Message: "Irish for Terence?"

[Opinions] Irish for Terence?

by Laurie (guest)

7/25/2006, 3:00 PM

I recently heard of a baby born and given the middle name Traolach, which is Irish for Terence, I was told. I do not find it on this database. While I dearly love many Irish names I think it's a blessing that this is the middle name, not the first. The poor kid would spend his life having to spell and pronounce it for everyone.

#Irish

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- Cleveland Kent Evans (clevelandkentevans) +3

7/25/2006, 6:03 PM

Traolach is a modern Gaelic form of an Irish name which was originally Tairdelbach, according to O Corrain & Maguire's Irish Names. It originally meant "instigator." The connection with Terence is one of those "conventional translation" connections. When the English overlords tried to suppress the Gaelic language, the custom grew of "translating" Gaelic names into names familiar to the English. These became conventional equivalents even though there was no real etymological connection. Some other examples in addition to Traolach-Terence were Conchobar-Cornelius, Gobnait-Abigail, Gobnait-Deborah, and Diarmait-Jeremiah.

This message was edited 7/25/2006, 6:04 PM

- Laurie (guest)

7/26/2006, 1:50 PM

Thanks for the interesting info. I had a feeling it was something like that. The same seems to go for Irish last names, which have often been anglicized.

- Cambria (Korrine) +1

7/26/2006, 12:02 AM

I love that you know all this stuff! :o)

You're awfully handy to have around an etymological site, you know that?
And thanks for posting examples of some of the other conventional equivalents - very helpful.

edited for grammar & formatting
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This message was edited 7/26/2006, 12:03 AM

- Cleveland Kent Evans (clevelandkentevans)

7/26/2006, 11:10 AM

You're welcome!

- Laurea

7/25/2006, 3:22 PM

I agree. I love some interesting and odd names but wouldnt name my kid them lest he be bullied

*laurel*

- Cambria (Korrine) +5

7/25/2006, 3:16 PM

I actually like Traolach. I've no idea if it'a *actually* Irish for Terence, since I'm not an expert & generally rely on Mike C. & BtN to keep me informed. :o) However, back to your point: "The poor kid would spend his life having to spell and pronounce it for everyone." Well, my name isn't nearly as difficult as Traolach (it's Korrine), and I've spent my whole life having to spell and pronounce it for people. IMO, it's really not that big of a deal.

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- Laurie (guest) +4

7/25/2006, 3:26 PM

But at least most people know the name Corinne, and seeing spelled Korrine would most likely be able to guess at the correct pronounciation. (I know I would). But Irish names with gaelic spellings are very hard to pronounce and spell for most English speakers, and I just would rather spare the kid having to correct people all the time. So I stand by my statement, better that it be a middle name.
(Being half Irish myself I love gaelic names and am very fond of Niamh at the moment, but would never use it for these reasons).

- Cambria (Korrine) +3

7/25/2006, 4:18 PM

I'm curious.

What *would* you guess the correct prn of my name to be. Honestly, I'm not being a jerk, I just want to know your guess.

And you're right, the majority of English speakers find Gaelic names very hard to prn and even harder to spell! I can't use Siobhan for any future DD b/c of that...so although the spelling & "stuff" doesn't bother me, I think I'm going to have to change my mind & agree that the Irish version of Terence is best left as a mn.

- Laurie (guest) +2

7/26/2006, 1:52 PM

I never I knew I would have to "guess" at the pronounciation of Corinne, as I've ever only known one way to say it. So I'd be interested to hear how your name is pronounced.

- Cambria (Korrine) +1

7/26/2006, 6:06 PM

I prn it cor-IN, not cor-EEN. :o) So, yes, I'm always correcting the prn, and since it's spelt with a K instead of a C (and it's 2 r's and 1 n instead of 1 r and 2 n's), I'm always having to spell it, too! ;oD

edited for spelling
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This message was edited 7/26/2006, 6:07 PM

- Laurie (guest)

7/27/2006, 7:32 AM

I've only heard it as Cor-IN, I've never heard the -EEN pronounciation! Interesting.
I had a friend in junior high named Corinne. Very nice girl.

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