With its magical legends and musical language, Ireland has captured the hearts and imaginations of the entire world. Whether you can claim the Emerald Isle as your ancestral home, or are simply drawn to the lilt of the language, this one-of-a-kind baby name book will help you select from a unique and comprehensive list of rich and beautiful Irish names. With hundreds of choices—from the ancient to the modern, from the most popular to the most rare—you can find the perfect name for your baby, one that will have lasting meaning for your child’s lifetime.
Listing almost a thousand names selected from the enormous wealth of historical sources - annals, genealogies, myth, legend and epic poetry - that make up the literature of early medieval Ireland, this is not only a book for parents-to-be, but also an important record of Irish history and culture.
Contains the current most popular names for babies, their meanings and use, in history, literature and legend. Also includes the traditional 'old favourites' and some more unusual and foreign names
Including over four hundred beautiful, original and unusual Irish names, Diarmaid Ó Muirithe's brilliant reference book provides the origin, historical and cultural background of practically every Irish name you have ever come across and many you have not! Peppered with witty snippets of information in Diarmaid Ó Muirithe's unique style, The A–Z of Irish Names for Children is the perfect guide to naming your child. In Ireland we have a wonderful selection of names to choose from. We have our own Irish versions of biblical names, the names of the Evangelists and of continental saints who have taken our fancy at various stages in our history. The Vikings left us some of their personal names, which either in their Irish or their Anglicised forms have proved to be as hardy a growth as those names given to us by the Anglo-Normans. Lots of them are included in this charming and informative book. And, of course, we have the great repository of the old Irish tradition from which to choose our children's names. From Aaron to Úna, Diarmaid Ó Muirithe provides a gloss on more than four hundred Irish forenames in his inimitable style that mixes scholarship and wit with quirky and entertaining facts and stories. Thus, we learn that the name Art has nothing to do with Arthur; that Brendan is originally of Welsh origin and came to Ireland in a Latinised form; that Cathal is usually translated as Charles, although there is no historical connection between the two; and much more. As with all Diarmaid Ó Muirithe's work, The A–Z of Irish Names for Children is a model of scholarship lightly worn, informed by a sense of curiosity and fun. It's the perfect book from which to choose your child's name or find out more about your own Irish name and roots.
Of all the decisions a new parent makes, choosing that special name is the most significant and the most rewarding. A new reference book for prospective parents, this clear, helpful and easy-to-use A-Z guide gives you thousands of brilliant suggestions for picking the perfect name for your new arrival. It also includes appendices of the top ten names through the centuries and the most popular celebrity names.
There is currently a huge resurgence of interest in genealogy and in searching out one's roots. People are keen to delve back to early civilisations from which family ancestors came, hence the fascination with all things Celtic. Drawn from legend, place names, mythology and history, Celtic names reflect the magic and charm of the isles they come from: Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and even Spain and Italy. This unique, enchanting guide draws on Celtic history and culture to provide expectant parents with over 2,500 beautiful, one-of-a-kind Celtic names. Divided by sex with Gaelic spellings and name variations, as well as the origins and meanings of names, The Celtic Baby Names Book is a fun, comprehensive guide to Celtic names.
