Woo-hoo!!!

[likethebeer]

This, from MSN:

Is it just pure luck that Irish baby names are a smash hit right now? Whether or not they can trace their heritage back to the Emerald Isle, thousands of American parents are giving their children Irish monikers.

Celebrities, too, are striking gold with Irish names: Comedian Jon Stewart recently named his daughter Maggie Rose; actress Monica Potter chose a similarly lucky Irish moniker, Molly, for her 2006 baby. Musician Lou Rawls, actress Tracey Gold, and skater Scott Hamilton all named their sons Aiden (with various spellings), which means "fire" in Celtic.

Other currently popular Irish boys' names are Ryan, Aidan, Liam, Ciaran (pronounced "keer-in"), Declan, Casey, Evan, Brady, Corey, Brendan, Colin, Riley, and Conor, according to babynamesofireland.com -- which thankfully has an Irish name pronunciation guide -- and the Social Security Administration. Sean (61st most popular), Shane (150th), Kevin (31st), Cole (70th), and Brian (58th) also topped the charts.

Popular Irish girls' names include Siobhan (pronounced "shiv-awn," the name of former WNBA star Rebecca Lobo's daughter), Aisling, Tara, Deirdre, Bailey, Maureen, Mackenzie (the 2005 newborn of Harry Potter mastermind J.K. Rowling), Kaitlyn, and Eileen.

Strangely, Colleen and Megan -- which many Americans assume to be traditional Irish names -- dropped in rank this year. Perhaps parents realized that "Colleen" in Irish Gaelic, translates directly to "girl." ("This is our daughter, Girl."). And Megan? Megan's actually Greek, not Irish.

Holy crap! People are finally using my name! Different spelling, btw. And different gender. But I never thought people would name their kids Ciaran/Kieran/Kyron! ['cept for the people who named their daughter after me.] I'm too psyched. Ok, I guess that's totally obvious.

Comments

[drunk-bohemian.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing from your surname that you've got a wee bit of Irish at least. But I've never asked: what's your family history?

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

1/2 German, 15/16th Irish, and 1/16th Welsh, but we've always played up the Irish.

???

[(Anonymous)]

If I remember my math correctly, 1/2, 15/16, and 1/16 makes you a person and a half (something I've always secretly thought of both you and your BF).

Aren't LitFest meetings fun?

CAW

Re: ???

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Ah! 1/2 German... and I know I'm 1/16th Welsh. Oh, so 7/16th Irish. We usually just say half-Irish, half-German.

The sperm donor for my nephew & niece was half-Irish, half-Hispanic because, according to my oldest sister, "I wanted some Irish in her, and I thought the Hispanic blood with the Irish would overcome the German cold-heartedness." Or something like that.

Man, I'm totally exhausted from that meeting.

Re: ???

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Oh, and mda & I are not that conjoined, despite what some might say. We're actually terrifically independent, which is noted by the number of guys who've expressed an attraction to me at parties that have also been attended by mda. I think the number stands at 3 (ok so not that many overall, but that seems like a lot to me, especially when mda is walking by at the same time).

erin go bragh?

[nadine-a.livejournal.com]

guess the celtic word for "ireland" is on the decline in popularity. oh well, as it is there're enough card carrying erins/arans/aarons round these parts to make it confusing.

Re: erin go bragh?

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

When we were kids, we searched for those mugs and pencils that said Erin, Maureen & Keiran. We're finally getting the Erins and Maureens.

[cursethedark.livejournal.com]

My friends had been considering Declan (among others) for their kid's name, but went somewhere else with it. I found it somewhat odd that they were looking at Irish names, since I believe both their family histories are predominantly German.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

The Germans need to do some work on their PR, I guess. Helga just does not work. The Scandinavians have some really cool names, but I don't think Germans would want to have anything to do with them.

[binro33.livejournal.com]

Did you know that it is actaully against the law to name your kid Adolph in Germany?
They have a baby name registry and all kids's names have to be gov't approved.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I think I remember the fact about the name Adolph from a very long time ago. I don't so much like the idea that you'd have to have the gov't approve your kid's names, but it's hard for me to believe that some white supremicists wouldn't name their kid Adolph.

[binro33.livejournal.com]

My thoughts exactly.

[jaaladay.livejournal.com]

I know, Aden/Aidan/Aiden variations are everywhere! Our little guy's dad is real-live Irish, okay? He's got a red beard.
Here we thought we were being original and it turns out we're riding some kind of cultural zeitgeist. Sigh.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

I thought of you with Aidan (Aden? Aiden?). I don't know why that name has become popular. Isn't it weird?

Personally, I think Kieran Culkin has something to do with all of this. There's another actor named Kieran, but I can't remember who it is.

[seattleforge.livejournal.com]

I grew up with two boys named Kieran in my school.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

wow. that is so weird. I don't think I've ever met another Kieran.

[binro33.livejournal.com]

My wife used to babysit a boy named Keiran.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Well, now I'm starting to not feel special. Strange feeling :)

[binro33.livejournal.com]

Sorry.

[likethebeer.livejournal.com]

Damn you!

[seattleforge.livejournal.com]

Really? Even in good ole MA? Wow.