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Help[Opinions] Irish girl's name that would work in Wales?
Hello everyone,
I am writing a story about an Irish princess that is partially set in Wales. I want her name to work both in Ireland as well as in Wales. Initially I named her 'Niamh', with 'Nia' as the Welsh equivalent. However, as the character developed this name no longer seems to suit her. I tried 'Branwen' as there is a historical connection between that name and Wales and Ireland, but again it's just not right.
Would you have suggestions for an Irish name that would work in Wales, too? (Or alternatively, a Welsh name that would work in Ireland?)
Thanks in advance!
I am writing a story about an Irish princess that is partially set in Wales. I want her name to work both in Ireland as well as in Wales. Initially I named her 'Niamh', with 'Nia' as the Welsh equivalent. However, as the character developed this name no longer seems to suit her. I tried 'Branwen' as there is a historical connection between that name and Wales and Ireland, but again it's just not right.
Would you have suggestions for an Irish name that would work in Wales, too? (Or alternatively, a Welsh name that would work in Ireland?)
Thanks in advance!
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Replies
If pseudo-translations count and she can be called a different thing in each country:
Ffion & Fiona (not really a translation though)
Elin / Elen & Léan
Elain & Léan (also not a real translation)
Bethan & Isibéal
Aran & Aeron (not a real translation)
Sioned & Sinéad
Mair & Máire
Eirian & Eireann (not a real translation)
Catrin & Caitríona
Ffion & Fiona (not really a translation though)
Elin / Elen & Léan
Elain & Léan (also not a real translation)
Bethan & Isibéal
Aran & Aeron (not a real translation)
Sioned & Sinéad
Mair & Máire
Eirian & Eireann (not a real translation)
Catrin & Caitríona
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Some great suggestions, thank you! This is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for.
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Names from different countries can still be spoken by people who aren't from that country of origin, a Chinese person named Yanmei could move to England and still be called Yanmei, I would pick an Irish name seeing as she's an Irish princess.
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Within Europe (I'm assuming the story is set in somewhat distant past) names would generally be translated, especially if a member of royalty assumed a new position in a new country. Even now prince Charles is Tywysog Siarl in Welsh. So it stands to reason that the hypothetical Irish princess's name would also have been translated by speakers of Welsh. Or at the very least "welshified" - made to be possible/easier to pronounce in Welsh (the same way Yanmei is already kind of translated because first it's not the original spelling and second it doesn't account for tones).
I can't help with the actual problem though. The first thing that comes to my mind is finding an incredibly widespread name that exists in both Irish and Welsh (like Jane: Síne and Siân) but it's kind of cheating.
I can't help with the actual problem though. The first thing that comes to my mind is finding an incredibly widespread name that exists in both Irish and Welsh (like Jane: Síne and Siân) but it's kind of cheating.
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Those are some good suggestions, thank you! The issue I have is that I'm not really finding Welsh 'translations' of typically Irish names, or vice versa. I can only really find names with a Germanic, Latin or Greek/Hebrew origin that have since been translated in both Welsh and Irish.
An Irish name that could be "welshified" without too many modifications would be perfect, unfortunately I don't know enough about the Welsh language to know what would happen to the name in question. How would one, for example, welshify a lovely Irish name as Saoirse? The Welsh word for 'freedom' is "rhyddid" according to my dictionary, but that doesn't have a similar sound so would work less well as a name... (at least Charles and Siarl have a similar proununciaton).
An Irish name that could be "welshified" without too many modifications would be perfect, unfortunately I don't know enough about the Welsh language to know what would happen to the name in question. How would one, for example, welshify a lovely Irish name as Saoirse? The Welsh word for 'freedom' is "rhyddid" according to my dictionary, but that doesn't have a similar sound so would work less well as a name... (at least Charles and Siarl have a similar proununciaton).
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I wish I could help more. Another idea I had was to look at Irish saints because their names are commonly translated but the only one I could find was Bridget (Bríd) who apparently in Wales has two names and "Brîd is more common in the south and Ffraid in the north" but it's a very common name and strongly associated with the saint. I'm afraid that's as far as my research will get me without speaking Welsh. I hope you find the right name soon.
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Two questions:
First, what exactly do you mean by "work"? Do you mean pronounced the same, or a name that was used by both cultures/languages?
Secondly, what time period are you looking at?
First, what exactly do you mean by "work"? Do you mean pronounced the same, or a name that was used by both cultures/languages?
Secondly, what time period are you looking at?
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The Middle Ages is the setting for most of the story, so namewise I'm looking at names that at least existed at that time. So either names that were in use, or more ancient, more obscure names that would have existed in manuscripts or myth and legend.
With names that "work", I mean names that exist in both languages and are therefore similar, such as Niamh/Nia, or a name that has an equivalent in both Welsh and Irish (another poster suggested Síne and Siân, as they are Welsh and Irish translations of Jane). Or at least a name that wouldn't 'feel' out of place to the characters of the story and as such could be "welshified/gaelified",
With names that "work", I mean names that exist in both languages and are therefore similar, such as Niamh/Nia, or a name that has an equivalent in both Welsh and Irish (another poster suggested Síne and Siân, as they are Welsh and Irish translations of Jane). Or at least a name that wouldn't 'feel' out of place to the characters of the story and as such could be "welshified/gaelified",
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The Middle Ages is a broad period! But I would suggest these links for accurate starting points:
https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/irish.shtml
https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/pceltic.shtml
https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/irish.shtml
https://www.s-gabriel.org/names/pceltic.shtml
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What a great website! Thank you!
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No worries! It’s where I found my username hehe.
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