEN Welsh AERONA Welsh AFTON Scottish AILSA Scottish AINSLEY Scottish ALIENOR Breton ALMEDA Breton ANCHORET Welsh ANEIRA Welsh ANGHARAD Welsh ARWEN Welsh AZENOR Breton BERIANA Cornish BLODWEN Welsh BRANWEN Welsh BRONWEN Welsh BRYN/BRYNNA Welsh BRYONY Welsh CERIDWEN Welsh CERYS Welsh CORALIE Breton DELWEN Welsh DEMELZA Cornish DERRYTH Welsh DWYN Welsh EILWEN Welsh ELSPETH Scottish ELUNED Welsh ENDELIENT Cornish ENORA Breton ERTHA Cornish ERWANEZ Breton FFION Welsh GAYNOR Welsh GETHAN Welsh GLENYS/Glynis Welsh GWANWEN Welsh GWEN/Wenn Cornish GWYNETH Welsh HAUDE Breton IA Cornish IGERNA Cornish INEDA Cornish INIRA Welsh IONA/Ione Scottish ISLA Scottish IVORI Welsh KATELL Breton KERENZA Cornish KEW Cornish KEYNE Cornish MABAN Welsh MADRUN Cornish MAILLI Cornish MEDWENNA Welsh MELLE Breton MEREWIN Cornish MINIVER Cornish MORAG Scottish MWYNEN Welsh MYFANWY Welsh NERYS Welsh NEVID(D) Cornish, Welsh NEWLYN Welsh NONN/Nonna Cornish OANEZ Breton OLWEN Welsh PIALA Cornish, Breton RHEDYN Welsh RHIAN/Rhiannon Welsh RHIANWEN Welsh RHONWEN Welsh ROZENN Breton SC?THACH Scottish SEIRIAN Welsh SERERENA Cornish SEVE/SEVA Breton SIAN Welsh TAMSIN Cornish TEGWEN Welsh WENN(A) Cornish WYNN(E) Welsh Boys ACCALON Breton ADEON Welsh AEL Breton ANGUS Scottish ALASDAIR Scottish ALED Welsh ALEF Cornish AMATHEON Welsh ANARAWD Welsh ANEURIN Welsh ANGWYN Welsh ANNAN Scottish ARDAN Scottish ARGYLE Scottish ATHOL Scottish AURON Welsh AUSTELL Cornish BANADEL Welsh BAIRD Scottish BASTIAN Breton BERWIN Cornish BLAZEY Cornish BOWEN Welsh BRANWELL Cornish BRASTIUS Cornish BRECON Welsh BREIZH Breton BRICE/Bryce Welsh BRYN Welsh BUCHANAN Scottish CADOC Welsh CAMBER Welsh CANNOCK/ Kinnock Cornish CARADOC Welsh CARANTEC Breton CASWALLAWN Welsh CLEDWIN Welsh CORENTIN(E) Breton DAWE Welsh DENZEL(L) Cornish DOCCO Cornish DRYSTAN Welsh DUGALD Scottish DUNCAN Scottish DYLAN Welsh EDERN Cornish EDRYD Welsh EIROS Welsh ELFED Welsh ELPHIN Welsh EMLYN Welsh EMRYS Welsh EWAN/Ewen Scottish EVAN Welsh FARQUAR Scottish FERGUS/Ferguson Scottish FIFE/Fyfe Scottish FORBES Scottish FRASER/Frazier Scottish GAIR Scottish GARETH Welsh GAWAIN Cornish, Welsh GERWYN Welsh GLYN Welsh GRAHAM Scottish GREGOR Scottish GRIFFITH Welsh GUTHRIE Scottish GWYNFOR Welsh HACO Cornish HAMISH Scottish HYWEL Welsh IDRIS Welsh IDWAL Welsh IFOR Welsh INIR/Ynyr Welsh INNIS Scottish JAGO Cornish JOB/Jos Breton KEIR Scottish KELVIN Scottish KENDRICK Scottish KENTIGERN Breton KYLE Scottish KYNON Welsh, Cornish LENNOX Scottish LLEWELLYN Welsh MADOC/Madeg Breton MALCOLM Scottish MATH Welsh MAXEN Welsh MELAN Cornish, Breton MELOR Breton MORAY Scottish MUNGO Scottish NYE Welsh OGILVY Scottish ONILWYN Welsh PENWYN Welsh PETROC Cornish RAMSEY Manx RHYS/Reese Welsh RHAIN Welsh RHYDACH/Riddock Cornish RHYDWYN Welsh RUMO/Rumon Cornish SENAN Cornish STRACHAN Scottish SULIAN/Sulien Breton, Welsh TALIESIN Welsh TANGUY/Tangi Breton TORIN Cornish, Manx TOSTIG Welsh TREMAINE/Tremayne Cornish TREVELYAN Cornish URIEN Welsh, Breton URQUHART Scottish VAUGHAN Welsh VISANT Breton WYNFORD Welsh WYNN Welsh YESTIN Welsh Cadence (#ulink_8cb56634-99a1-5473-a442-3d9535c88df8) Non-Irish Cool Ireland and the Irish may be cooler than anyplace or anyone, but let’s face it: French clothes, Italian shoes, German art, American music, Russian supermodels—there’s cool beyond our shores, too. In case you want to