Friday, April 29, 2011

Celtic Names for Children (and characters!)

Celtic Names for Children
Author: Loreto Todd
Publisher: O’Brien Books
Pages: 191
Read Time: I spread it out between a few weeks
Rating (1-5): 5
Tag Words: Celtic Names, baby names, character names
My Summary:
Want to honor your Celtic heritage? Wish to name your characters using a Celt moniker? This book is a fabulous resource with over 2,000 first names from Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Cornwall, Wales and the Isle of Man. 
My Review:
Whether you are a name-nerd, Celt-Crazy, or an expectant Mommy, this is a wonderful guide for you!
This may surprise some of you, but some baby name books do not know what they are talking about. I’ve read a couple where the author has used the wrong origin, uses a Kre8tive spelling as the primary, or has listed an incorrect name meaning. You can only catch these things if you study *cough*obsess over*cough, cough* names the way I do and have a file in your brain for who, where, when and how when it comes to names. 
Todd knows of what she speaks and has assembled a perfect combination of accessible, exotic, traditional and ancient Celtic names in her database book. 
I read this book for help on naming my own characters, but may have named some future children inadvertendly. Although, Gwendolyn, a welsh name meaning Gwen+ (blessed, white, pure) dolyn (ring, circle), or The blessed ring, the white ring, the pure circle, was already my very, very, very favorite and has been for years and years. I love it!
Notes on the Names: 
I think I shall just list names I think are cool from the text:
Blodwen, Liadin, Mabh, Radha (prn row-a), Kerenza, Nonie, Saoirse (prn. Sheer-shah) Althea and Aela for girls.
Alastair, Austell, Cahir, Cian, Egan, Madoc, Milo, Riordan (prn. Ror-din) Torin, Owen and Nessan for boys.
Thoughts on the Cover: I wish baby books had awesome covers. 

Think this is cool? Check out Name Nerds! 

1 comment:

Amy (ArtsyBookishGal) said...

I've always liked the name Alastair. My mom told me that I am never to name my child "Alastair." Whatever, Mom.