Читать книгу Cool Irish Names for Babies - Linda Rosenkrantz - Страница 15

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:

AIDAN Scott 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 Aédán, Aodhán, Aiden, Eadan and Edan (not to mention Aidyn, Ayden, Adon and countless other ‘creative forms’).

AOIFE Ciarán 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 à B. and to the Irish playwright-novelist Samuel B., it’s red hot in Hollywood.

BRIAN Nancy Kerrigan

The skating champ went with this perennial, tried-and-true favourite, the namesake of Brian Boru, legendary Irish warrior-king.

CASHEL Daniel Day-Lewis

The Irish actor and his American wife chose an unusual Irish place name for their son; it’s also seen as Caisel.

CIARÁN Padraig 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.

COLIN Paul Stanley

The member of iconic ghoul rock group Kiss picked this perennially popular offshoot of Nicholas.

CONNOR Nicole 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.

DARBY Patrick Dempsey

Disney’s Darby O’Gill and the Little People made this spirited, light-hearted name seem more Irish than it actually is.

DONOVAN Charisma Carpenter (of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer fame), Noel Gallagher

Another appealing last-name name, this one has long outgrown its ‘Mellow Yellow’ associations.

EVER Milla Jovovich and Paul Anderson

In addition to being an evocative word name, this is an Anglicisation of the Irish Éibhear, originating with one of the mythic leaders of the first Gaelic settlers in Ireland.

FINLEY Chris O’Donnell

One of the newly popular Fin-family of names, also spelled Finlay (as used by Sadie Frost).

FINN Christy 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.

FIONA Jenny Garth

Although this name is a Scottish invention, it has an Irish feel and is commonly found among the Finolas and Fionnualas.

GULLIVER Gary 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.

HONOR Tilda Swinton

Though not Celtic in origin, this upstanding virtue name has long been used in Ireland, along with others like Grace and Faith.

IRELAND Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin

If Ireland isn’t Irish, what is?

JAMES PADRAIG Colin 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.

LENNON Patsy 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.

LIAM Calista Flockhart, Tori Spelling

Sprightly and richly textured classic that started as a short form of William.

MAEVE Chris 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.

MALACHY Cillian Murphy

An Irish version of a biblical name, with an expansive, almost boisterous image.

MICHEAL Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson

The Northern Irish star stuck to the Gaelic spelling of the enduring Michael for his first son.

MILO Ricki Lake, Liz Tyler, Sherry Springfield (of ER fame)

Jaunty Irish spin on Miles.

OSCAR Gillian Anderson, Hugh Jackman

This amiable Victorian favourite is having a definite revival among stylish parents on both sides of the Atlantic.

PADDY Mare Winningham

One of the most enduring nickname names.

QUINLIN Ben 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.

QUINN Sharon Stone

‘The mighty Quinn’ is a unisex name that’s strong for both genders.

RAFFERTY Sadie Frost and Jude Law

One of the coolest of the Irish surnames, with a raffish quality all its own.

REILLY Roma 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.

RILEY David Lynch

See Reilly.

ROAN Sharon Stone

A strong, red-haired choice.

RÓISÍN Sinéad O’Connor

An authentic selection for a little Irish rose.

RONAN Rebecca Miller and Daniel Day-Lewis

Compelling, legendary name of ten Celtic saints.

ROWAN Brooke 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.

RYAN Pete Sampras

Classic.

SULLIVAN Patrick Dempsey

A jaunty Irish surname name with a real twinkle in its eye, used for the twin of Darby.

TALLULAH Patrick 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:

BONO Jordan, Memphis Eve, John Abraham, Elijah Bob Patricus, Guggi Q

PIERCE BROSNAN Seán, Dylan Thomas, Paris Beckett

ED BURNS Grace (and Finn)

GABRIEL BYRNE Jack Daniel, Romy Marion

DAVE (THE EDGE) EVANS Hollie, Arun, Blue Angel, Sian

LIAM GALLAGHER Gene, Molly (and Lennon)

NOEL GALLAGHER Rory, Anais (and Donovan)

DENIS LEARY Jack, Devin

DAMIEN LEITH Jagger Ramone

EDELE LYNCH Ceol Sheila

ORLAITH MCALLISTER Eva

JOEY MCINTYRE Griffin Thomas

LIAM NEESON Daniel Jack (and Micheal)

SINÉAD O’CONNOR Jake, Shane, Yeshua (and Róisín)

DOLORES O’RIORDAN Taylor Baxter, Molly, Dakota Rain

PETER O’TOOLE Kate, Patricia, Lorcan

AIDAN QUINN Ava Eileen

STEPHEN REA Danny, Oscar