Today's name list is brought to you by Samhain, the Gaelic festival upon which Halloween originated. It's origins are pagan - check out a more thorough history here - but celebrations continue today! So I'll be looking at a selection of Celtic pagan names from the Pagan Name Dictionary - any more adventurous namers out there?
All-Gender Names
Aeron - from the Brythonic goddess of slaughter, Agrona. Strong and substantial, but could be confused with Erin or Aaron. Pronounce it "AY-er-on" for some uniqueness.
Avalon - from a mythological Celtic island. It's also connected to the island off the coast of California, and provides a break from Aiden and Evelyn.
Korrigan - from traditional Breton trickster fairy creatures. With Finnegan, Cora, and Reagan on the charts, I think Korrigan (or Corrigan) could stand tall.
Seren - used for girls more, but I think this name could work well for the boys - it means "star", and has Welsh origins. It's also got a serene look to it.
Female Names
Ailsa - from a rock in Scotland known as "fairy rock". I think it's a nice twist between Ada and Elsa, and it keeps its femininity without being frilly.
Ceridwen - meaning "blessed song", she was the mother of Taliesin (another great choice) in Welsh mythology. Friendly and accessible, but totally its own.
Morrigan - pronounced "MOOR-ee-an", she was a War Goddess of Celtic lore. The pronunciation might trip people up, but the sound and meaning is fantastic.
Rhiannon - in Welsh lore, the goddess of horses, but the name means "great queen". Any Fleetwood Mac fan has considered this name, and it's a haunting classic.
Male Names
Bran - meaning "crow" or "raven", connected to Welsh and Irish mythology. Similar-sounding Bram is also brought up around Halloween due to its connection to the writer of Dracula.
Fergus - from Irish folklore, meaning "strong man". Recently seen in Pixar's Brave, cute nickname Fergie might give it a boost.
Oisin - a boy turned into a deer in Irish mythology, his name means "little deer". Adorable, and a great alternative to Owen or Oliver.
Puck - a name for a mischievous spirit, found in cultures worldwide. Accessible as a nickname, but I think it isn't substantial enough to be a formal first name.
Thoughts? Any great Gaelic/Celtic names I've missed?
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