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#1 KatKray

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Posted 26 July 2014 - 10:51 AM

Can anyone tell me what these names mean? my best friend is pregnant and I told her I would help decipher her faves, but I can't seem to find anything solid. Also, any suggestions of names similar in origin and style would be welcome. thanks so much!

Ophelia
Niamh
Sinead
Caoimhe
Margaux
Collette
Catherine
Aoife

Brennan
Olsen
Henrí
Aodhan
Ciaran

#2 Meghan<3

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Posted 27 July 2014 - 03:05 PM

According to several websites I looked at, Ophelia is derived from the Greek word "ophelos," meaning "help." Ophelia is probably most familiar as the Shakespearean character in Hamlet.  She is a tragic heroine who eventually dies by drowning, leading the reader to question whether she committed suicide.  So while this association may not seem very positive, I think most people think of the literary character, making her name seem both cultural and intellectual.  

 

Niamh is an Irish-Gaelic name pronounced "neev" that means "bright."  Apparently, according to Irish myth, Niamh was a goddess, the daughter of the sea god, known for her golden hair.

 

Sinead is another Irish name pronounced "shin-aid."  It is derived from the English name Janet and the French Janette.  Because of its unclear history, it is hard to determine a single meaning for Sinead.  However, some sources indicate that it means "God's gracious gift," "God forgave," and/or "God gratified."

 

Caoimhe, pronounced "kwee-vah" or "keev-uh," has Irish-Scottish origins.  It is derived from the Gaelic word "caomh", meaning "beautiful," "gentle," or "precious." 

 

Margaux is the French version of the name Margo / Margot.  Margaux is known as a type of wine made in France, and both Margo and Margot stem from the names Margaret (Greek) and Marguerite (French variation of Margaret), which mean "pearl" and "daisy," respectively. 

 

Collette, more commonly spelled Colette, is a French diminuative of Nicole meaning "victory of the people."

 

Catherine, which boasts a variety of spellings, Katherine being the most popular in the States, has Greek origins and means "pure."  The name has been given to a plethora of saints, including St. Catherine of Siena, St. Catherine Laboure, and St. Catherine of Alexandria.

 

Aoife, an Irish Gaelic name pronounced "ee-fuh," obtains its origins from several heroines in Irish legend and folklore, the most familiar being known as a fierce warrior.  Like Niamh, Aoife means "bright" or "radiant," based on the Gaelic word aoibh.  Aoife has been Anglicized as "Eve" or "Eva."

 

Brennan is an Irish name that originated from the phrase "Ó Braonáin," meaning "descendant of Braonáin."  Braonáin comes from the word "braon," meaning "moisture" or "drop."  Over time, Brennan acquired the meaning "descendant of a sad man," either through legend or connotation, since "moisture" or "drop" may connote crying and therefore sadness.

 

Olsen is a Scandinavian name meaning "Olaf's son."  It is most often identified as a surname.  The Swedish version Olsson has similar origins and stems from "son of Ola."

 

Henrí is most commonly seen without its accent and is a French form of Henry, a German name meaning "estate ruler" or "powerful leader."

 

Aodhan, anglicized as "Aiden" and "Aidan," is derived from Irish mythology; several Irish saints bear the name Aodhan.  It comes from the old Irish names "Aodh" and "Áed," which mean fire.

 

Ciaran, anglicized as "Kieran," is an Irish name that stems from the word "ciar," meaning black.  Traditionally, it was often given to baby boys with dark skin, features, or hair, earning it the meaning, "little dark one" or "little dark-haired one."






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