investigate cool non-Irish names for your baby, here are some choices currently in vogue throughout Europe and in the USA. Girls ADDISON ALESSIA FLAVIE ALLEGRA FLORA CADENCE FRANCESCA CLAUDIA GAIA COSIMA GIANNA DANICA GINEVRA ELIANA ILARIA FEDERICA IN?S IRIS ISABELLA NEVAEH (heaven spelled backwards) JADA OC?ANE L?A PALOMA LENA PETRA LETICIA POPPY LILA ROMY LOLA RUBY LUCIA SADIE LUDOVICA SANNE LUNA SOPHIE MANON TATIANA MARINE VIOLA NATALYA Boys ALEXEI HUDSON ANDREAS ISAAC CADEN IVAN CLEMENS KRISTOF COLE LORENZO DANE MAGNUS ELIAS MARCOS ENZO MATEO FABIAN MAXIMILIAN FELIX MILLER FILIPPO NICO SEM TIBOR STONE WOLF TANCREDI WYATT THEO Either ADRIAN PEYTON DAKOTA PRESLEY JUSTICE SASHA LUCA SAWYER MILAN TRUE II. COOL COOL … Famous names Cillian (#ulink_71097109-ce7c-5f23-80c4-bed2ff7bccea) Cool Irish Celeb Names There’s no question that being attached to a celebrity—of the past or of the present—sprinkles a certain stardust on a name, and in this celebrity-driven culture this has become a more and more influential element in baby naming. Some celebrity names are inspiring thousands of namesakes across various cultures—the glamorous Ava, for example, is now seen on popularity lists from Scotland to Scandinavia. The following lists include inspirational Irish-named celebrities, mostly drawn from the worlds of entertainment and literature: AIDAN QUINN AISLING O’SULLIVAN ARDAL O’HANLON BONO (b. Paul Hewson) BRID BRENNAN BRONAGH GALLAGHER CATHAL COUGHLAN CIAR?N HINDS CILLIAN MURPHY CLODAGH ROGERS COLIN FARRELL COLM MEANEY CONAN O’BRIEN COLUM McCANN CORMAC McCARTHY DAIRE BREHAN DARAGH O’MALLEY DERVLA KIRWAN DEVON MICHAEL MURRAY EAMONN CAMPBELL (The Dubliners) EAVAN AISLING BOLAND ELVIS (b. Declan) COSTELLO EMER MARTIN ENYA (b. Eithne) EOIN COLFER FEARGAL LAWLER (The Cranberries) FEARGAL (b. Sean) SHARKEY FERDIA MACANNA FINTAN MCKEOWN FIONA SHAW FIONNULA FLANAGAN GAY (b. Gabriel, nickname Gaybo) BYRNE LAOISE KELLY LIAM NEESON MAEVE BINCHY M?IRE N? BHRAO?IN MALACHI CUSH MALACHY McCOURT MILO O’SHEA NIALL TOIBIN NIAMH CUSACK NOLAN RYAN ORLA FITZGERALD PADDY CASEY P?DRAIC BREATHNACH P?DRAIC DELANEY PHELIM DREW PIERCE BROSNAN REDMOND O’HANLON RODEN NOEL R?IS?N MURPHY ROMA DOWNEY RORY GALLAGHER R?AIDHRI CONROY SAOIRSE RONAN SEAMUS HEANEY SIN?AD O’CONNOR SIOBHAN MCCARTHY SLAINE KELLY SORCHA CUSACK VAN MORRISON COOLEST CELEB NAME … Saoinse Rafferty (#ulink_3909d281-efe0-5af7-bafa-3affc1622241) Starbabies with Irish Names Celebrities on both sides of the Atlantic, those with and without Hibernian roots, have long been partial to Irish names. Here are some of the coolest, along with our reasons for thinking so: AIDANScott Hamilton (Olympic figure skater), Robert F Kennedy, Jr Once a pet form of Aodh, which means ‘little fire’, Aidan is spreading like wildfire from Edinburgh to Pittsburgh, prized for its strength and charm. Also seen as A?d?n, Aodh?n, Aiden, Eadan and Edan (not to mention Aidyn, Ayden, Adon and countless other ‘creative forms’). AOIFE Ciar?n Hinds Popular name dating back to a fierce woman warrior in early myth, it has been anglicised as Eva and Ava. BECKETT Malcolm McDowell, Melissa Etheridge An appealing last-name name rich in literary associations, both to the play and film based on the life of St Thomas ? B. and to the Irish playwright-novelist Samuel B., it’s red hot in Hollywood. BRIANNancy