| Take a glance at a bookstore's baby names
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| | to us. Some names that are considered
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| shelf, and you'll see that Irish baby
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| | classic Irish names did not originate in
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| names are a very popular category. But
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| | Ireland, but are Irish versions of names
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| for many prospective parents, Irish names
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| | from other cultures. The name Sean, for
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| can be very confusing. Many different
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| | example, is the Irish version of the name
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| races have settled in Ireland over the
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| | John. Then there are Irish names that
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| centuries. Celts, Vikings, Normans, and
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| | have been given English 'translations,'
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| English have all gone into the melting
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| | which really have nothing to do with the
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| pot.
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| | original name. The name Aoife, for
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| It was once believed that the first wave
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| | example, means 'radiant,' yet it is often
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| of Celtic settlers were a fair-haired
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| | translated as 'Eve,' or 'Eva.'
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| race, while later settlers were of a
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| | Around 1923, a priest named Patrick
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| darker complexion. However, recent
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| | Woulfe wrote a book called 'Irish Names
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| evidence seems to contradict that idea.
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| | For Children', which gave parents the
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| It is now believed that very ancient
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| | resources to research and choose an Irish
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| settlers to Ireland came across the sea
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| | name. The book helped spark a renewal of
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| from Gaul (modern France) and Spain, and
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| | interest in names from Ireland, and that
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| were probably a dark-haired people.
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| | interest has expanded and continued to
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| The periodic arrival of newcomers to the
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| | the present day.
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| Emerald Isle, each with slightly
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| | Today, parents looking for an Irish name
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| different appearances, has led to a
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| | might start by thinking about whether
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| tradition where Irish names describe
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| | they want a Gaelic name or an Anglicized
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| physical characteristics. Whole groups of
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| | name. For example, Bairre is Gaelic,
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| names revolve around such personal
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| | while the English version is Barry. The
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| attributes. The name Ciara means 'black'
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| | famous Irish name Kevin comes from the
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| or 'dark,' while 'Finn' means 'fair.' The
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| | Gaelic Caoimhin.
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| name Breac means 'freckled.'
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| | Invariably, the English version will
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| The Irish people were very fond of
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| | sound less authentically 'Irish,' but it
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| creating names that reflected the world
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| | will be easier to pronounce and to spell.
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| around them, especially the natural
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| | That's an important consideration for a
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| world. Names such as Anbhile (pronounced
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| | child. Some Irish names, such as Siobhan,
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| an-vile), meaning 'great tree,' are
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| | (pronounced Shev-orn) work very well in
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| common. Celtic sun-worship gave rise to a
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| | the original Gaelic, and have become
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| whole set of names based on sunlight and
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| | popular in that form.
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| radiance. The girl's name Grian, for
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| | Next, prospective parents will want to
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| example, means 'sun' or 'sun goddess.'
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| | consult some name lists, and to learn
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| Other themes such as wildlife, warfare,
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| | about the origin and meanings of names
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| and of course, magic and fairies, gave
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| | they like. There are plenty of good
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| rise to beautiful and evocative names.
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| | resources available, especially websites
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| An unfortunate consequence of the
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| | and books. In the end, parents' personal
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| periodic invasions of Ireland is that
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| | choice is the best guide. For those who
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| many Irish and Gaelic names have been
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| | are looking for a name that evokes the
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| transformed over the centuries, and, in
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| | charm and mystery of the Emerald Isle,
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| some cases, the original meaning is lost
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| | the possibilities are almost endless.
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