Irish Baby Names - Surviving A Turbulent History

By:Michael Barrows

The Irish are traditionally seen as a romantic people, full of fun,life and a love of the spoken word. Nowhere is this reflected more than in Irish baby names which are undergoing a major revival after many years of disuse.

As any Irish-American will tell you – often at great length(!) – the Irish have a troubled and turbulent history and their use of names for their children has always reflected this. Irish names have several different origins, all significantly influenced by the historical events that have taken place.

Ireland was converted to Christianity by Saint Patrick and this explains why “Patrick (actually a Latin name, meaning “Nobleman”) is the archetypal Irish name and also why there has always been an ongoing preference for Christian, Hebrew and Aramaic names. The names of the 12 Apostles of Christ have always been extremely very popular.

The Norse invasion and further Cromwellian colonisation in the Twelfth century and seventeenth centuries generated even further variety in baby names, introducing many new names including lots of Anglo names such as Robert (meaning “Famous”) and Richard (“Brave and strong”) which were originally of Germanic Saxon origin.

The late 1800 to early 1900 period saw a Gaelic revival, which resulted in a return to fashion of many of the names such as Shane (Irish Gaelic form of James. “The supplanter”) which were Gaelic versions of other – often biblical - names and names such as Niall (“The Champion”), which were drawn from the rich history of myths, legends and folklore of the Gaelic culture.

In modern times, the influence of media influences, such as television and the Internet and the modern drive to look for more unique, unusual names has meant that previously unused names such as Kyle (“From the narrow strait”) and Ethan (“Firm, strong”) are becoming very popular in Ireland.

Traditional Gaelic names such as Niamh (“Beautiful, bright”) and Cian (“Ancient”) are also becoming very popular again, not just in Ireland but also among the vast Irish-American population and also in other areas of the world. But how did these names fall from grace in the first place? Essentially they were legislated away. Ironically, given the long history of violent struggle between the English Protestant and the Catholic churches, it was a combination of these two that resulted in the disappearance of Gaelic names.

The Penal Laws passed by the Protestant Parliament of Ireland, regulated the status of Roman Catholics through most of the eighteenth century. These punitive laws, as well as forbidding use of the Irish language, also forbade the use of Irish names. But Canon Law also played a major part - for very many years the Catholic Church in Ireland would not perform a baptism unless the name chosen was that of a saint or, in the case of a girl, was a version of Mary. These constraints led to a very narrow range of names being used. As a result, every Irish family has a long history of Mary’s (Hebrew meaning “Bitter, as in a bitterly wanted child”. Latin meaning “The star of the sea”) and John (God is gracious), Michael (”Who is like God”) and Patrick.

During those times, the Irish engaged in small, subtle rebellions, by naming their children as decreed, but in day to day life using Irish versions of the names, versions which suited Irish pronunciation. This was sometimes a translation, but more often a form of the name more comfortable for a native Irish speaker. Thus Thomas (“A twin”) became Tomás. With the girls, Mary was extended by having lots of different forms such as Maire, Maureen, Maura, Molly. It also became popular to turn Mary into a double name, meaning that a single family might include Mary-Kate, Mary-Pat and Mary-Jo. Strangely, even boys were often given Mary as a second or third name!!

In these unregulated, individualistic times, the vogue for the traditional and often very beautiful Gaelic based Irish baby names is stronger than ever and is catered for by the wealth of Internet sites containing lists of Irish names.

You don’t have to be Irish to give your baby an Irish name. Many of these beautiful-sounding names, with strong, spiritual meanings, are applicable to peoples of all races. So if you are looking for a name for a new baby, it may be worth delving into the world of Irish baby names.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: Irish baby names, gaelic baby names, baby names

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Michael Barrows' website has great info on baby names, baby name lists and lots of baby resources. Get your free ebook packed with baby tips for new parents, visit the baby name meanings website.

Top History Articles
1). Chavez's Inspiration - Simon Bolivar By : Sam Vaknin Simon Bolivar (1783-1830) is a Latin American folk hero, revered for having been a revolutionary freedom fighter, a compassionate egalitarian and a successful politician. He is credited with the liberation from Spanish colonial yoke of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, a country named after him. Venezuela's new strongman, Hugo Chavez, renamed his country The Bolivarian republic of Venezuela to reflect the role of his "Bolivarian revolution".
2). The Story of the Guillotine By : Sam Vaknin The guillotine was first put to lethal use on April 25, 1792, at 3:30 PM, in Paris at the Place de Greve on the Right Bank of the Seine. It separated highwayman Nicolas Jacques Pelletier's head from the rest of his body. The device was perfected - though not invented- by Doctor Joseph Ignace Guillotin (1738 - 1814). The 'e' at the end of the noun is a later, British, addition.
3). The Building of the Pentagon By : Sam Vaknin The Pentagon was completed in 16 months. It was built on a swamp and on the area of the old Washington airport. Trucks hauled some 5.5 million cubic yards (4.2 million cubic meters) of junk and soil and dumped it in the marshes. The building's foundation rests on 41,492 concrete piles. The purchase of land cost $2.25 million (in 1943 dollars). The building itself cost c.
4). Another Look at Mahatma Gandhi By : Sam Vaknin Many myths abound about Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand known as Mahatma "Great Souled") Gandhi (1869-1948). He was not born to a poor Indian family. His father was dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar, the capital of a small principality in Gujarat in western India under British suzerainty. He later became dewan of Rajkot. He married at the age of 13 and was a mediocre student.
5). New-Gate in New England: Hard Time Connecticut Style By : dave4 The very 1st state prison in the United States was founded before there were states at all, let alone united ones. Connecticut’s New-Gate Prison, originally a copper mine, was began it’s role as a detention center in the fall of 1773 as the colony’s public “gaol” and workhouse. It was called New-Gate after the fearsome prison of the same name in England.
6). The History of Hoodia By : Patricia Zelkovsky Its main function was to quell the thirst and hunger that would affect warriors during long hunting trips. These warriors even fed their dogs slices of the plant to keep them from having interest in their food supplies.
7). Conflict in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) PART I By : kumar India and Pakistan have in the past fought four wars over J&K and held several talks to resolve the 56 year old problem, but till now no tangible results have emerged, except for a composite dialogue. Although, both India and Pakistan are trying to move the peace process ahead, yet there are very few indications in a policy shift. Pakistan continues.
8). Argentina's Economy in a Nutshell By : Dave Brown Argentina's Economy Contrary to conventional economic wisdom, rich countries tend to stay rich and poor countries tend to stay poor. The exceptions tend to be those "economic miracles", like Japan, that have lifted themselves from the ranks of the poor into the ranks of the economic elite. Argentine economic history stands in stark contrast to that pattern.
9). Another Look at Indians (Native Americans, Amerindians) By : Sam Vaknin Native Americans are often cast in the role of victims of White aggression and unbridled avarice-driven or gratuitous violence, especially in the territories known collectively today as the United States. But the first massacre was perpetrated by Indians in the British colony Jamestown, in Virginia in 1622. They slaughtered 347 white men, women and children on that occasion.
10). Secondary 800-Year Age of Adam By : timeemits Secondary 800-Year Age of Adam