Kerrigan The skating champ went with this perennial, tried-and-true favourite, the namesake of Brian Boru, legendary Irish warrior-king. CASHELDaniel Day-Lewis The Irish actor and his American wife chose an unusual Irish place name for their son; it’s also seen as Caisel. CIAR?NPadraig Harrington The internationally known champion golfer chose a name that’s growing in popularity, in both this and in the Kieran spelling that was used by actress Julianna Margulies. COLINPaul Stanley The member of iconic ghoul rock group Kiss picked this perennially popular offshoot of Nicholas. CONNORNicole Kidman and Tom Cruise Spelled with one n or two, this anglicised version of Conchobhar, renowned in Irish myth, has long been popular in Eire and is climbing the popularity lists of other countries as well. DARBYPatrick Dempsey Disney’s Darby O’Gill and the Little People made this spirited, light-hearted name seem more Irish than it actually is. DONOVANCharisma Carpenter (of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer fame), Noel Gallagher Another appealing last-name name, this one has long outgrown its ‘Mellow Yellow’ associations. EVERMilla Jovovich and Paul Anderson In addition to being an evocative word name, this is an Anglicisation of the Irish ?ibhear, originating with one of the mythic leaders of the first Gaelic settlers in Ireland. FINLEYChris O’Donnell One of the newly popular Fin-family of names, also spelled Finlay (as used by Sadie Frost). FINNChristy Turlington and Ed Burns, Jane Leeves, Andrea Catherwood This is a name with enormous energy and charm, that of the greatest hero of Irish myth, Finn MacCool. Other related cool starbaby names: FLYNN (Elle Macpherson), and FINNIGAN (Eric McCormack of Will & Grace fame), not to mention Julia Roberts’ phabulous Phinnaeus. FIONAJenny Garth Although this name is a Scottish invention, it has an Irish feel and is commonly found among the Finolas and Fionnualas. GULLIVERGary Oldman, Damian Lewis This relatively rare Gaelic surname was known primarily through his literary Travels until actor Oldman transformed it into a lively baby-name option. HONORTilda Swinton Though not Celtic in origin, this upstanding virtue name has long been used in Ireland, along with others like Grace and Faith. IRELANDKim Basinger and Alec Baldwin If Ireland isn’t Irish, what is? JAMES PADRAIGColin Farrell Cool combination of classic New Testament name with one of the many versions of the name of Ireland’s patron saint. KIAN Geena Davis This spelling variation of Cian was chosen by the actress for one of her twin boys. The other twin’s name is Kaiis. LENNONPatsy Kensit and Liam Gallagher Naming a child after your cultural or other hero gives him two cool advantages: a name with real meaning and a positive image to reach towards. Another rocker, Zakk Wylde, chose Hendrix as his son’s musical hero name. LIAMCalista Flockhart, Tori Spelling Sprightly and richly textured classic that started as a short form of William. MAEVEChris O’Donnell An early Irish goddess and queen name, short but strong, now catching on across the pond. The O’Donnells named another of their five children Finley. MALACHYCillian Murphy An Irish version of a biblical name, with an expansive, almost boisterous image. MICHEALLiam Neeson and Natasha Richardson The Northern Irish star stuck to the Gaelic