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Help[Facts] Re: Finlay / Finley
in reply to a message by Jacks
As said, nothing is set in stone.
Almost all Gaelic surnames are masculine (99.8%?) originally, but their reuse as given-names is gender-crazy. Nothing is overtly masculine or feminine (Cameron, Kennedy, Kelly, Macaulay, etc.).
Given that, use your best judgement. So many Gaelic surnames are still in use as given-names, don't eschew logic if a name is still strongly masculine-associated.
Now Finlay/Finley is not common in the given sense, and your invented lay-rules make a little sense. I say go with them. You will be reviving a great name and hopefully others will follow your lead.
I'll warn you that 'laoch' or 'warrior' indicates a man, but that is historical. Kelly was once only a man's name, and what now?
Almost all Gaelic surnames are masculine (99.8%?) originally, but their reuse as given-names is gender-crazy. Nothing is overtly masculine or feminine (Cameron, Kennedy, Kelly, Macaulay, etc.).
Given that, use your best judgement. So many Gaelic surnames are still in use as given-names, don't eschew logic if a name is still strongly masculine-associated.
Now Finlay/Finley is not common in the given sense, and your invented lay-rules make a little sense. I say go with them. You will be reviving a great name and hopefully others will follow your lead.
I'll warn you that 'laoch' or 'warrior' indicates a man, but that is historical. Kelly was once only a man's name, and what now?
This message was edited 11/2/2004, 2:29 AM
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