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ArchivesMeaning of name "Ciarda"???
Hi, does anyone have any information on the name "Ciarda". The only information I can find on it is that it's perhaps gaelic (Irish or Scottish) with some reference to "dark". I would appreciate it if someone could tell me more about it's meaning or history. Thanks.
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I actually use Ciarda as my posting name, originally thinking that it was the original form of my real name, Kerri.
This is the information that I have gathered about Ciarda: http://ciarda85.bravehost.com/index.html
This is the information that I have gathered about Ciarda: http://ciarda85.bravehost.com/index.html
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There's the surname Ó Ciardha (meaning "from Ciardha" or "descendent of Ciardha"), which can be anglicised to Carey, Keary or Kerry. Under the description of Carey, this site says Ciardha means "dark". I've never seen it used as a first name in Ireland but as there is a surname based on it, I would say it's almost certainly a male name.
In old Irish, Ciardha would have been written Ciarda with a dot (buailte) over the d in place of the h.
In old Irish, Ciardha would have been written Ciarda with a dot (buailte) over the d in place of the h.
This message was edited 11/7/2007, 7:20 AM
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In Ireland, there are several girls named Ciarda:
Ciarda Tobin (theather director from Limerick)
http://www.roscommonpeople.ie/itemdetail.asp?itemID=1249
Ciarda O'Connell (from University of Limerick)
http://www.csn.ul.ie/~basketball/99_00_team_details.htm
Ciarda Maher (from Ballina, Co Mayo)
www.communitygames.ie/site/area/munster/story.jsp?c=1&id=249&type=tipperary
Ciarda Supple (from Athboy, Co Meath)
http://www.kerryman.ie/local-notes/countywide-1207819.html
And not a single example of use of Ciarda in Ireland in masculine nowadays.
Ciarda Tobin (theather director from Limerick)
http://www.roscommonpeople.ie/itemdetail.asp?itemID=1249
Ciarda O'Connell (from University of Limerick)
http://www.csn.ul.ie/~basketball/99_00_team_details.htm
Ciarda Maher (from Ballina, Co Mayo)
www.communitygames.ie/site/area/munster/story.jsp?c=1&id=249&type=tipperary
Ciarda Supple (from Athboy, Co Meath)
http://www.kerryman.ie/local-notes/countywide-1207819.html
And not a single example of use of Ciarda in Ireland in masculine nowadays.
This message was edited 11/7/2007, 8:35 AM
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Yeah, my guess is that is more to do with the fact that Ciarda looks/sounds more like a female name nowadays. It could be also that the parents wanted an Irish version of the female name Kerry and found Ciarda.
Historically though, I think it is 100% male. I don't know of any Irish surnames that feature female names in that way.
Historically though, I think it is 100% male. I don't know of any Irish surnames that feature female names in that way.
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Where did you find this name? Was it the name of a man or a woman?
Ciar, Ciaran , Ciarmacc, and Ciarnat are names found in Irish Names by Donnchadh OCorrain & Fidelma Maguire, but Ciarda is not found there. Somehow the -da ending doesn't look Gaelic to me. Ciardo, on the other hand, is an Italian pet form of Riccardo (Richard), and Ciarda could be the feminine form of that.
Ciar, Ciaran , Ciarmacc, and Ciarnat are names found in Irish Names by Donnchadh OCorrain & Fidelma Maguire, but Ciarda is not found there. Somehow the -da ending doesn't look Gaelic to me. Ciardo, on the other hand, is an Italian pet form of Riccardo (Richard), and Ciarda could be the feminine form of that.
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A friend of mine has the name (female). I'm usually good at locating history/meanings etc but hit a brick wall with this one. I like the name so thanks for all the feedback and anything else would be greatly appreciated.
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As far as I'm aware, it's a female name and you're right, it an Irish name with the meaning of "dark". I've never met anyone by this name, though, so I can't really tell you anymore than that.
This message was edited 11/6/2007, 2:11 PM
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I found Ciarda historically used in Ireland at
http://www.ucc.ie:8080/cocoon/doi/atlas?section=N172DC
And in modern times, used by Ciarda Tobin (Irish theatre director from Limerick): "The two artists involved are Joanne Beirne from Roscommon town and Ciarda Tobin from Limerick. The paths of the two women have crossed on several occasions, (...)"
http://www.roscommonpeople.ie/itemdetail.asp?itemID=1249
All the references of use in Ireland that I find are related with women.
http://www.ucc.ie:8080/cocoon/doi/atlas?section=N172DC
And in modern times, used by Ciarda Tobin (Irish theatre director from Limerick): "The two artists involved are Joanne Beirne from Roscommon town and Ciarda Tobin from Limerick. The paths of the two women have crossed on several occasions, (...)"
http://www.roscommonpeople.ie/itemdetail.asp?itemID=1249
All the references of use in Ireland that I find are related with women.
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