BABY NAMES

[suey71]

Hi all.

I'm gonna be a Daddy for the 4th time in early Feb. and as we've called our daughter Freya after the Norse goddess, I was wondering if any of you myth guys/gals had any other good long forgotten names?

The name has to have a story to it. And please no makey uppey
names.

Oh and no evil names.

Thanks.

[Crosáidí]

I've always liked Irish names and I like Naoise (Nee-sha) lately
Its for a boy but some have used it as a girls but i'd prefer it for a boy

Anyway here's the Myth linked to the name

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naoise

[suey71]

Hi Crosaidi, nice name but sounds a bit like that German philosopher Nietzsche. I want something that I've never heard before.
My wife is partial to Norse names, but if it was up to me I'd call the kid after Martial Arts stars or action stars. My two sons aged 7 and 2 are called Brandon Bruce and Ethan Logan.
I always hated the name suey71 and I've often wanted to change it to Dolph71 or Arnold71.

The wife picks the girls names for obvious reasons.

[Darlughda]

Hi OP, you are interested in male names, and are keen on warrior figures?

Setanta was Cúchulainn's original name. Conlaí was his son who he murdered in single combat, so maybe avoid that one.

Conn is a popular warrior name as is Cormac.

One of my favourites is Caoilte. Caoilte Mac Ronán was as fast as a greyhound and was one of the Fianna in the glory days before Finn Mac Cumhaill started a war with his old mate, Diarmuid Ua Duibhne, over Cormac Mac Art's daughter, Gráinne.

Cathal is a name still associated with battles, and Naoise was one of the three sons of Uisliú had two brothers named Aindle and Ardán.

I'd recommend getting a decent book of Irish Mythology. Daithí O' hOgain has written some gems.

[suey71]

Thanks for that Darlughda.

but the wife likes Norse names.

Old Irish names are too popular, although I am fascinated by the stories.

Maybe if I came across an Irish name that was obscure and has been forgotten for the last 3000 or so years, Then I'd definately think about using the name.

Keep them coming.

[Darlughda]

Luckily, Ireland has a long and ancient history of colonisers/invaders/settlers, so we have an extensive range of pantheons and their heros to choose from.

I understand your Wife's liking for the Norse names. I have a bit of a weakness for Odin myself. Not just a thug/warlord type, but willing to hang himself upside down for nine days and nights on the tree of knowledge. Those runes are interesting.

However, if you already have a daughter named Freya, this could lead to major war at bedtime, scraps over ownership of toys etc. Think of Zeus and his furious first wife, and you get the idea.

Okay so lets go a bit further back in the mists of Irish Legends and Mythology, here's a fella I like - Dagda. Hangs out at the Boyne if you are into that sort of skirmish.

I should mention Manannan Mac Lír. Neptune of the Atlantic seas. I like the nordic variants on that name, Manus, Mannion. Something very manly sounding about contemporary versions of that name and the sea-faring/boat building history behind them all.

[suey71]

Great post.

I never really think of Norse people as colonisers/invaders/settlers.

I just think of them as mad gits who raped and plundered us and got pissed and had such a great time that they couldn't wait for IBM to get built so they could come back.

Isn't it amazing that we don't look upon the Vikings the same way we look at the English of old.

The English didn't seem to have as much fun when they were here as the Vikings did.

But that said, I could never see myself or my wife calling our child after an English mythological figure. If they even have any.

But I understand your point.

I like Tara for a girls name.
I go there a lot with the kids and really get a good feeling when I'm there.

Thanks Darlughda.

[Darlughda]

Oh, I can't just stop.

re: Tara, Teamhair, Temuir.

"...the Gaelic people adopted it to their own culture, and made it the centre of the cult of a sacred king".

Daithí o'hOgáin Myth, Legend and Romance. (Prentice Hall Press. NY 1991).


Okay, Tara is a princess name. I thought you were looking for boys names?
Don't get me started on female names.........

[suey71]

Nope...

Never said I was looking for boys names. Sure I'd call the boy Hercules or Zues or Ramases the Great or worse.

No. The wife likes the Norse names I like the action names. So lets pray its a girl..

But I do have a say, so keep firing.

[Darlughda]

Well I like you, for a boy named sue.

Anyway. You did say 'no evil names'. Evil is a very very very subjective term depending on what tradition/belief/proof you come from.

Until you have furnished me with your definition of an 'evil' name, I will continue with my suggestions, firing away on all cylinders as is my way.

Fuamnach

Nasty Character. Makes out she is the the mother protector of all, Listen to me I'll tell you how to solve your parenting problems, intoxication problems, come follow me, she says, and I'll lead you to Suicides Anonymous.

Evil bitch, in my opinion. But hey, one's evil bitch is another's goddess?

Fuamnach could not keep the love of Eochaidh Áireach. She tried all her tricks of manipulation and control. To no avail. Evenually, Eochaidh had to admit he was sick for the love of the beautiful Etain/Eithne. Midir from the Sídhe challenged him to a game of chess/fidchell cos he also had his philandering eye on the young beauty. Fuamnach's jealousy at the apparent threat to her control is legendary.......

[suey71]

OMG.

Fuamnach sounds like my Mother and all my sisters. SERIOUSLY.

By Evil names I meant anyone who committed attrocities or who was blacklisted by historians, for example Seth from ancient Egypt.
I couldn't call my son after a guy who murdered someone in that manner.

I'd like a heroic name, and not a villinous one.

But I have to admit your stories are great.
Could you recommend a good book on Irish mythology. Nothing too intellectual though.

Thanks again for your efforts.

[lloki]

congrats on the baby =P

i like norse names aswell emm some of the ones i would choose are, for boys are
- Loki , which u can see i like by my username, even tho its a male name and im a girl >.o... but u might want to read up on him to see if you concider the name evil ... god of mischief or destrustion i believe
- Odin
- Aaric

for girls i love freya good choice em some others are
-Eir/Eira
-Kari , i think this can be use as boy or girls name but i thinks its a nice girls name
-Elli/Elle
-Lifa

you might want to double check them but i hop it helps loki n kari are my personal favs

[Dyflin]

Fill your boots

And over indulge

[Urizen]

You'd want to be careful with some of these suggestions. Remember it's a person that's going to be called this. Last thing you want is for the child herself to be teased at school or hate her own name... Like I do. Also, you don't want to look like a complete prat when naming her, like some of these people do.

That said, you could hardly go wrong with something like Tyra or Lifa.

[suey71]

Thanks all for replying to my thread.

Thanks Dyflin for the links to the names.

Urizen, I totally understand. Looking at the names in Dyflin's links, I realize now that we totally looked out with the name Freya.

I might look up some old Irish names now.

Thanks again everyone for your help.