New History Articles
1). Hooray for Flag Day – why do we celebrate it on June 14? By : nan What are the important dates in American Flag history? • January 1, 1776, George Washington ordered the Grand Union flag hoisted above his base at Prospect Hill. It had 13 alternating red and white stripes and the British Union Jack (no stars) in the upper left-hand corner. • May of 1776, Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag. • June 14, 1777,.
2). Bizarre Flag Facts – Q & As By : nan Test your Patriotic Knowlege of the American Flag: Question: Is it ok to fly the American Flag upside down? Answer: The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property. Question: My flag was accidentally dropped and got dirty. Does it have to be destroyed? Answer: The flag should never be allowed touch the ground, the floor or water.
3). Dauphin Island and the History of North America’s Colonization in Miniature By : dave4 Dauphin Island, Alabama is a barrier island at the Mouth of Mobile Bay. It is a tourist attraction, the home of around 1,200 people, the site of the Estuarium marine sciences laboratory and a164-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary. It’s a pleasant, pretty and useful place that receives most of its income from tourism. On the face of it one could hardly guess that Dauphin Island bore the name “Massacre Island” for 8 years, or that it was occupied by every major European power in American history at one time or another.
4). Indian Legends and Victorian Bath Houses: The History of Eureka Springs By : dave4 Today the Arkansas resort town of Eureka Springs is a quaint, faux-Victorian tourist trap with an abundance of Bible-themed attractions. But the knickknack shops and family-friendly dinner theaters are really a natural outgrowth of a long history as a “vacation” destination reaching back to the Native Americans. Eureka Springs has, unsurprisingly, several naturally occurring, mineral-rich springs, which have long been thought to be possessed of healing powers.
5). Kiwi Invader New Zealand Mud Snails Endanger Yellowstone National Park By : dave4 What, you may well ask, do 13 foot-tall New Zealand birds that have been extinct for 500 years and modern Wyoming trout species have in common? And what, you may also ask, since you’re in the asking mood, do snails have to do with any of it? Well, the answer is “quite a lot, really”. It’s a bit complicated, but bear with me. In something like the year 1500 C.
6). In the footsteps of D Company 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry D-Day, 6 June 1944 By : Ian R Gumm On the 6 June 1944 the greatest seaborne invasion the world has ever known took place on the Calvados Coast of Normandy, France. This invasion was the beginning of the end of the Second World War and the 6 June 1944 will be forever known as D-Day. This article is an account of the first action that took place on D-Day at the Caen Canal and River Orne Bridges near Bénouville, France.
7). ERP Products Overview By : Exforsys This article is intended for beginners to give basic idea about ERP Products and how it’s being used in industry applications. Please visit Product home page for updated information and any changes to the features. Oracle E- Business Suite Oracle E-Business Suite is the industry's only complete and integrated set of enterprise applications, working together seamlessly to streamline every area of your business—from sales, service, and marketing, through financials and human resources, to supply chain and manufacturing.
8). Why Do We Celebrate The 4th Of July? By : Nicola Kennedy The 4th of July has been an important holiday but today, more and more people do not know why we actually celebrate this day. If you are not up to date on your history of the United States, July 4th, 1776 is the day that the colonies decided to declare themselves independent of Britain. By writing a very detailed decree, they decided that they no longer would need to be governed by the Kings of England that had been so very unjust to the colonists in the years before.
9). Did Colorado Kill Doc Holliday By : dave4 John Henry “Doc” Holliday’s final words, spoken as he lay dying in the Hotel Glenwood in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, were “this is funny”. We’ll never know, of course, exactly what the Wild West legend meant by this. Perhaps he found it ironic that after a life spent tempting death in the gambling dens of the American frontier, it was at last his 15-year long battle with tuberculosis that had killed him.
10). The North Cyprus Palace at Vouni By : Jan Korfanty On this mountain in North Cyprus, overlooking the village of Vouni below, stands a palace. As you look at the fragmentary walls, let your guide be a figure from 483 B.C., when Persia and Greece fought to dominate the island. Cyprus is divided into several small kingdoms. Your guide is Himilcar, elder statesman and advisor to Doxandros, King of Marion.