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HelpRe: What long name for nickname Ren/Wren?
in reply to a message by Malk
I see my favorite, Renata, has already been mentioned. Forgive me if any of the rest of these are repeats as well: Renée, Laurentia / Laurentine, Catherine / Karen, Kerenza / Kerensa, Kendra (Ken --> Wren?), Morrigan, Rowena, Serena, Roisin / Rosaleen, Bronwen, Morwen / Morwenna, Rhonwen, Rhiannon.
And if you think some of those are stretching it -- what do you want from me? I'm the 10th person to respond. -- wait until you see these. I have scoured the internet for translations of the word "wren."
Roitelet -- French
Zaunkonig -- German
Reyezuelo -- Spanish (konig and reyes? king's bird?)
Gardsmyg -- Swedish
Peukoloinen -- Finnish
Scricciolo -- Italian (screach - iola?)
Carrica -- Portuguese (there should be a marking under the second "c" to make it an "s" sound.) This one is the prettiest, to me, espcially if the stress is on the last syllable.
But by far the most interesting was when I googled wren in Irish. I have Anglo-Irish ancestors named Wren so this was particularly interesting for me. Forgive me if it's too much detail. Dreolin is the Irish for wren. You probably already know that the day after Christmas is St. Stephen's Day in Ireland (as opposed to Boxing Day in the U.K.) But did you also know that the Wren Boys (used to) go around saying, "The wren, the wren, the king of all birds . . . " Connection to the German and Spanish words? The Wren Boys carry an effigy of a wren around. Yeah. Odd. Some theories are that the wren is paying back for warning Cromwell's troops just before a battle. But I prefer the older explanation. That early Christian's were trying to overcome the locals belief in Druidism. The word for wren in Irish might mean "druid's bird." (Check out: http://www.sligoheritage.comarchwrenboys.htm) There's also something in there about Cliona. So, Cliona, nn Wren? I dunno. I have waaaaay too much time on my hands.
And if you think some of those are stretching it -- what do you want from me? I'm the 10th person to respond. -- wait until you see these. I have scoured the internet for translations of the word "wren."
Roitelet -- French
Zaunkonig -- German
Reyezuelo -- Spanish (konig and reyes? king's bird?)
Gardsmyg -- Swedish
Peukoloinen -- Finnish
Scricciolo -- Italian (screach - iola?)
Carrica -- Portuguese (there should be a marking under the second "c" to make it an "s" sound.) This one is the prettiest, to me, espcially if the stress is on the last syllable.
But by far the most interesting was when I googled wren in Irish. I have Anglo-Irish ancestors named Wren so this was particularly interesting for me. Forgive me if it's too much detail. Dreolin is the Irish for wren. You probably already know that the day after Christmas is St. Stephen's Day in Ireland (as opposed to Boxing Day in the U.K.) But did you also know that the Wren Boys (used to) go around saying, "The wren, the wren, the king of all birds . . . " Connection to the German and Spanish words? The Wren Boys carry an effigy of a wren around. Yeah. Odd. Some theories are that the wren is paying back for warning Cromwell's troops just before a battle. But I prefer the older explanation. That early Christian's were trying to overcome the locals belief in Druidism. The word for wren in Irish might mean "druid's bird." (Check out: http://www.sligoheritage.comarchwrenboys.htm) There's also something in there about Cliona. So, Cliona, nn Wren? I dunno. I have waaaaay too much time on my hands.
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