spelling of the enduring Michael for his first son. MILORicki Lake, Liz Tyler, Sherry Springfield (of ER fame) Jaunty Irish spin on Miles. OSCARGillian Anderson, Hugh Jackman This amiable Victorian favourite is having a definite revival among stylish parents on both sides of the Atlantic. PADDYMare Winningham One of the most enduring nickname names. QUINLINBen Stiller A strong surname name usually spelled Quinlan that could make a child feel distinctive while still having the easy-to-handle nickname of Quinn. QUINNSharon Stone ‘The mighty Quinn’ is a unisex name that’s strong for both genders. RAFFERTYSadie Frost and Jude Law One of the coolest of the Irish surnames, with a raffish quality all its own. REILLYRoma Downey There are Reillys and Rileys galore crossing both continental and gender lines. RHIANNON Robert Rodriguez The combination makes for an appealing cross-cultural mix. Some might consider it an improvement over the names of the ‘Spy Kids’ director’s four sons: Rebel, Rocket, Racer and Rogue. RILEYDavid Lynch See Reilly. ROANSharon Stone A strong, red-haired choice. R?IS?NSin?ad O’Connor An authentic selection for a little Irish rose. RONANRebecca Miller and Daniel Day-Lewis Compelling, legendary name of ten Celtic saints. ROWANBrooke Shields This friendly Irish last name was almost unheard of as a girl’s name before Brooke Shields made the gender switch; now it shows lots of potential as a likeable, unisex choice. RYANPete Sampras Classic. SULLIVANPatrick Dempsey A jaunty Irish surname name with a real twinkle in its eye, used for the twin of Darby. TALLULAHPatrick Dempsey, Simon LeBon, Demi Moore and Bruce Willis The then Willises almost single-handedly launched the cool starbaby name concept when they chose Scout and Rumer as well as the more user-friendly Tallulah for their girls. This anglicisation of Tuilelaith is now being picked up on by other celeb parents. …And some other names chosen by Irish and Irish-American notables: BONOJordan, Memphis Eve, John Abraham, Elijah Bob Patricus, Guggi Q PIERCE BROSNANSe?n, Dylan Thomas, Paris Beckett ED BURNSGrace (and Finn) GABRIEL BYRNEJack Daniel, Romy Marion DAVE (THE EDGE) EVANSHollie, Arun, Blue Angel, Sian LIAM GALLAGHERGene, Molly (and Lennon) NOEL GALLAGHERRory, Anais (and Donovan) DENIS LEARYJack, Devin DAMIEN LEITHJagger Ramone EDELE LYNCHCeol Sheila ORLAITH MCALLISTEREva JOEY MCINTYREGriffin Thomas LIAM NEESONDaniel Jack (and Micheal) SIN?AD O’CONNORJake, Shane, Yeshua (and R?is?n) DOLORES O’RIORDANTaylor Baxter, Molly, Dakota Rain PETER O’TOOLEKate, Patricia, Lorcan AIDAN QUINNAva Eileen STEPHEN READanny, Oscar Artemis (#ulink_2aba4e9f-e7b5-5a4f-a69e-254ef0887abb) Characters from Irish Literature Here, some literary inspiration suggestions coming from characters found in the pages of books spanning various periods of literary history. But in this category, as always, feel free to think about your own personal favourites. Female CHARACTER — AUTHOR — BOOK ADA — Anne Enright — The Gathering AISLING — Maeve Binchy — Light a Penny Candle Конец ознакомительного фрагмента. Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес». Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию (https://www.litres.ru/linda-rosenkrantz/cool-irish-names-for-babies/?lfrom=688855901) на ЛитРес. Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.